Dubai: While we wait at the edge of our seats for its commencement, Expo 2020 Dubai is inching slowly towards us with a giant catalogue of events, performances and activities. Among spots to keep an eye on are Al Wasl Plaza, Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
Here's a list of some of the most interesting programmes happening from October to March in sports, music, entertainment and special events. Mark your calendars now for a fun time.
Sports
In the effort to advocate for physical well-being, Expo 2020 Dubai has set in motion an array of sports events running throughout the upcoming six months. Ranging from the largest jiu-jitsu lesson to netball, country pavilions are gearing up to host friendly, high-spirited competitions and games.
You can sit by the sidelines and enjoy netball and cricket exhibition matches or participate in rigorous Track and Field exercises. An exciting hybrid sport innovation of table tennis and football called 'teqball' will be introduced by Hungary this December. The icing on the cake this Expo, however, is the World Chess Championship to be hosted at the DEC in November. Don’t miss out on the chance to witness the exhilarating sport events planned for this Expo.
Key sport events and their start dates:
October
October 9, 2021: Australia, Inter-pavilion Multi Sports Round Robin Tournament
October 9, 2021: Australia, Exhibition Cricket Match
October 14, 2021: Australia, AFL (Australian Football League)/Netball Skills and Drills
October 16, 2021: Australia, Netball Exhibition Match
October 17, 2021: Australia, Football Skills and Drills and modified games
October 30, 2021: United States, Harlem Globetrotters
November
November 3, 2021: Australia, daily 45-minute body transformation exercise classes
November 5, 2021: Australia, Friday morning Expo Park Run Series
November 6, 2021: Australia, Row the Emirates
November 15, 2021: Brazil, World’s Largest Jiu Jitsu Lesson
November 25, 2021 to December 16, 2021: FIDE World Chess Championship 2021
December 11, 2021: Australia, Weekend Aussie Sports BBQ
December 20, 2021: Hungary, Teqball Activation
February
February 15, 2022: Australia, E-Sports Evening
March
March 16, 2021: Australia, Sports Classes with Regional Leading Female Athletes
Music and Entertainment
Reviving the spirits of all those who come to watch, musical performances and other entertainment events will be conducted by different countries across Expo. Performers across the globe take centre stage as they showcase their creative and artistic talents at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Jubilee Stage and many more.
The festivities are unending. There are concerts by an all-women orchestra led by AR Rahman, for instance, and New Zealand band Six60. For those who prefer visual entertainment, street theatre, film and dance performances will be right up your alley. There’s a recreational show for everyone; from toddlers and pre-teens to adults and grandparents.
October 8, 2021: Saudi Arabia, Family Show Theatre
October 12, 2021: Jalsat Nights
October 14-15, October 21-22 and October 28-29, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo
October 14 to October 16, 2021: Lusophonia Festival
October 22, 2021: Lithuania, Gala Concert
October 23, 2021: All-Women Firdaus Orchestra
October 31, 2021: Entertainment Halloween Hero Event
November
November 4-5, November 11, November 13 and November 25-26, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo
November 5, 2021: Spain, Miguel Trapaga 'The Spanish Guitar'
November 8, 2021: Jalsat Nights
November 11, 2021: Poland, Chopin Competition Laureate concert
November 13, 2021: Monaco, jazz concert
November 16, 2021: All-Women Firdaus Orchestra
November 21, 2021: Hungary, Félix Lajkó violin concert
December
December 2-3, December 9, December 11, December 23-24 and December 30, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo
December 6, 2021: Jalsat Nights
December 18, 2021: Sri Lanka, Fashion Show Theatre
December 18, 2021: Arabic Language Day Hero Event
December 19, 2021: Al Burda Festival
January
January 2, 2022: Iran, Children’s Entertainment: Storytelling and puppet show
January 12, 2022: Jalsat Nights
January 17 and January 23, 2022: Nasheed Al Wasl (Student Choir)
January 28 to January 31, 2022: New Zealand, Live Street Art
January 31 to February 2, 2022: New Zealand, 'The Royal Family' dance performance
January 31, 2022: New Zealand, band Six60 represent 'Sounds of Aotearoa'
January 6, January 8, January 13-14, January 27 and January 29, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo
February
February 3, February 4-5, February 11-12 and February 24-25, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo
