Dubai’s festival calendar has a way of keeping us on our toes, and this year’s is no different. The Butterfly Carnival Dubai is fluttering back into town on November 8 and 9, 2025, and trust me, it’s shaping up to be one of the loudest, brightest weekends of the year. Music, dance, food, culture, it’s all being packed into two high-octane days at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.
Butterfly Carnival Returns To Dubai This November
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill event with a single stage and a couple of food stalls. We’re talking over 30 international artists and DJs, performing across two colossal stages. The genres are as wide-ranging as your Spotify playlist: Afrobeats, reggae, dancehall, soca, reggaeton, Brazilian funk, amapiano, hip-hop, R&B, the lot.
And let’s face it, Dubai loves variety. The city doesn’t just dabble in one scene; it thrives on throwing them all together and letting the crowd figure it out. Truth be told, that’s half the fun.
Global Carnivals, Dubai Style
This year comes with a twist. Butterfly Carnival is teaming up with some of the world’s most iconic carnivals, and that alone should make you curious. Imagine the thunderous sound systems of London’s Notting Hill Carnival colliding with the hypnotic rhythms of Jamaica’s Xodus Carnival, layered with the sheer energy of Dream Weekend in the Caribbean. Oh, and let’s not forget the flamboyance of Rio’s samba parades.
To be fair, you’d normally have to rack up a lot of air miles to experience even one of these festivals. In practice, Butterfly is bringing them all to Dubai, right in one spot.
Beyond The Music
Of course, it wouldn’t be Dubai without food, and plenty of it. Expect handpicked bars, food trucks from around the globe, and the kind of street bites you’ll want to Instagram before you eat. But it’s not just about stuffing your face. The carnival will also roll out glitter stations, merch corners, and quirky activations to keep the energy buzzing between sets.
Come on, we all know that festivals aren’t just about who’s on stage. It’s about those in-between moments when you’re dancing in glitter, laughing over street food, or discovering a DJ you’ve never heard of but instantly love.
Who’s Headlining?
Now for the big question: who’s headlining this year? The organisers are still keeping that under wraps. But if last year’s line-up is any indicator (think Ruger, Skillibeng, CKay, and Beenie Man), then it’s safe to say we’re in for some serious names.
In the meantime, the speculation game is wide open. And that’s part of the build-up, isn’t it? Half the excitement comes from guessing who’ll show up.
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Ticket Details
Tickets start from AED199 on Platinumlist, which, considering the scale of the event, isn’t too hard on the wallet. After all, where else in the city can you get two full days of international acts, carnival parades, food, and enough glitter to keep you sparkling until New Year’s Eve?
Where: Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
When: November 8–9, 2025
Cost: AED 199
Cover Image Courtesy: Butterfly Carnival/Website
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