Festival of Health 2026: Free Family Wellness Event in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain This December

Looking after your health doesn’t have to mean another app or a new set of rules. That’s the idea behind Abu Dhabi’s Festival of Health, which returns this December with five days of free, hands-on wellbeing activities in each of two locations.

The festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. It runs from 11 to 15 December at Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, then from 24 to 28 December at Al Jahili Park in Al Ain. Entry is free at both.

The festival is built around four pillars: movement, nutrition, sleep and mental wellbeing. The aim is to help visitors go from knowing what’s good for them to actually doing it. The programme includes evidence-based workshops, cooking demonstrations, fitness sessions, mindfulness activities and interactive challenges, all designed to give people practical skills they can keep using at home.

It’s also very much a family affair. The festival takes place during the UAE’s Year of the Family, and it encourages children, parents and grandparents to learn and take part together, so healthy habits become part of everyday family life. It welcomes young people, older adults and People of Determination, with experiences designed to be accessible to everyone.

Behind it is Abu Dhabi’s wider shift from treating illness to preventing it. The festival is part of the emirate’s Healthy Living movement and brings together government, private-sector partners and the community. The message is that building healthier communities is everyone’s responsibility.

After a successful first edition, the festival is growing into a fixture on the capital’s winter calendar. It’s a good reason to head to the waterfront at Hudayriyat or spend a December day in Al Ain, and maybe come home with a new habit or two.