February 6 and February 27, 2022: Nasheed Al Wasl (Student Choir)
February 9, 2022: Jalsat Nights
February 13, 2022: Guinea, 'Wontanara: A Mixed Cultural Tour of Guinea'
February 17 to February 19, 2022: Spain, 'Mulïer' street theatre
March
March 3, March 5, March 17-18, March 24-25 and March 31, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo
March 13 and March 20, 2022: Nasheed Al Wasl (Student Choir)
March 15, 2022: Jalsat Nights
March 18 to March 22, 2022: Iran, Folk Music Band
International Days and special events
The Expo calendar is set to recognise noteworthy dates celebrated and acknowledged worldwide. International days serve to remind us of the global issues such as the inclusion of minority groups and climate change. During these six months, issues will be explored, discussed and dissected under a global platform that connects us all.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to celebrate special holidays namely the UAE's Golden Jubilee, Christmas, Chinese New year, Diwali, International Women’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
Events and their start dates:
October
October 16, 2021: World Food Day
October 31, 2021: World Cities Day
November
November 3, 2021: UAE Golden Jubilee Celebration
November 14, 2021: Diwali
November 16, 2021: International Day for Tolerance
December
December 3, 2021: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 5, 2021: International Volunteer Day
December 10, 2021: Human Rights Day
December 12, 2021: International Universal Health Coverage Day
December 18, 2021: World Arabic Language Day
December 21 to December 25, 2021: Christmas
December 31, 2021: New Year’s Eve
February
February 11, 2022: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 12, 2021: Chinese New Year
February 14, 2022: Valentine’s Day
March
March 3 and March 31, 2022: Closing ceremony
March 8, 2022: International Women’s Day
March 20, 2022: International Day of Happiness
March 21, 2022: Mother’s Day
March 22, 2022: World Water Day
National and honour Days
To honour the 191 countries participating in this year’s Expo, each country will receive a special ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza to appreciate their contributions towards Expo 2020. While country participants celebrate their allocated national days, certain intergovermental bodies will be spotlighted on Honour Days as well. The National and Honour Days will include a flag ceremony with the country’s national anthem playing alongside it.
Post this, a spectacle of the country’s cultural performances including dance, music and other festivities will be in the limelight at the Stage of Nations. Dedicating a day to each of the countries present at this year’s Expo aligns with one of the Expo’s core principles to be ‘Multinational, Multicultural and Inclusive.’ The Expo 2020 is a great way to expose and emerge yourself in the abundance of cultures coming together from around the world.
List of National and Honour Days sorted chronologically:
October
October 2, 2021: Republic of France
October 3, 2021: Republic of Uganda
October 4, 2021: Ukraine
October 5, 2021: Republic of Vanuatu
October 9, 2021: Turkmenistan
October 11, 2021: Gambia
October 12, 2021: Kingdom of Eswatini
October 13, 2021: Republic of Senegal
October 14, 2021: Republic of Sierra Leone
October 16, 2021: Commonwealth of Dominica
October 17, 2021: Cote d’Ivoire
October 18, 2021: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
October 19, 2021: Republic of Guyana
October 20, 2021: Republic of Panama
October 21, 2021: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
October 22, 2021: Republic of Lithuania
October 23, 2021: Honour day - European Union
October 24, 2021: Honour day - United Nations
October 25, 2021: Republic of Maldives
October 26, 2021: Negara Brunei Darussalam
October 27, 2021: Kingdom of Lesotho
October 28, 2021: Republic of Seychelles
October 29, 2021: Switzerland Confederation
October 30, 2021: Arab Republic of Egypt
October 31, 2021: Republic of Finland
November
November 1, 2021: Antigua and Barbuda
November 1, 2021: Republic of Indonesia
November 2, 2021: Federated States of Micronesia
November 3, 2021: Kingdom of the Netherlands
November 4, 2021: Kingdom of Tonga
November 5, 2021: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
November 6, 2021: Federal Republic of Nigeria
November 7, 2021: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
November 8, 2021: Union of the Comoros
November 9, 2021: Republic of Azerbaijan
November 10, 2021: Republic of Burundi
November 10, 2021: United Mexican States
