The countdown is officially on as the 37th Edition of Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 (HDDC) returns next week to Emirates Golf Club from Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th January, bringing four days of world-class sport, unforgettable family experiences, and festival energy to Dubai’s winter calendar.
For 2026, the flagship Rolex Series event builds on its legendary golfing roots with bigger interactive family zones, new live entertainment, the debut of Eat Street as a dynamic culinary showcase, and enjoyable wellness experiences, firmly positioning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as much more than a golf tournament. Whether you’re planning a family day out, a social weekend with friends, or a premium hospitality experience, here’s your complete guide to what’s new and what not to miss this January at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic:
Table of Contents
The golf: world class, as ever (and still unmissable)
Some things don’t need reinventing. The Hero Dubai Desert Classic remains the oldest professional golf tournament in the Middle East. The 2026 player field brings together some of the biggest names in the game, including Masters champion and Grand Slammer winner Rory McIlroy in pursuit of a record fifth Dallah Trophy, marking the 20th anniversary since he first appeared at the tournament as a fresh faced 16-year-old. He will lead a stellar field alongside fellow Ryder Cup star and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, former World Number One Dustin Johnson, FedExCup Champion Tommy Fleetwood, Major champion Shane Lowry, Norwegian standout Viktor Hovland, Rolex Series winner Nicolai Højgaard, 2025 PGA Tour victor Ryan Fox, and rising star Tom McKibbin.
Former World Number One and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald returns to Dubai, bringing experience and pedigree to the line-up. Major champion Patrick Reed adds further star power, while current Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper represents the next generation of international talent. The field is also strengthened by UAE national golfer Ahmed Skaik joining the field as a professional for the first time, highlighting the tournament’s continued commitment to supporting regional talents alongside the golf world’s biggest names.
General Admission remains free for everyone on Thursday, 22, and Friday, 23 January. Weekend access for adults on Saturday, 24, and Sunday, 25 January is AED 100 with advance purchase or AED 125 at the door, while children under 17 enter free across all four days when registered and accompanied by an adult. With last year’s event reaching capacity across ticket types, early registration is strongly recommended.
Where to watch
Fans can once again enjoy close-up views from a variety of public viewing areas across the course, soaking up the atmosphere as the field battles it out and witnessing the drama of Championship Sunday and the winning putt live. Classic vantage points return for 2026, including the 1st Tee Grandstand, where spectators can watch players begin their rounds, and the 15th Green Grandstand, offering front-row views of one of the Majlis Course’s most exciting holes.
New and refreshed viewing experiences add a more social dimension to spectating this year. The 18th Green is now home to a public viewing deck with an integrated bar, creating a lively, standing-only environment as the tournament reaches its climax. Nearby, the Public Bar & Viewing Deck provides a two-tier terrace with panoramic views across the 6th, 12th, and 14th tees, making it an ideal spot to follow multiple points of play at once.
Spectators can also enjoy views from the Emirates Deck overlooking the 11th green, while The Social on Sixteen continues to offer one of the most sought-after perspectives on the course, combining live action on the 16th green with food, drinks, and a vibrant social atmosphere. Rounding out the experience, Eat Street introduces additional public bar spaces, including a rooftop terrace bar at the Driving Range by Callaway, allowing fans to enjoy the tournament from yet another elevated viewpoint.
Together, these varied viewing spots ensure there’s no shortage of ways to experience the action, whether you prefer front-row golf drama, relaxed terrace views, or a more social, festival-style setting.
Tournament Town: Bigger, busier and built for families
One of the most notable updates for 2026 in Tournament Town is the outdoor Kids Zone, now double the size and designed so that children can be entertained and inspired all weekend. Positioned as the social heart of the event, it blends hands-on activities for children with festival entertainment for adults.
Families can explore creative zones featuring arts and crafts, seed-bomb making, soil painting and DIY workshops, alongside hands-on activities such as playdough making, Fluid Bear painting using ceramic bear statues, and Build-a-Bear sessions, all finished with a touch of sparkle from the Glitter Box. Throughout the day, roaming performers, including The Tee Time Troupe, The Par-tee Players and The Garden Floaters, will bring constant movement and surprise, while airbrush calligraphy artists and caricaturists create personalized keepsakes for visitors of all ages. The Kids Zone also now features a 2-in-1 bungee trampoline, larger soft play areas, an enhanced VR corner, the Big Red Slide and a variety of lawn games, giving younger visitors even more reason to linger.
Family Friday & Live Entertainment
The returning FamilyBeatz, taking place on Family Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, will transform Tournament Town into Dubai’s first family-friendly rave. Teenage DJ Julie will take to the decks alongside live acts, creating a high-energy but child-appropriate experience designed for families to enjoy together.
Tournament Town on day four of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 19, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)
As the sun sets, Tournament Town shifts seamlessly into evening mode. From 5:30 pm until late, live bands, talented singers, and DJs take over, with performances from Skyline, Speed Wagon, Sweet Chilli Jam, Charles, and DJ Rainier, delivering an open-air festival atmosphere that works just as well for after-work plans as it does for a full evening out.
To keep young fans entertained and inspired, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is teaming up with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature to bring a dedicated Reading Corner to Tournament Town. On Friday, January 23rd, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, children can enjoy live readings from beloved books by acclaimed local and international authors, including Curtis Jobling.
