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Indian music will take centre stage at a new international festival in Abu Dhabi next year. Called UNIFYD, the event will bring together more than 15 artists across multiple stages at Etihad Live on Yas Island on March 20, 2027, with Shah Rukh Khan serving as curator. The line-up features Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla and Jonita, alongside a special set by Sonu Nigam, and spans Hindi film music, Punjabi music, independent acts and electronic sounds.
The expanded line-up also includes Shalmali Kholgade, Patiala Mehfil, Simran Choudhary, Nooriyah, Curtain Blue, Tech Panda x Kenzani, Rusha & Blizza, Stick No Bills, BOH!B and Unnayanaa. According to the organisers, Nigam’s appearance will mark his first performance at a music festival.
UNIFYD has been conceived as a platform for Indian music and culture aimed at audiences in India, the Middle East and the wider South Asian diaspora. Its line-up brings together artists from different generations and musical traditions, placing established playback singers alongside Punjabi music and independent and electronic acts. The organisers have described the festival as an effort to bring Indian artists together on an international stage.
Khan, who will oversee the festival’s artistic direction and creative vision, said music shares cinema’s ability to connect audiences across geographies. “I’ve spent a lifetime telling stories on screen and watching them bring people together. Music has that same extraordinary power,” he said. “UNIFYD, produced by D'YAVOL Live along with District, will unite India’s most incredible artists on a shared stage for the first time. The festival promises to be a true spectacle in terms of its scale, energy, and grandeur.”
The festival is being produced by D’YAVOL Live and District, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral, and in association with Emirates NBD. D’YAVOL Live is part of the D’YAVOL Luxury Collective, co-founded by Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan, Leti Blagoeva and Bunty Singh. The company’s existing portfolio includes the D’YAVOL After Dark series, alongside other live entertainment and cultural experiences.
The organisers have also indicated plans to expand UNIFYD into other cities and international markets, although no additional locations or dates have been confirmed. Its debut in March 2027 will be the first opportunity to establish how the festival’s multi-stage format and cross-genre line-up translate into a live event.