November 11, 2021: Republic of Colombia
November 12, 2021: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
November 13, 2021: Principality of Monaco
November 14, 2021: Syrian Arab Republic
November 15, 2021: Federative Republic of Brazil
November 16, 2021: Mongolia
November 16, 2021: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
November 17, 2021: Plurinational State of Bolivia
November 18, 2021: Republic of Haiti
November 18, 2021: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
November 19, 2021: Republic of Austria
November 20, 2021: Republic of Malawi
November 21, 2021: Sultanate of Oman
November 22, 2021: Republic of Belarus
November 23, 2021: Republic of Lebanon
November 24, 2021: Republic of Italy
November 25, 2021: Kingdom of Bahrain
November 27, 2021: Republic of Latvia
November 27, 2021: Republic of Suriname
November 28, 2021: United States of America
November 29, 2021: Federal Republic of Germany
November 30, 2021: Belize
November 30, 2021: Republic of Liberia
December
December 1, 2021: Republic of Kazakhstan
December 2, 2021: United Arab Emirates
December 3, 2021:Independent State of Samoa
December 3, 2021: Republic of Chile
December 4, 2021: Russian Federation
December 5, 2021: Kingdom of Thailand
December 6, 2021: Gabonese Republic
December 7, 2021: Republic of Poland
December 7, 2021: Republic of Costa Rica
December 8, 2021: Republic of Fiji
December 8, 2021: Uzbekistan
December 9, 2021: Republic of Honduras
December 9, 2021: Republic of Palau
December 10, 2021: Republic of Iraq
December 11, 2021: Japan
December 12, 2021: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
December 12, 2021: Republic of Nauru
December 13, 2021: Honour Day - ASEAN
December, 2021: Kyrgyz Republic
December 15, 2021: Kingdom of Sweden
December 16, 2021: People’s Republic of Bangladesh
December 17, 2021: Kingdom of Bhutan
December 17, 2021: Republic of Mali
December 18, 2021: Republic of Niger
December 18, 2021: Bosnia and Herzegovina
December 19, 2021: State of Qatar
December 21, 2021: Republic of Togo
December 21, 2021: Solomon Islands
December 22, 2021: Republic of Tajikistan
December 23, 2021: Democratic Republic of Congo
December 26, 2021: Kingdom of Morocco
December 28, 2021: Republic of Kiribati
December 29, 2021: Georgia
December 30, 2021: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
January
January 1, 2022: Republic of Yemen
January 2, 2022: Nepal
January 3, 2022: Sri Lanka
January 4, 2022: Tunisia
January 5, 2022: Sudan
January 6, 2022: Tuvalu
January 7, 2022: Saudi Arabia
January 8, 2022: Malaysia
January 9, 2022: Israel
January 10, 2022: China
January 11, 2022: Mauritania
January 11, 2022: Chad
January 12, 2022: Guinea-Bissau
January 13, 2022: Barbados
January 14, 2022: Portugal
January 15, 2022: Djibouti
January 15, 2022: Grenada
January 16, 2022: South Korea
January 17, 2022: Sao Tome and Principe
January 17, 2022: Bahamas
January 18, 2022: Nicaragua
January 19, 2022: Malta
January 20, 2022: Zambia
January 21, 2022: Peru
January 22, 2022: Singapore
January 24, 2022: Cambodia
January 25, 2022: El Salvador
January 25, 2022: Baden-Wurttemberg
January 26, 2022: India
January 27, 2022: Slovakia
January 28, 2022: Andorra
January 28, 2022: Canada
January 29, 2022: Australia
January 30, 2022: Armenia
January 31, 2022: New Zealand
February
February 1, 2022: Rwanda
February 2, 2022: Spain
February 3, 2022: Cabo Verde
February 4, 2022: Angola
February 5, 2022: Belgium
February 6, 2022: Montenegro
February 7, 2022: Mozambique
February 7, 2022: Iran
February 8, 2022: Slovenia
February 9, 2022: Bulgaria
February 10, 2022: United Kingdom
February 11, 2022: Philippines
February 13, 2022: Guinea
February 14, 2022: Cuba
February 15, 2022: Serbia
February 16, 2022: Kenya
February 17, 2022: Denmark
February 17, 2022: Kosovo
February 18, 2022: Jamaica
February 19, 2022: South Sudan
February 20, 2022: Myanmar
February 21, 2022: Uruguay
February 22, 2022: Saint Lucia
February 22, 2022: North Macedonia
February 23, 2022: Norway
February 24, 2022: Cyprus
February 24, 2022: Madagascar
February 25, 2022: Kuwait
February 26, 2022: Tanzania
February 28, 2022: Benin
February 28, 2022: Papua New Guinea
March
March 1, 2022: Romania
March 2, 2022: Ethiopia
March 3, 2022: Moldova
March 3, 2022: Burkina Faso
March 4, 2022: Paraguay
March 5, 2022: Dominican Republic
March 6, 2022: Croatia
March 7, 2022: Somalia
March 8, 2022: Ghana
March 9, 2022: Albania
March 10, 2022: Afghanistan
March 10, 2022: Argentina
March 11, 2022: Trinidad and Tobago
March 12, 2022: Cameroon
March 13, 2022: Botswana
March 14, 2022: Zimbabwe
March 15, 2022: Mauritius
March 16, 2022: Honour Day – Gulf Cooperation Council
