Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Oct 17: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has announced a new international music festival, UNIFYD Festival, featuring playback singers Arijit Singh and Sonu Nigam, along with Punjabi music sensation Karan Aujla, as headliners for its inaugural edition on March 20, 2027, in Abu Dhabi.
Curated by Shah Rukh Khan, the single-day event will be held at Etihad Live on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The festival aims to showcase South Asian musical talent to audiences across the Middle East and other parts of the world.
The event is being produced by D'YAVOL Live in collaboration with entertainment platform District, with Miral and Experience Abu Dhabi also involved in the initiative.
The initial line-up brings together three distinct musical styles, with Arijit Singh known for his contemporary romantic ballads, Sonu Nigam celebrated for his extensive pop and playback singing repertoire, and Karan Aujla representing Punjabi music and hip-hop.
The festival is expected to feature performances across multiple stages, with around 15 artists set to join the final line-up. Organisers are expected to announce additional performers in the coming weeks.
Speaking about the initiative in a statement published by Rolling Stone, Shah Rukh Khan highlighted music's ability to bring people together across cultures and communities.
“I’ve spent a lifetime telling stories on screen and watching them bring people together. Music has that same extraordinary power,” Khan said.
He added that the festival was envisioned as a platform to bring leading Indian musical artists together on a grand scale and introduce their performances to a wider international audience.
The organisers plan to expand the festival format to other international cities following its debut in Abu Dhabi, signalling ambitions to establish UNIFYD as a global platform for South Asian music.
Ticket sales will begin with an early-access window for Emirates NBD cardholders on October 19, 2026, at 11 am IST through the District app. General ticket sales are scheduled to open on October 20.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan's last theatrical release was Dunki (2023), directed by Rajkumar Hirani. The film featured Taapsee Pannu, Boman Irani, Vicky Kaushal, Vikram Kochhar and Anil Grover in key roles. It was co-produced by Jio Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment and Rajkumar Hirani Films.
The actor will next appear in director Siddharth Anand's upcoming film King, which is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 24, 2026. The film features Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Arshad Warsi and Abhay Verma in key roles.
With an established Bollywood superstar curating the event and some of India's most popular singers headlining its inaugural edition, UNIFYD Festival aims to bring Indian music to a wider global stage.