We all know Kim Kardashian isn’t the only one who loves Andrea Bocelli.
The world-renowned Italian tenor is officially coming to Abu Dhabi during Formula 1 race week, bringing one of the most iconic voices in classical crossover music to Yas Island this December.
Bocelli has been announced as the first artist for Yasalam Classics, a new concert series joining the Yasalam presented by e& entertainment programme during the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026.
He will perform at Etihad Arena on Wednesday, 2 December 2026, one day before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix begins at Yas Marina Circuit. The performance is part of his Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour and will see him joined by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week has long moved beyond the paddock. It now spills across Yas Island in concerts, after-parties, hotel lobbies, hospitality suites and the city’s wider social calendar, where motorsport meets celebrity culture, music and destination dressing.
With Yasalam Classics, race week gains a new cultural register. Produced by Ethara in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Miral, the series brings classical music into the Grand Prix programme for the first time.
Lewis Capaldi, Zara Larsson and Imagine Dragons are already on the wider line-up, with more names to come. Bocelli’s arrival gives the week something grander and more cinematic, turning the countdown to race day into a stage of its own.
For longtime fans, the timing feels especially fitting. Romanza, the album that helped make Bocelli a global name, turns 30 this year. The record includes some of his most loved works and remains one of the most successful Italian-language albums of all time.
Known for songs including Con te partirò, Canto della Terra and Ave Maria, Bocelli has sold more than 90 million records worldwide and performed at major global events, including the Olympic Games and the World Cup.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders will receive exclusive 24-hour pre-sale access for the concert. General sale began at 1pm on Wednesday, 17 June, with tickets available through Ticketmaster and Etihad Arena.
The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 will take place from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 6 December on Yas Island.
