Concerts by Shakira and Christina Aguilera in Abu Dhabi cancelled

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Two music festivals in Abu Dhabi featuring international artists, including Colombian singer Shakira and American singer Christina Aguilera, have been cancelled without an official reason being given. Organizers of the Formula 1 festival, which was also set to feature the Jonas Brothers and Pharrell Williams, announced on the event's official website that ticket costs would be refunded automatically through the purchasing platform, with additional information to be communicated by the platform. The statement said the festival is expected to be held again in 2027. Ticketmaster, the ticketing company, announced similar refund procedures for the Aguilera concert, with no new date provided. Both events had previously been postponed because of security and air traffic concerns linked to the Iran-United States conflict. The Formula 1 festival, originally planned for 4 April 2026 in Abu Dhabi, was rescheduled to 21 November 2026 before this year's edition was cancelled. The Aguilera concert, which had been set for 24 April at Etihad Arena, was first pushed to September and then cancelled. The United Arab Emirates came under missile and drone attacks from Iran during the conflict and intercepted around 3,000 missiles and drones, though some struck various facilities. No further details on the cancellations were immediately available.