ADIHEX 2026 Opens As The Largest Edition In Its History
Anniversary Show Fills ADNEC Complex
ADIHEX 2026, the 23rd edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, opened on 28 August 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi as the largest and most extensive staging of the event since its founding in 2003.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers' Club, the show runs for 10 consecutive days and closes on 6 September 2026. ADNEC Group, a Modon company, organises the exhibition in partnership with the Emirates Falconers' Club, and for the first time in its history the show occupies the entire ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi complex, a change organisers linked to continued growth and rising demand from exhibitors and visitors both inside and outside the UAE.
ADIHEX 2026 spanned 15 sectors, among them falconry, equestrian sports, camels, saluki, hunting rifles and equipment, veterinary products and services, hunting tourism and safari, fishing equipment and marine sports, outdoor leisure vehicles and equipment, arts and crafts, and the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage, staged across the full ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi footprint from 28 August to 6 September 2026.
The exhibition brings together local and international companies, brands, specialists and enthusiasts under one roof across hunting, equestrian sports, falconry, camping and outdoor adventure, alongside a cultural and heritage programme organisers describe as reflecting the depth, diversity and authenticity of Emirati traditions, offering a varied experience for visitors across its full range of interests. A dedicated children's zone runs throughout the 10 days, aligned with the UAE's Year of Family initiative, offering educational and creative workshops that introduce young visitors to Emirati heritage and traditions alongside interactive sessions built around falcons, traditional crafts and heritage arts.
Eight Falcon Auctions Mark ADIHEX 2026
Falcon auctions remain one of the exhibition's flagship draws, with eight specialised sales scheduled this year. Four were held ahead of the opening, while four more take place across the remaining weekends of the run, open to bidders both in person and online. Organisers describe the auctions as a platform supporting the falconry sector's economic and cultural value, giving enthusiasts, owners and breeders from around the world the opportunity to acquire falcons distinguished by their beauty and exceptional capabilities. The sales are pitched as offering quality and transparency standards intended to advance the sport and preserve its cultural legacy, attracting leading owners and breeders from the UAE and around the world.
Global Acts Join Heritage Programme
A cultural and entertainment programme runs alongside the trade and auction activity, celebrating traditions from beyond the UAE as well as within it. Performers include the Hungarian National Equestrian Theatre, African cultural showcases, Japanese Taiko drumming groups and acts inspired by South American cultures, supplemented by roaming entertainment and interactive performances across the exhibition venue, adding to the atmosphere across the 10-day run.
A dedicated area showcases traditional Emirati crafts and cultural practices, including the preparation and serving of Arabic coffee, pottery making, palm frond weaving, embroidery and traditional games, staged alongside live cultural performances reflecting UAE heritage. Organisers frame the combined programme as a meeting point for heritage, culture and the performing arts, and as reinforcing Abu Dhabi's standing as a hub for hunting, equestrianism, falconry and cultural heritage, with ADIHEX 2026 continuing to welcome visitors across its full range of commercial, cultural and entertainment activities through to its close on 6 September 2026.