Freshest news from the region and beyond, straight to your screens.
١. Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East Returns to Dubai Autodrome in 2026
The Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East returns to Dubai Autodrome on 24–25 January 2026, hosted by Porsche Centre Dubai and Northern Emirates, Al Nabooda Automobiles.
One of the region’s longest-running one-make racing championships, the series brings pure on-track action with Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, delivering close, high-intensity racing from start to finish. Beyond the track, the Dubai round is designed as a lifestyle-led motorsport weekend, blending racing with interactive Porsche experiences, simulators, live entertainment, curated food and beverage spaces, and dedicated family zones.
By combining elite motorsport with a festival-style setting, the 2026 Dubai round is set to be one of the city’s standout automotive and lifestyle events of the season.
٢. Nespresso Celebrates 40 Years of Reinventing Coffee
Nespresso marks 40 years of shaping modern coffee culture, celebrating four decades of innovation, craft, and iconic taste. Since 1986, the brand has continuously reimagined how coffee is brewed and enjoyed, at home and beyond.
To celebrate the milestone, Nespresso brings back Volluto for Nespresso Professional systems in a limited edition, alongside refined creations such as Caffè Florian, inspired by Venice’s legendary café founded in 1720. Together, they honour the brand’s heritage while looking firmly toward the future of coffee.
Find the iconic capsules here.
٣. GUESS Paints the Alps Red for Its 45th Anniversary
GUESS celebrates its 45th anniversary with an expanded Winter Takeover, transforming iconic Alpine destinations across Switzerland, Italy, and France into bold brand showcases.
From Gstaad and Zermatt to Courchevel and Bormio, the project features large-scale installations, branded ski lifts, and immersive experiences, including a fully branded GUESS Igloo in Gstaad celebrating the brand’s iconic imagery.
٤. Taste of Sardinia Comes to The Ned Doha
The Ned Doha welcomes an exclusive culinary collaboration with Cala di Volpe, bringing the flavors and heritage of Sardinia to Doha for a limited three-day experience from 20–22 January 2026.
Taste of Sardinia is an intimate, immersive dining journey curated by Cala di Volpe’s chefs, celebrating the island’s rich gastronomic traditions, artisanal produce, and time-honored techniques through a refined, contemporary lens. Hosted within The Ned Doha’s club, the experience offers guests a rare opportunity to explore Sardinian cuisine in an elegant, private setting, marking a standout moment on the city’s culinary calendar.
٥. Coca-Cola Arena Marks 500 Events with Sold-Out LANY Show
Coca-Cola Arena celebrates a major milestone with its 500th event, marked by a sold-out LANY concert on 23 January 2026. The moment underscores the venue’s position as one of the most active and versatile live entertainment spaces globally.
Since opening, the Arena has hosted a wide spectrum of concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, theatre, exhibitions, and family entertainment, playing a key role in shaping Dubai’s entertainment landscape. Looking ahead, the milestone also signals a future-focused commitment, with Coca-Cola Arena pledging 500 hours in 2026 to support emerging event professionals through its internship programme, reinforcing its impact beyond the stage.
٦. Montblanc Unveils Fall/Winter 2026 Leather Collections in Milan
Montblanc presented its Fall/Winter 2026 leather collections during Milan Fashion Week, unveiling the new designs at a curated breakfast at Salone dei Tessuti. The experience brought together craftsmanship, travel, and writing culture, with guests including Emma Roberts, Jamie Campbell Bower, and brand ambassadors Zinedine Zidane and Waris Ahluwalia.
Rooted in Montblanc’s ongoing narrative of the journey, inspired by Wes Anderson’s Let’s Write short film, the presentation featured immersive installations centred around the Montblanc Desk, a symbol of ideas, creativity, and self-expression.
The new leather collections highlight soft constructions, warm red-brown tones, and evolved travel-focused designs, reinforcing Montblanc’s heritage of craftsmanship while offering a contemporary vision for modern creative travellers.
٧. Saudi Arabia and France Open New Cultural Space in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and France have announced a new cultural collaboration with the opening of La Fabrique, a multidisciplinary arts space in Riyadh’s JAX District, launching on 22 January. Created in partnership between Riyadh Art and the French Institute in Saudi Arabia, the venue is designed as a platform for creative exchange, supporting work across performance, digital art, photography, music, cinema, cuisine, and poetry. Part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 cultural ambitions, La Fabrique aims to foster collaboration between Saudi and international artists while reinforcing Riyadh’s growing position as a global arts hub.
٨. Sweat The Core Launches as a New GCC Wellness Platform
Sweat The Core has officially launched as a new-generation GCC wellness guide, created through a collaboration between sCore and SWEAT OMAN. The platform curates intentional movement, mindfulness, travel, and immersive lifestyle experiences, connecting like-minded women through elevated, community-driven wellness moments.
The launch was marked by its first exclusive retreat in Oman (9–11 January 2026), bringing together 15 women for a thoughtfully curated escape blending movement, self-care, culture, and connection. Set against Oman’s coastline and mountains, the experience reflected Sweat The Core’s vision of wellness as a way of living, rooted in purpose and presence.
With this inaugural retreat, Sweat The Core sets the tone for future experiences across the region, redefining wellness through intentional design and community.
٩. Shakira to Headline OFFLIMITS Music Festival 2026 in Abu Dhabi
Global superstar Shakira will headline OFFLIMITS Music Festival 2026 on 4 April at Etihad Park, Yas Island, marking the festival’s highly anticipated return. Known as the UAE’s first open-format, genre-blending music festival, OFFLIMITS combines music, art, and visual culture across multiple stages.
Shakira’s Abu Dhabi performance is part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, bringing her iconic hits and high-energy live show to the capital. Tickets go on sale on 24 January, with prices starting from AED 595, while additional global and regional artists will be announced soon.
١٠. 14-Year-Old Saudi Creator Rateel Alshehri Makes Joy Awards History
Saudi teen Rateel Alshehri has made history at the 2026 Joy Awards, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Favorite Female Influencer award at just 14 years old.
Her win marks a defining moment for Generation Alpha, highlighting the growing impact of young voices in shaping the region’s cultural and digital future.
