Get set for a vibrant cultural experience at Dubai Media City this November
After an electrifying debut that set Dubai alight in 2024, Butterfly Carnival returns on Saturday, 8 November and Sunday, 9 November promising to transform Dubai Media City Amphitheatre into a vibrant kaleidoscope of music, dance, food, and culture.
Now firmly established as one of the region’s most dynamic carnival experience, this year’s edition expands further to unite the world’s most iconic carnival traditions into one unforgettable weekend.
From the thunderous sound systems of London’s Notting Hill Carnival and the infectious beats of Trinidad & Tobago, to the pulsating energy of Rio’s samba parades, Butterfly Carnival 2025 fuses the globe’s most colorful celebrations into a spectacular festival village.
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Across two mega stages and three unique sound systems, over thirty international artists will deliver a nonstop soundtrack featuring Afrobeats, Dancehall, Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Reggaeton, Brazilian Funk, Amapiano, Afrohouse, Hip Hop, and RnB.
This year welcomes exciting new cultural collaborators, including Jamaica’s legendary Dream Weekend, iconic sound systems from London’s Notting Hill Carnival, and Afro Loud, the region’s premier Afro festival.
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Together, they elevate Butterfly Carnival into a true global gathering of music and culture.
The celebration extends beyond the stages to a vibrant carnival village brimming with dazzling costumes, glittering makeup stations, exclusive merchandise, and immersive art installations perfect for photo ops.
Food lovers can embark on a global culinary journey, sampling delights from smoky Caribbean jerk chicken and Trinidadian doubles, to golden Spanish churros and sizzling Brazilian picanha.
Each evening culminates with Dubai’s largest carnival parade; a breathtaking fusion of dancers, drummers, stilt walkers, and carnival-goers in a riot of color and rhythm.
The festivities end with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the Dubai Media City sky.
8–9 November, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. General Admission (AED 149–349); Brunch Tickets (AED 549–649); VIP Standing (AED 499–699); VVIP Backstage Standing (AED 699–999); Weekend Passes (AED 499–699); VIP Tables: Starting from AED 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000. For further information, visit Butterfly Carnival
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