Globally acclaimed singer-songwriter Mariah Carey has been announced as the headliner for the 2025-26 edition of the open-air concert series Saadiyat Nights on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Her performance is scheduled for 7 February 2026, returning after a sold-out debut at the same venue in January 2024.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Carey has sold around 200 million albums worldwide, earned five Grammy Awards and achieved 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles — more than any other solo artist in history. Her signature five-octave range and hits like Hero, Always Be My Baby and We Belong Together have become staples of modern pop, R&B and soul.
Her latest studio album, Here For It All, released on 26 September 2025, marks her first full-length record in nearly eight years. The album blends genres from ballad to disco to gospel and features collaborations with Anderson .Paak, Kehlani, Shenseea and The Clark Sisters. It debuted at No. 1 on multiple Billboard charts including Top Album Sales, Top Current Album Sales, Top R&B Albums and Independent Albums.
In 2024, Carey opened Saadiyat Nights in impressive style — packing the specially-constructed outdoor amphitheatre on Saadiyat Island, delivering a set of her most beloved hits with high energy and glamour. Reviewers praised the “whole lot of fun” vibe and her confident on-stage presence.
Her upcoming show joins a stacked season for Saadiyat Nights: other international names previously confirmed include Ludovico Einaudi (10 Jan), Lewis Capaldi (17 Jan), John Mayer (24 Jan), Ricky Martin (31 Jan) and Bryan Adams (11 Feb), with more global acts still to be revealed.
Tickets for the 2025-26 Saadiyat Nights series, including Carey’s performance, are now available via ticketmaster.ae.
