The Sharjah Light Festival 2027 has no announced dates as of 2 November 2026, but the last two editions opened in early February and ran for about 12 days. The most recent one, the 15th, opened on 3 February 2026 and ran to 15 February at 13 locations. Gulf News reported free light shows and a Light Village that charged AED 10. This guide covers the last edition's locations and hours, the free-entry question, how to get from Dubai by taxi or bus, and what to check once dates are announced.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
When is the Sharjah Light Festival 2027?
Not announced as of 2 November 2026. The last edition, the 15th, ran from 3 to 15 February 2026, and the one before from 5 to 16 February, so early February is the pattern. Check the festival website for the 2027 dates.
This guide also answers:
- Is the Sharjah Light Festival free?
- Where are the Sharjah Light Festival shows?
- What time do the light shows run?
Four places to plan around, based on the last edition
#1
Al Majaz Waterfront
Al Majaz Waterfront was one of the venues on the festival website for the last edition. It is a lagoon promenade with cafes and fountains, so you can eat before the shows begin. It is the easiest venue for a Dubai visitor to reach by taxi, and our Dubai to Sharjah guide has the fares and the rush-hour timing.
#2
Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)
Sharjah Fort, also called Al Hisn, was among the 13 venues listed on the festival website for the last edition. It sits in the Heart of Sharjah, the restored old quarter, so you can combine the shows with the old town earlier in the day. Museum hours are shorter on Fridays, so check them for your date.
#3
Al Rafisah Dam, Khorfakkan
Several venues on the festival website are on the east coast, including Al Rafisah Dam, Khorfakkan Waterfall, Kalba Waterfront, the Hanging Gardens in Kalba and AlTayari Mosque in Dibba. They are far from Dubai, so an evening visit means a long drive each way. Check the distance in a map app first, and do not plan them as an easy add-on.
#4
The Light Village
Khaleej Times described the Light Village as a space with food, shopping, entertainment, illuminated installations and children's play areas. It has its own ticket: Gulf News reported AED 10 at the 14th edition, free for children under 11, senior citizens and people of determination. We did not find the price for the last edition, so check the ticket page.
Sharjah Light Festival 2027: the short answer
The Sharjah Light Festival 2027 has no announced dates as of 2 November 2026. The festival website we read covers the last edition and gives no 2027 dates. The most recent edition, the 15th, opened on 3 February 2026 with a drone show and ran until 15 February, according to Khaleej Times. The 14th edition before it launched on 5 February and ran to 16 February, Gulf News reported, with the Light Village open until 23 February.
So the pattern points to early February, but that is a pattern and not an announcement. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, and we do not know whether that will change the schedule; our Ramadan 2027 guide has the dates. Check the festival website and the Sharjah media before you book anything non-refundable.
What the last edition looked like
The table gives what we could confirm for the 15th edition. Treat it as a guide to what to expect, not a 2027 programme.
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 3 February 2026, with a drone show | Khaleej Times |
| Closing | 15 February 2026 | Khaleej Times |
| Locations | 13, from Sharjah city to the east coast, the central region and Al Hamriyah | Khaleej Times |
| Show hours | Daily 6 PM to 11 PM, until midnight on weekends | Festival website |
| Light Village hours | Sunday to Wednesday 5 PM to midnight; Thursday to Saturday 5 PM to 1 AM | Festival website |
| Idea of the festival | Science, creativity and heritage, shown with light, colour and music at landmarks | Festival website |
As of 2 November 2026. Dates, venues and hours for 2027 are not announced.
The 14th edition's shows paused during the Maghrib and Isha prayers, Gulf News reported, so do not turn up at a venue at an exact prayer time and expect a display. Allow for gaps in the programme.
Where the lights were
The festival website listed these venues for the last edition. We do not know which will return, and the organisers may add or drop places, so check the 2027 list when it appears.
- East coast and mountains: Al Rafisah Dam and Khorfakkan Waterfall in Khorfakkan; Kalba Waterfront and the Hanging Gardens in Kalba; AlTayari Mosque in Dibba
- Central region and Al Hamriyah: Al Dhaid Fort and the General Souq in Al Hamriyah
- Other venues named on the site: Dr. Sultan Al Qassimi Center, Sharjah Mosque, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Jada, House of Wisdom and Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)
For a first visit from Dubai, the venues in Sharjah city are the practical choice. Our Sharjah day trip guide shows how Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Hisn and the old town fit together by day, and the festival simply adds the evening.
Is the Sharjah Light Festival free?
The light shows were free at the 14th edition: Gulf News wrote about free light shows at 12 landmarks. The Light Village is different. Gulf News reported an entry fee of AED 10 at that edition, with free admission for children under 11, senior citizens and people of determination. The festival website for the last edition has a ticket link for the Light Village, but the page we read does not show a price.
