Highlights
- Shah Rukh Khan is curating UNIFYD, a new music festival featuring Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla and Sonu Nigam.
- The event will bring together different generations and styles of Indian music at Etihad Live on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on March 20, 2027.
- Organizers say Sonu Nigam will perform at a music festival for the first time in his career, with more than 15 artists set to appear.
Shah Rukh Khan is bringing some of India's biggest musical names together for UNIFYD, a new festival designed to celebrate the reach and diversity of Indian music.
Scheduled for March 20, 2027, at Etihad Live on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the one-day event will feature Arijit Singh, Punjabi music star Karan Aujla and veteran singer Sonu Nigam. More than 15 artists are expected to perform across multiple stages, creating a lineup that spans generations and musical styles.
Produced by D’YAVOL Live and District, the festival aims to connect audiences in India, the Middle East and the wider global South Asian community through live music and culture.
Sonu Nigam's first music festival performance
One of the most notable announcements is Sonu Nigam's participation. According to the organizers, the celebrated singer will perform at a music festival for the first time in his career.
Known for his versatility and decades-long career in Indian playback singing, Nigam will join Arijit Singh, whose work has made him one of Hindi cinema's most recognizable voices, and Karan Aujla, whose Punjabi music has found audiences around the world.
The combination brings together distinct musical identities under one festival. While Singh is known for his film soundtracks and emotive ballads, Aujla represents the international growth of Punjabi music. Nigam's appearance adds the perspective of an artist whose career has connected multiple generations of listeners.
The organizers have not yet announced the complete lineup of more than 15 performers.
Shah Rukh Khan's vision for UNIFYD
Shah Rukh Khan is serving as the festival's curator, shaping its artistic direction and creative vision. The actor said the project grew from his belief in music's ability to connect people across cultures.
“I’ve spent a lifetime telling stories on screen and watching them bring people together. Music has that same extraordinary power,” he said in a statement.
He added that the festival would bring Indian artists together on a shared stage, with a production designed to deliver scale, energy and spectacle.
UNIFYD is being developed with ambitions to expand into additional cities and international markets. Its debut in Abu Dhabi reflects the organizers' focus on the cultural connections between India and the UAE, as well as the emirate's position as an international entertainment destination.
The festival is produced by D’YAVOL Live and District in collaboration with Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and Miral, and in association with Emirates NBD.
When and how to get tickets
Tickets for UNIFYD will be available exclusively through the District app. Emirates NBD cardholders will have an early-access window before the general sale opens.
- Early access: October 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Gulf Standard Time, continuing until 9:30 a.m. on October 20.
- General sale: October 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Gulf Standard Time.
- Festival date: March 20, 2027.
- Venue: Etihad Live, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Further lineup announcements and festival updates will be shared through the District app and the official Instagram accounts @unifyd.festival and @districtuae.
By bringing together established playback singing, contemporary Punjabi music and artists from different generations, UNIFYD aims to present Indian music as a global cultural force, with Abu Dhabi hosting its first edition.
