Kings of Leon to Open Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Concerts After Zara Larsson Steps Out
Kings of Leon will open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert series on Thursday, 3 December 2026, joining Lewis Capaldi for a double bill at Etihad Live on Yas Island. The American rock band replace Zara Larsson, who was previously announced for the opening night but is no longer able to perform, organisers announced on Wednesday, 28 October, Gulf News reported.
A late change to opening night
Larsson had been billed alongside Capaldi for the first of four nights of live music running alongside the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, from 3 to 6 December. Gulf News reported that organisers have not disclosed the reason for her withdrawal, and that the announcement on 28 October confirmed she would no longer be part of the line-up.
The replacement keeps the opening night a two-act bill. Capaldi returns to the capital after performing at Saadiyat Nights in January, The National reported. Kings of Leon, meanwhile, return to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts after making their Middle East concert debut at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009, according to The National.
Why the booking lands so loudly
Kings of Leon arrive with a catalogue built for open-air stages. The band behind global hits such as “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” have sold more than 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide, Gulf News reported, and have collected four Grammy Awards and two BRIT Awards.
David Powell, Chief Portfolio and Strategy Officer at Ethara, the event organiser, said: “Kings of Leon are one of the biggest names in rock music, with a catalogue of hits that audiences around the world know and love,” Gulf News reported. He added that having them perform alongside Capaldi made for a strong opening to the year’s after-race concerts.
New music before the show
The Abu Dhabi date also falls shortly after new material from the band. Their tenth studio album, O My Beloved, is scheduled for release on 6 November, Gulf News reported, and is described as self-produced, with songs exploring family, gratitude and the experiences that have shaped their lives together. The concert set is expected to draw on all ten studio albums, Fact Magazine reported.
The rest of the weekend’s line-up is unchanged. Alex Warren and Jennifer Lopez perform on Friday, 4 December, Imagine Dragons take over on Saturday, 5 December, and The Chainsmokers and The Script close the series on Sunday, 6 December, What’s On reported. Access to the after-race concerts is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders, The National reported.
Sources: Gulf News, 28 October 2026; The National, 28 October 2026; Fact Magazine, 28 October 2026; What’s On, 28 October 2026.