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    Metallica’s 2025 Abu Dhabi F1 Comeback Concert: What Happened

    By Updated:2 Mins Read
    Four men pose together against a black background, with two in front and two standing behind, all wearing dark clothing and displaying serious expressions.

    Metallica’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Comeback: What Actually Happened

    Metallica headlined the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concert at Etihad Park on 6 December 2025, marking their first appearance at the event in 12 years — they’d last headlined the Yasalam lineup back in 2013. The show was part of their M72 World Tour and played to a record crowd, with James Hetfield and co. slotting in alongside a stacked bill that also included Katy Perry that same season, cementing 2025 as one of the biggest years yet for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s after-race concert series.

    The concert followed the now-familiar Yasalam format: a free show for anyone holding a valid Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race ticket, staged at Etihad Park on Yas Island straight after qualifying, with the atmosphere of 100,000-plus fans still buzzing from a full day of F1 action.

    Looking for This Year’s Line-Up Instead?

    If you’re after who’s actually playing the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts (3–6 December 2026 at Etihad Park), the line-up has already started taking shape with Zara Larsson and Lewis Capaldi confirmed for Thursday 3 December and Imagine Dragons headlining Saturday 5 December, alongside Andrea Bocelli’s Yasalam Classics show. For the full, continually updated line-up, see our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts 2026: Line-Up & Guide.

    How the Abu Dhabi After-Race Concerts Work

    • Tickets: After-race concerts are included with a valid Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race ticket — there’s no separate concert ticket to buy, and they can’t be bought as standalone entry.
    • Venue: Etihad Park, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island.
    • Timing: Shows run each evening across the four race days, after that day’s on-track session wraps up.
    • Getting there: Yas Island is well served by RTA buses and taxis on race weekend, though roads and parking get busy — booking parking in advance or using public transport is worth it.

    For more on this season’s headliners, ticket tiers and the full weekend schedule, head to our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts 2026 guide, or browse our full UAE nightlife and events guide for more of what’s on this season.

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    Monica Bonalto's avatar

    Monica Bonalto arrived in Dubai in 2017 with a background in hospitality journalism and quickly became one of the most trusted voices in the UAE's dining and nightlife space. Over seven years on the ground, she has reviewed more than 400 venues across all seven emirates — from the sun-baked beach clubs of JBR and the rooftop terraces of DIFC, to the understated local gems that rarely make it onto tourist lists.Before joining What's Hot in UAE as Nightlife & Dining Editor, Monica contributed to Time Out Dubai, Abu Dhabi Food Festival coverage, and several regional hospitality publications. She has attended every major restaurant opening in Dubai since 2019 and maintains direct relationships with PRs and venue operators across the city — which means the information you read in her guides is always verified, never recycled from a press release.Her specialities are happy hours (she has personally verified every deal on our lists), Friday brunches, and the Northern Emirates' emerging food scene. She is based in DIFC and eats out five times a week. When she says a place is worth your money, it is.Follow Monica's work on Muck Rack, Substack, Vocal, and Medium.

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