The third edition of BRED Abu Dhabi, the neo-culture festival presented by Hypebeast, opened yesterday with a dynamic blend of music performances, exclusive fashion drops, art installations and sporting events at Yas Marina Circuit.
The five-day festival, running until 27 April, has already established itself as a significant cultural event in the UAE calendar, drawing attendees eager to experience the confluence of regional and international talent across multiple creative disciplines.
BRED festival returns
Day one featured performances from regional rap artists Karim Osama, Asayel, and The Synaptik, who collaborated on stage to debut an exclusive track titled “Hena” created specifically for the 2025 festival. This set the tone for upcoming performances from international headliners, including Nas and Nines, scheduled to appear later today, and PARTYNEXTDOOR who will perform tomorrow.
The festival’s fashion component has drawn significant attention, with pop-up shops from international labels including Pieces Uniques, Daily Paper, Les Benjamins, and footwear retailers JD Sports, New Balance, adidas, and Foot Locker. Local UAE designers are also prominently featured, with Abu Dhabi’s SER and Mesmari, Sharjah’s Basement, and Dubai’s Wyld x Jeeski showcasing homegrown streetwear talent.
Several exclusive clothing items have been created specifically for the festival, including limited edition custom t-shirts from Precious Trust, an exclusive BRED green mesh shirt from Pieces Uniques, and special collaborative drops at Sneaker District.
The sports programme kicked off with the TOP BALLER Gulf 1v1 Cup, presented by NUMBER 10 and adidas, where competitors began vying for the title of best baller in the Gulf region. The festival also features an NBA 2K League gaming zone with interactive challenges and an NBA 3X Abu Dhabi 3-on-3 tournament presented by ADQ. Former NBA star Joakim Noah is making special appearances throughout the event.
In a first for the region, the festival’s Skate Park, developed in collaboration with Saturday Skateshop, has brought together skateboarding communities from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah for a unified showcase.
The culinary offerings include international fare from Choukran, Gotham Burger Social Club, and L’Industrie Pizzeria, alongside regional favourites such as Kaak Al Quds, Mattar, and Shawarma Reem. Several vendors have created BRED-exclusive menu items for the occasion.
Art installations have transformed the festival grounds with works from Ibrahim Zaki, Stephany Sanossian, and Shamma Bu Hazza, alongside LA-based Egyptian artist Marwan Shahin’s “Formula None” installation at the Neo Gallery. Legendary artist Futura will make appearances at the Les Benjamins space today and tomorrow, where attendees can purchase signed copies of his latest book and shop his exclusive collection.
The festival has attracted significant corporate sponsorship, with partners including Al Masaood Automobiles Nissan, Emirates NBD, Virgin Radio, Yves Saint Laurent, Johnnie Walker, and G-Shock. Emirates NBD is offering cardholders 10 per cent discounts on tickets, while G-Shock is hosting giveaways of four watches daily and offering festival attendees exclusive discounts.
Organised by BRAG, a leading regional festival producer known for events including Expo Infinite Nights and Dubai Comedy Festival, the event is supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi as part of its strategy to position the emirate as a global cultural destination.
With tickets reportedly selling quickly, organisers are encouraging interested attendees to secure passes through the festival’s official website or Ticketmaster. Day passes and concert tickets remain available for those wishing to experience the remainder of the festival, which continues through Saturday.
The festival takes place at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s entertainment district, which is home to theme parks including Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, and the recently opened SeaWorld Yas Island.
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