Kings of Leon confirmed as final act for 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yasalam festival lineup

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Lewis Capaldi, Jennifer Lopez, Imagine Dragons and a series of other international performers will form part of the Yasalam entertainment programme running alongside the Formula 1 finale at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, with Kings of Leon confirmed as the final act for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Organised by Ethara, Yasalam is presented as part of the Yasalam programme produced by Ethara Live, and this year’s schedule runs from December 2 to December 6. The festival is designed around After-Race Concerts that take place across multiple venues on Yas Island while the on-track event is held during the F1 weekend.

Ethara’s Chief Portfolio and Strategy Officer David Powell said the programme has become the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s “signature” and is “our most ambitious yet,” describing the mix as a line-up that combines established global stars with emerging artists. Powell added that with Kings of Leon completing the programme, Ethara is looking forward to “an exceptional week of racing, music and entertainment on Yas Island.”

The Yasalam opening event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, when Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli brings his Romanza Tour to Etihad Arena as part of Yasalam Classics. After-Race Concerts begin on Thursday, with Kings of Leon and Lewis Capaldi set to perform at the open-air Etihad Live, located adjacent to the Yas Marina Circuit.

On Friday, December 4, Jennifer Lopez will perform alongside Alex Warren, the singer behind the hit Ordinary, following the first day of on-track action. Saturday’s headline concert will feature Imagine Dragons after Qualifying, with a set list that includes Believer, Thunder and Whatever It Takes.

The After-Race Concert programme will conclude on Sunday night after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with The Chainsmokers and The Script taking the stage. Separately, Anyma will present Anyma presents ÆDEN at Yas Gateway Park on Friday, December 4, as part of the Yasalam Official After-Party.

The entertainment plan also includes performances at 16/360, a venue described as offering panoramic views and multiple vantage points of the track. Shimza, CamelPhat and Black Coffee are scheduled to perform there, and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders will also receive complimentary access to selected city attractions including Qasr Al Watan and Yas Island theme parks, as well as cultural attractions on Saadiyat Island.

The listed complimentary access includes Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena. The announcement also points to the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a record-breaking year, drawing 339,000 fans to Yas Island and leading organisers Ethara to be named F1 Promoter of the Year.

Ticketing details in the announcement specify that After-Race Concerts are exclusively available to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders, with Golden Circle upgrades available. Yasalam Classics with Andrea Bocelli and the Official After-Party with Anyma are separately ticketed, while access to performances at 16/360 requires a ticket for the venue.

Formula 1’s official release also states that tickets for the 2026 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are now limited, with remaining options available via the official Abu Dhabi Grand Prix website. The Kings of Leon confirmation completes the billed line-up for the Yasalam festival during the F1 finale period, scheduled to run through the race weekend dates under the December 2–6 programme window.