In pictures: Ellie Goulding, Andrea Bocelli, Hussain Al Jassmi among artists to open Expo 2020 Dubai on September 30

GET READY: At the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai, world-renowned classical, popular and regional musicians are set to perform. Opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Golden Globe-winning actress, singer and songwriter Andra Day, platinum-selling British pop star Ellie Goulding, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and four-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo will help to light up the event at Al Wasl Plaza.

An incredible roster of international, regional and home-grown talent is set to perform at Expo 2020’s Opening Ceremony, taking place in the iconic Al Wasl Plaza on 30 September, 2021. Spectators will enjoy a masterful display of stunning visuals, music and performances, as some of the world’s most creative minds, internationally renowned artists and emerging talents come together in a dazzling, ground-breaking performance that will be shared with audiences around the world.

AHLAM ALSHAMSI: Much-loved Emirati singing sensation ‘Fananat Al Arab’ Ahlam Alshamsi will perform at the ceremony. Alshamsi is part of a regional line-up curated to highlight the creative diversity and talent of the Arab world.

ALMAS: Rising UAE singer-songwriter Almas is also representing the region at the ceremony. Tareq Ghosheh, Chief Event and Entertainment Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai said: “As the global spotlight shines on the UAE, this incredible, unforgettable evening will celebrate the collaborative, creative and optimistic spirit of Expo 2020, demonstrating our commitment to hosting a mega-event that will delight the world."

ANDRA DAY: Grammy nominated, Golden Globe-winning actress, singer and songwriter Andra Day is part of the international line-up. Ghosheh said: “Combining some of the most sought-after names in the world of music, live events and entertainment with the awe-inspiring, world-first technologies of the iconic Al Wasl Plaza, this is the ‘big bang’ that sets the scene for 182 days of visually striking and emotionally inspiring experiences, as we invite visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world.”

ANDREA BOCELLI: World-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli is set to make headlines in Dubai as well. Drawing inspiration directly from Expo’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, the Opening Ceremony will take spectators on an incredible journey across its subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

ANGELIQUE KIDJO: Four-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo. The much-awaited Opening Ceremony will welcome the mega-event’s 192 participating countries in spectacular fashion while showcasing the deep-rooted values of the UAE and the vision and purpose of the Expo.

ELLIE GOULDING: Platinum selling British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. Available to watch on Expo TV, Virtual Expo and broadcast to a global audience of millions across multiple channels, the Opening Ceremony will showcase the stunning Al Wasl Plaza, including the largest immersive sound installation in the world and the world’s largest blended video projection installation.

HUSSAIN AL JASSMI: Seen before at Expo's One Year To Go concert in 2019, the Emirati Artist and Expo 2020 Dubai Ambassador Hussain Al Jassmi, who is a trendsetter in the Khaleeji music scene in the Middle East and internationally, will be regaling spectators once again.

LANG LANG: International mega-star pianist Lang Lang. The ceremony will be the first event of its kind to take place ‘in the round’, the audience will be at the centre of the show as it unfolds, with the revolving stage, stunning surrounds and immersive technologies coming to life around them.

MAYSSA KARAA: Grammy-nominated Lebanese-American singer Mayssa Karaa. Behind the scenes, preparations have brought together creative minds from different geographies, industries and backgrounds, including a talented in-house team of Emirati and international creatives, with event organisers not only commissioning, but also actively co-curating and co-producing the collaborative spectacle.

MOHAMED ABDO: The ‘Artist of Arabs’ Mohamed Abdo. The wider team for the ceremony is led by Scott Givens, executive producer and CEO of FiveCurrents, whose credits include 62 iconic ceremonies, including the most Olympic Ceremonies ever, and includes Franco Dragone, acclaimed artistic director of ground-breaking productions such as La Perle and Cirque du Soleil, and Jared Sweet, award-winning creative director behind ceremonies spanning six countries. The Opening Ceremony will also serve as an important opportunity to demonstrate Expo’s commitment to the health, safety and well-being of its staff, participants and visitors as it brings the global community together for one of the first times since the onset of the pandemic.