Eat Street: A brand-new food destination
Food lovers will notice one of the biggest changes for 2026 is the debut of Eat Street, a new dedicated foodie hub that allows you to keep up with all the action whilst enjoying a hearty meal. Designed as a haven for casual food lovers, Eat Street features 12 one-of-a-kind food trucks with a central seating area and a giant LED screen streaming live tournament action. Visitors can tuck into bold smash burgers from MrBeast Burger, cult-favourite Salt burgers, Topgolf’s crowd-pleasing bites, shawarma classics from Yalla Mahalla, fresh and naturally healthy dishes from Vietnamese Foodies, Nashville-style fried chicken with a bold Korean twist from Hangry Joes, modern Mexican flavours from La Morita, familiar favourites from Pret a Manger, hearty plates from BŌTA, and coffee from Costa Coffee.
Premium Experiences & Hospitality
For those looking for an elevated sporting day out, several premium experiences return for 2026, each offering a distinct way to enjoy the tournament. The Social on Sixteen is back and now twice the size, delivering a lively social atmosphere overlooking the iconic 16th hole. Guests can enjoy four hours of free-flowing beverages from 12 pm-4 pm, including hops, grapes, spirits, and soft drinks, alongside premium casual dining. The menu features crowd favourites such as classic and pulled beef burgers, crispy chicken and plant-based options, pizzas from The Westin’s Bussola, and lighter Asian-inspired bowls from BŌTA, making it an easy, all-in afternoon experience. Tickets are priced at AED 695 on Friday, and AED 790 on Saturday and Sunday.
For a more refined hospitality experience, the Dallah Lounge continues to impress with gourmet dining, premium beverages, and live cooking stations, set between the ninth and 18th greens. Guests also enjoy access to the Sky Deck, offering panoramic views across the fairways and Dubai Marina. The only tickets remaining are now for Thursday at AED 2,100.
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Those seeking a relaxed, yet elevated option can opt for the Emirates Golf Club Clubhouse, which combines access to premium dining, comfortable lounges and views of the course and sweeping fairway views. Tickets are AED 250 on Thursday and Friday and AED 350 on Saturday and Sunday, making it a polished way to enjoy the tournament at your own pace.
Wellness, Sustainability & Getting Active
Sustainability remains a core focus for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, which is the first Middle Eastern golf event and the first in the DP World Tour Rolex Series to achieve GEO Certified® Tournament status for two years running. New interactive sustainability workshops will take place on Saturday, 24, and Sunday, 25 January, while throughout the tournament, guests can use free refillable water stations around the venue.
The Step Fore It Challenge, presented by Mediclinic, also returns to encourage spectators to get active by rewarding the participants with the most steps taken at the tournament. Research shows golf spectators average more than 11,500 steps per day, making it a natural way to stay active while enjoying the event. Spectators can take part by registering their step count from their personal devices on an iPad when they arrive, then logging their final step count again as they leave. The top five participants from Thursday to Sunday will win prizes, which include a Comprehensive Health Package from Medicinic worth 3,000 AED, a Viya Duo Quarterly Pass granting access to five-star leisure locations for two adults, golf lessons at the Peter Cowen Academy, and group sessions at Topgolf. Filtered water refill stations are also available throughout the venue as part of the Dubai Can initiative, and guests are encouraged to bring reusable bottles.
Creators Dubai Desert Classic
Returning for its second edition from 17-18 January 2026, the Creators Dubai Desert Classic brings golf to a younger, global audience through digital-first storytelling, as last year’s event generated 13.3 million views from a single hero video. An innovative addition to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic schedule, CDDC brings together 16 leading global golf content creators, including Mac Boucher and the Fore Brothers, for a curated programme of golf, culture, and lifestyle experiences across Dubai, available to be watched on videos online.
Getting there:
As there is no free or paid onsite parking at Emirates Golf Club for this year’s event, visitors are encouraged to use public transport where possible as part of the tournament’s ‘Go for the Green’ initiative. To find the fastest route, visitors can plan their visit on the Journey Planner on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic App.
The easiest way to reach the tournament is by the Dubai Metro. As the only event on the DP World Tour with a metro station directly outside the event entrance, Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station on the Red Line offers seamless access to the venue. The station is well connected to key locations across the city, including Mall of the Emirates, Business Bay, Dubai Mall, World Trade Centre, and Airport Terminal 3. Visitors driving in can also park for free at Centrepoint, Etisalat, or Jebel Ali Metro stations, then hop on the Red Line to Al Fardan Exchange, arriving right at the front gate. Taxi drop-off and pick-up points will be available for spectators at the venue throughout the tournament, making this a convenient option for families and groups. Bus route 83 stops at Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station, directly outside the Emirates Golf Club entrance, and connects to multiple locations across Dubai. Visitors can plan their journey using the Journey Planner available on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic website.
With expanded family experiences, a brand-new food destination, live music, wellness initiatives, and world-class sport, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 continues to evolve into one of Dubai’s most inclusive and enjoyable winter events. Whether you come for the golf, the atmosphere, the food and entertainment, or simply to spend quality time outdoors, this is a weekend designed to be shared.
Tickets and full details are available at www.dubaidesertclassic.com.