Zara Larsson Says She Won’t Perform at Abu Dhabi Show Amid Sudan Concerns
Zara Larsson says she will not perform at her scheduled Abu Dhabi show after fans urged her to reconsider the concert over concerns surrounding the war in Sudan.
Swedish pop star Zara Larsson has said that she will not perform at her scheduled show in Abu Dhabi after fans raised concerns about the United Arab Emirates and the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The singer was scheduled to perform on December 3, 2026, at Etihad Live on Yas Island as part of the Yasalam After Race Concert series during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
Zara Larsson responds to a fan
The situation came to attention after a fan commented on Zara Larsson's Instagram post and asked her to reconsider performing in Abu Dhabi because of concerns related to Sudan.
Larsson responded directly to the comment, writing that she would not be going to Abu Dhabi, accompanied by a heart emoji. The original exchange was later deleted from Instagram.
In a subsequent explanation, Larsson indicated that her decision came after taking time to consider the situation. She also said that she wants to perform for people around the world because individuals should not necessarily be viewed as representatives of their governments.
Why Sudan is part of the controversy
The controversy surrounding the concert is connected to the ongoing war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The United Arab Emirates has faced allegations of providing support to the RSF. The UAE government has denied providing military support to either side of the conflict.
The issue has received international attention because of the humanitarian impact of the war, which has displaced millions of people and created a major humanitarian crisis.
Abu Dhabi concert status remains unclear
Although Larsson said that she would not be going to Abu Dhabi, the concert had not yet received a formal cancellation announcement from the event organizers or her team at the time of reporting.
Ticketmaster continued to list Zara Larsson for the December 3 event alongside Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi. This means the exact status of the performance remains subject to an official announcement.
For now, Zara Larsson's own comments indicate that she does not intend to perform at the Abu Dhabi show, while the event's official listing had not yet been updated.
What happens next?
Fans will likely be watching for an official statement from Zara Larsson, her management team, or the organizers of the Yasalam After Race Concerts regarding the December performance.
The development has also sparked discussion among music fans about whether artists should reconsider performances in countries connected to international political and humanitarian controversies.
This story may be updated if an official cancellation announcement is released.