This Year’s BRED Abu Dhabi, Presented by Hypebeast Is Set To Be the Biggest Yet
Taking place on April 24-28, the jam-packed programming includes a range of cultural activations led by industry heavyweights.
We’re two weeks out from the second annual BRED Abu Dhabi, presented by Hypebeast festival — here’s what to expect at the five-day celebration of neo-culture.
Returning to the scenic Yas Bay Waterfront, the event is set to be the biggest yet. Celebrating the intersection of culture – tapping into music, fashion, art, sport, and gaming – the jam-packed programming is bringing the best of regional and global talent to the space.
From performance wear to lifestyle, expect the fashion offering to be immense with the likes of Billionaire Boys Club, ICECREAM, Fred Perry, and many more in attendance. South Africa-based GRADE Africa will also be returning for its second year bringing the continent’s vibrancy whilst seminal luxury streetwear label Les Benjamins will be making its BRED Abu Dhabi debut. As well as the international heavyweights, a range of local and regional brands will be hosting stalls including burgeoning labels Sn3 Studio, MQAAAR and 5ivePillars, to name a few.
Representing the sneaker world, a number of sportswear giants have teamed up exclusively with worldwide retailers to showcase their latest products. These include the presence of UAE-based Sneaker District, Jordan brought to you by Footlocker as well as this year’s highlight partnership between ASICS and Barcelona’s SVD as they create a must-see installation with a range of designer-led activations tapping into the “Sound Mind, Sound Body” mantra.
The festival’s ethos is platforming local and global talent, honoring their joint contributions to creativity in the region – BRED Abu Dhabi’s Art Gallery is a celebration of this fusion. Exhibiting the likes of Moroccan-Belgian photographer Mous Lambrabat represented by Loft Art Gallery, revered for his vibrant take on merging cultures and identities, and Rami Afifi, a Palestinian-Egyptian graphic designer who draws from nostalgic pop-culture references – the space has been introduced to provide a source of exploration and inspiration. Hypeart will also be curating a dedicated area within the Art Gallery, enlisting two grassroots artists from wholly different backgrounds to create a unique piece that transforms each day of the event.
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Having announced the international headline acts earlier this year that include Ty Dolla $ign, Offset, Metro Boomin, Don Toliver, and more — BRED Abu Dhabi’s line-up of exciting regional acts has finally been unveiled. First to take the stage are El Waili and Omar Dafencii, on Thursday, Abyusif, Nour, Marwan Pablo, and Abo El Anwar, while Major League DJz will headline on April 27 alongside Honey and D33J. To wrap up the festival Dystinct, Lana Lubany, and Donia Wael will be gearing up to bring their energetic performances to fans.
Much like last year’s highly sought-after PaperBoy Paris x Amongst Few collaborative stall, this year sees the worlds of fashion and food collide like no other. Scarr’s Pizza and Dubai retailer FRAME are working together to deliver delectable organic pizzas straight from NYC while Brooklyn’s viral sensation Rahim Mohamed aka General Ock, has teamed up with Abu Dhabi-based rapper Freek’s retail brand for an exclusive Good Faith x The Ocky Way partnership. LOCAL — a concept store based in the city — has also unveiled a partnership with Italian-inspired local bakery Marmellata for a unique dining experience titled “DUECE’S” that will debut exclusively at BRED Abu Dhabi. These are met with a range of other food spots to keep you indulged throughout the five days such as 7th Street Burger, Kooya Filipino Eatery, Dubai’s pioneering smokehouse BBQ Mattar, and much more.
Elsewhere at the event, a skate park, futsal pitch, and basketball court will be hosting an array of tournaments, dunk showcases, and streetball-type challenges. This year will also showcase another unforgettable gaming experience where, for the first time, fans can play with and against some of the best NBA 2K League players in the world, in addition to winning exclusive prizes.
BRED Abu Dhabi, presented by Hypebeast will run from April 24-28 in Yas Bay. Whilst the Five Day Festival Pass has now sold out, you can still get your hands on other ticket categories on the official website as well as Ticketmaster including the Festival Day Pass starting from 75 AED (approx. $21 USD) and access to concerts from April 25-27 starting from 125 AED (approx. $34 USD).
