Abu Dhabi Comedy Season 2026 announces Russell Peters, Mo Amer in expanded line-up

Abu Dhabi Comedy Season 2026 announces Russell Peters, Mo Amer in expanded line-up

Abu Dhabi Comedy Season returns for its third edition this autumn, bringing an expanded line-up of international comedy stars to Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The season kicks off in October with performances scheduled through November.

Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer will headline on November 6. Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, Amer has achieved global recognition for his semi-autobiographical Netflix series Mo, which follows a Palestinian refugee seeking asylum in Texas. The series won a 2023 Peabody Award for Entertainment and received a rare 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season. The New York Times and New York Magazine both named it among the best shows of 2022. Amer has performed stand-up comedy in more than 40 countries across five continents, including prestigious venues such as Royal Albert Hall and Radio City Music Hall.

Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani takes the stage on November 7. A founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, Jobrani helped pioneer Middle Eastern representation in comedy through the groundbreaking tour, which sold out 27 shows across Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Kuwait and Amman. His comedy explores immigrant experiences, cultural misunderstandings and family dynamics, bridging Eastern and Western cultures through humour.

Canadian comedy icon Russell Peters opens the season on October 11. Peters first gained international fame through his 2004 Comedy Now! special, which went viral online and transformed him from a club comedian into a global touring artist. He has since sold out major venues including Madison Square Garden, London's O2 Arena and Toronto's Air Canada Centre. His Notorious tour became the highest attended comedy tour ever in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Oman, Lebanon, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Canada. Peters ranked as high as number three on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid comedians in 2013, earning $21 million that year, and has consistently remained among the top ten highest-earning comics.

Los Angeles-based comedian and musician Morgan Jay completes the announced roster with his October 25 performance. A former semi-finalist on NBC's Bring the Funny, Jay has built a loyal global following through his distinctive blend of crowd work, improvised comedy and live music, incorporating auto-tuned audience participation into his acts.

The 2026 season marks significant growth for the event, which began as Comedy Week in 2024. The inaugural edition drew over 40,000 attendees, with Dave Chappelle's sold-out show attracting more than 14,000 guests in what became the biggest comedy event in the region's history. The 2025 season, which ran from April to July, featured major headliners including Trevor Noah, Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias, Michael McIntyre, Bill Burr and Dave Chappelle.

All performances will take place at Etihad Arena, the largest multi-purpose indoor arena in the Middle East with a capacity of 18,000 people. The venue, which opened in January 2021, won the Sustainable Building Design of the Year award at the 2018 MENA Green Building Awards.

Live Nation Middle East organizes the season in partnership with GME Events, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral. Additional comedians will be announced in the coming months.

Performance schedule

• Russell Peters – October 11, Etihad Arena
• Morgan Jay – October 25, Etihad Arena
• Mo Amer – November 6, Etihad Arena
• Maz Jobrani – November 7, Etihad Arena

Ticket information

Mastercard cardholders in the UAE can access an exclusive presale from Monday, July 27 at 12pm GST until Wednesday, July 29 at 12pm GST. Mastercard World, World Elite and World Legend cardholders will have access to premium ticket allocations from Wednesday, July 29 at 12pm GST.

The Live Nation presale begins on Tuesday, July 28 at 12pm GST via LiveNation.me and Ticketmaster.ae.

General ticket sales open on Wednesday, July 29 at 12pm GST via LiveNation.me and Ticketmaster.ae.