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The Al Hosn Festival 2026, organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, concludes today after offering visitors an immersive journey into Emirati heritage through innovative programs and interactive experiences. The festival has provided inspiring experiences and enriching activities that illuminate the lives of ancestors and instill pride in cultural traditions across generations.
Al Hosn Festival 2026 serves as an educational platform for children through live demonstrations and interactive workshops held in spaces filled with celebration of authentic Emirati customs and traditions. The event honors traditional crafts and productive families while reinforcing historical social imagery for younger generations and showcasing youth initiatives in modernizing Emirati dress and various creative expressions while preserving the authentic Emirati spirit.
Interactive Programs Strengthen Cultural Pride
The current edition of the heritage and cultural event dedicates engaging and interactive training programs for youth and children through educational workshops designed to accommodate entire families. According to festival organizers, participation includes family involvement in productive family showcases, marketplaces, and educational workshops.
Additionally, young people participated in the “Bazar” while children engaged with the “Police Center,” an immersive experience introducing them to police heritage. The festival celebrates authentic Emirati values founded on altruism, unity, belonging, and pride alongside numerous interactive workshops that benefit children daily throughout the festival duration.
Emirati Coffee Traditions at Al Hosn Festival
Among the inspiring experiences presented by Al Hosn Festival 2026 this year is the “Emirati Coffee Lounge,” a heritage experience connected to the collective memory of Emirati people that reflects generous hospitality and warm reception. This cultural heritage activity represents a major attraction for visitors of all ages, introducing them to aspects of authentic Emirati customs and traditions through live practices and presentations linked to the heritage’s authenticity and humanitarian values.
Ahmed Ali Al Shamri, festival and events program coordinator at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, presented to audiences the methods of serving Emirati coffee, its preparation stages, and the traditional “sunna” of service. He explained that this station aims to reinforce Emirati heritage and connect generations with their authentic customs and traditions.
The Journey of Hospitality
The hospitality journey in the Emirati Coffee Lounge represents living heritage that combines generosity, respect, and community cohesion through interactive experiences that introduce audiences to traditional practices. The station opens space for knowledge, participation, and human connection, comprising four sections including Emirati Coffee Ceremonies, the Sunna Majlis, the Emirati Coffee Exhibition, and the Coffee House.
According to Al Shamri, the Sunna Majlis hosts a collection of purposeful cultural programs, including the “Majlis Sunna” program that introduces visitors to council etiquette and values. Meanwhile, dialogue sessions open opportunities for discussion and exchange of expertise about heritage and identity, in addition to the “Sunna Questions” competition program that presents knowledge in an interactive and enjoyable style for family members.
Traditional Crafts and Embroidery Excellence
The festival offers numerous unique cultural experiences, including the “Hadoob Al Zari” exhibition celebrating the elegance of the “Bisht” and “Burqa” as the finest symbols of Emirati heritage. Each woven thread and sparkling embroidery tells the story of skilled hands that created landmarks of identity passed down through generations.
Amna Al Zaabi from the House of Artisans stated that the exhibition highlights the manufacture of the Burqa and Bisht as an integral part of Emirati dress. She added that mother artisans demonstrate their skills in making Burqa alongside offering interactive workshops for audiences, where participants learn the steps of Burqa-making from beginning to end in an interactive experience embodying this ancient heritage symbol’s journey from past to present.
Musical Heritage Performances Celebrate Emirati Culture
Al Hosn Festival 2026 features a daily musical program at the Corniche stage and “Falaj Al Hosn,” where families gather to connect and enjoy music with participation from local talents and artists presenting Emirati sessions reviving the beautiful art of bygone times. In contrast, Falaj Al Hosn hosts musical performances by a select group of prominent Emirati musicians, offering visitors daily vibrant musical shows.
In an experience combining heritage, culture, and art, visitors enjoy the rhythms of Emirati music in the “Journey of Emirati Song” performances held at the Corniche stage. The Coffee House offers a cultural experience expressing the essence of Emirati coffee with its values of generosity and respect, remaining a living testament to the authentic Emirati spirit of hospitality.
Following today’s conclusion, authorities have not confirmed plans for next year’s edition, though the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi typically announces future festival dates several months in advance.