So the honest answer is that watching the shows at the venues was free, and the Light Village had a ticket. We have not seen the 2027 ticket details, so check them when the festival announces its dates.
Getting there from Dubai
There is no Metro to Sharjah. The numbers below come from our Dubai to Sharjah guide, and the fares are approximate, so check the live estimate in the Careem or S'hail app.
| Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi or Careem from Deira, Bur Dubai or Downtown | 20-40 minutes outside the peaks | About AED 40-80 plus a small inter-emirate surcharge |
| Taxi from Dubai Marina or JBR | About 50-80 minutes | Well over AED 100 |
| Intercity bus E303, E306 or E307 | 30-60 minutes plus the wait | About AED 10 with a Nol card |
Approximate, from our guide. The bus ends at Al Jubail bus station, so you still need a taxi to most venues.
The clock matters more than the distance. Traffic towards Sharjah is heaviest from 5 PM to 8 PM, so be over the border before 4:30 PM or leave Dubai after 8 PM. The shows run from 6 PM, so an early start fits the evening well. For the way back, a taxi is the one option that works late at night, so plan one rather than relying on a bus. Our taxi and Careem guide explains how to book.
The east coast venues, such as Khorfakkan, Kalba and Dibba, are a long drive from Dubai. For those, hiring a car or staying nearby makes more sense than a taxi, and you should price the drive before you commit.
Rules to know in Sharjah
Sharjah is more conservative than Dubai. A few rules matter for an evening out:
- No alcohol is sold or served anywhere in Sharjah, hotels included, so plan any drinks in Dubai; see our alcohol laws guide
- Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, as in our dress code guide
- Keep public affection discreet, and ask before photographing people
- Friday hours are shorter at museums, so check them if you add a daytime visit
If you are staying in Sharjah rather than Dubai, our Sharjah or Dubai: where to stay guide compares the two.
Fitting the festival into a Dubai trip
We do not run a Sharjah Light Festival tour, so this is a do-it-yourself evening. What we can do is the rest of your plan. Our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35 per person, covers the Creek, Al Seef and the souks in 3-4 hours, and it makes a good day on its own before you travel to Sharjah in the late afternoon.
If you are staying in Sharjah, our full-day desert safari, from $45, and the Abu Dhabi city tour, from $45, both collect from hotels in Sharjah and Ajman, with no prepayment. Message us on WhatsApp for the pickup time, and put the festival on a different evening from a long tour day.
What is not confirmed yet
As of 2 November 2026, these details were still open. Check them on the festival website before you plan.
- The 2027 dates, and whether Ramadan changes them
- The list of 2027 locations
- Show and Light Village hours for 2027
- The Light Village ticket price, and whether shows are free again
- Whether any parking or shuttle arrangements are announced
FAQ
When is the Sharjah Light Festival 2027?
Not announced as of 2 November 2026. The last edition, the 15th, ran from 3 to 15 February 2026, and the one before from 5 to 16 February, so early February is the pattern. Check the festival website for the 2027 dates.
Is the Sharjah Light Festival free?
The light shows were free at the 14th edition, according to Gulf News. The Light Village charged AED 10 at that edition, free for children under 11, senior citizens and people of determination. We have not seen the 2027 prices.
Where are the Sharjah Light Festival shows?
At 13 locations in the last edition, from Sharjah city to the east coast, the central region and Al Hamriyah. They included Al Majaz Waterfront, Sharjah Mosque, Sharjah Fort, Al Dhaid Fort and Al Rafisah Dam. The 2027 list is not announced.
What time do the light shows run?
At the last edition the festival website gave daily shows from 6 PM to 11 PM, and until midnight on weekends. The Light Village was open from 5 PM, until midnight on Sunday to Wednesday and 1 AM on Thursday to Saturday.
How do I get from Dubai to the Sharjah Light Festival?
By taxi in 20-40 minutes for about AED 40-80 outside rush hour, or by the E303, E306 or E307 bus for about AED 10 with a Nol card. Avoid 5 PM to 8 PM towards Sharjah, and take a taxi home late at night.
Can I drink alcohol at the festival or in Sharjah?
No. Sharjah is a dry emirate: no alcohol is sold or served anywhere, hotels included. If you want a drink after the shows, plan it in Dubai on the way back.
Is the festival suitable for children?
Khaleej Times described the Light Village as having children's play areas, and Gulf News reported free entry for children under 11 at the 14th edition. Crowds and late hours make it a long evening, so plan a taxi back before you go.
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Photos: Al Majaz Waterfront — Janjua shj, CC BY-SA 4.0, Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) — ZI Jony, CC BY-SA 4.0, Al Rafisah Dam, Khorfakkan — Rithan.100425, CC BY-SA 4.0, The Light Village — Aleena Varghese, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).