What’s On Dubai Awards 2026: Shortlist revealed

The excitement is building for the What’s On Dubai Awards 2026, as the shortlist for this highly anticipated event has been officially unveiled. This premier celebration of Dubai’s dining and entertainment scene allows the public to express their preferences, with votes now tallied for the best in various categories. As we eagerly await the announcement of the winners, slated for a dazzling awards ceremony on April 16, 2026, get ready to cheer on your favorites as they vie for top honors in the culinary and leisure landscape of Dubai.

A Celebration of Diverse Categories

The What’s On Dubai Awards 2026 encompasses an impressive 42 categories, highlighting the best spots in dining, entertainment, and unique food concepts. With record voter turnout this year, merely making it to the shortlist is a tremendous achievement for all nominated establishments, reflecting the passion and support of the Dubai community. This event truly embodies the spirit of the city and showcases the high standards of its leisure offerings.

Special Recognitions

In addition to the popular categories, there are also four special awards that focus on exceptional talent and innovation in the industry. These include the Homegrown Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Restaurant of the Year. Unlike the general categories, the winners in these special segments will be chosen through a confidential process by an expert panel from the What’s On Dubai Awards 2026 team, ensuring that these accolades truly reflect unmatched excellence.

The Shortlist Is Here

Now, without further delay, here is the highly awaited shortlist for the What’s On Dubai Awards 2026, with nominated venues presented in alphabetical order:

Entertainment & Leisure

• Favourite Attraction: Boo Boo Land, Game Over Escape Rooms, Global Village, Grand Hyatt Dubai Waterpark, Motiongate Dubai, Topgolf Dubai, Wild Wadi Waterpark
• Favourite Bar: Amelia Lounge, Aether, Gaba, Jade, LITT, Mimi Kakushi, Tattu Sky Lounge
• Favourite Concert, Show or Festival: Bohemia Presents, GREASE at Dubai Opera, Live Nation Middle East Presents: Pitbull, Pacha ICONS, Swan Lake at Dubai Opera, UNTOLD Dubai, Ushuaia
• Favourite Daycation: Anantara, World Island Resort, La Cantine Beach, Oasis Pool Bar & Lounge, One&Only Royal Mirage, San Beach, Summersalt Beach Club, Jumeirah Al Naseem, Tagomago
• Favourite Staycation: Dubai: Sofitel Dubai The Palm, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, Anantara, World Island Resort, Banyan Tree Dubai, Delano Dubai, Address Beach Resort, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai
• Favourite Staycation: Northern Emirates: Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort, DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa Marjan Island, InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, The Ritz-Carlton, Al Hamra Beach, Rixos Bab Al Bahr, Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort
• Favourite Spa: Banyan Tree Spa, Bianco JGE Ladies Salon, Cinq Mondes Spa at Raffles The Palm Dubai, One&Only Spa at One&Only Royal Mirage, The Pearl Spa & Wellness, Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane, Talise Ottoman Spa
• Favourite Pilates Studio: The Bay, Body Base, Paus Club, Tula Studios, Vera Reformer and Pilates Studio

Food Concepts

• Favourite Afternoon Tea: Armani/Lounge, Balloons at the Palace Afternoon Tea, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Grand Palaces Afternoon Tea at Blüthner Hall, Raffles The Palm Dubai, The Biltmore Brasserie, La Patisserie, The Lobby Lounge, Dusit Thani Dubai, Maison Devoille
• Favourite Alfresco Restaurant: ATTIKO Dubai, Flamingo Room by tashas, Gigi Rigolatto, Kaimana Beach, Maison De La Plage, Nuska Beach, OFK
• Favourite Breakfast: Brunch & Cake Jumeirah Islands, French Riviera Beach, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jones the Grocer, Emirates Golf Club, Lazy Cat, Maison Mathis Voco Dubai The Palm, Timo, Zouzou
• Favourite Burger: Claw, Eleven Green, Jospereno Restaurant, Junk Smash Burger, Leña, Smokd Eatery, Tribes
• Favourite Business Lunch: Cé La Vi, Chic Nonna, Eugene Eugene, L’Amo Bistro del Mare, L’Atelier Robuchon, Maison Dali, Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr
• Favourite Cafe: Apricot Café, Artisan Bakers, Bounty Beets, Comptoir 102, Fuze Caffe, Novikov Cafe, Unwind
• Favourite Pub Grub: Biggles, Ernst, Garden on 8, The Irish Village, Al Garhoud, McGettigan’s Souk Madinat, The Stables, Toad in the Hole, Topgolf Dubai
• Favourite Pet-Friendly Restaurant: Chaihona, The Greens, Counter Culture Cafe, February 30, Horse & Hound, The Local, Barsha Heights, Outdoor Terrace – Goose Island Tap House, Tap & Grill – Jumeirah Golf Estates
• Favourite Rooftop Restaurant: Above Eleven Dubai, Barfly, Eve Penthouse & Lounge, Level 43 Sky Lounge, Look Up Rooftop Bar, Marbar Rooftop Tapas Bar – Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Zeta Seventy Seven

Restaurants

• Favourite All-Day Dining Restaurant: Amaya, Aelia, Cielo, The Collective by Market Café, Huqqabaz Jumeirah, Little Neighborhood Restaurant, SANA
• Favourite Brasserie: Brasserie Lutetia, Brasserie Uptown, Couqley French Brasserie, The Maine Land Brasserie, Mina Brasserie, Rare Brasserie & Bar, Sucre Brasserie
• Favourite Brunch: A La Carte: AURA Skypool, The Beam by Nick Alvis, Big Fat Greek Brunch, Carnival By Tresind, O Brunch, Shi Restaurant, Tête-à-Tête
• Favourite Restaurant: Northern Emirates: Farmhouse By Syrco – The Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert, Levant & Nar, Mekong, Sanchaya, Ula Beach RAK, Waka, Zushi

Casual Restaurants

• Favourite Casual Asian Restaurant: 77 Asia Restaurant, Andaliman, BA-Boldly Asian, Hoi An Restaurant, Ikigai, Lah Lah, The Noodle House
• Favourite Casual Brunch: Buffet: Ballaro at Conrad Dubai, Be Beach, Float Lounge at Vida Creek Beach, Golden Ticket Brunch, Imagination, Hilton Dubai The Palm, Tiki Hula Hula Brunch, Trader Vic’s JBR, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Toshi Restaurant
• Favourite Casual French Restaurant: Brasserie Uptown, Chez Wam, Couqley French Brasserie, CQ French Brasserie, Le Relais de L’Entrecôte
• Favourite Casual Indian Restaurant: Asha’s Restaurant, Kasturi, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Khadak, Mausam, Pincode by Kunal Kapur, Rang, Rohini
• Favourite Casual Italian Restaurant: Arrogante, Basta, Cucina Dubai, Falcone, Il Forno Town Square, Isola Ristorante, Tutto Passa
• Favourite Casual Japanese Restaurant: CutFish Dubai, Goldfish Dubai, Izakaya, Kinoya Restaurant, Kumo, Nama Yoso Restaurant, Yubi Handroll Bar
• Favourite Casual Latin American Restaurant: Canary Club, Esco Bar, Frevo, Fusion Ceviche, La Parrilla, Mamazonia Restaurant, Sante Ria
• Favourite Casual Mediterranean Restaurant: Blume Dubai, The Banc Dubai, The Dish By ChefSperxos, Fi’lia Dubai, Laguna Beach Taverna & Lounge, Oia, Solara
• Favourite Casual Middle Eastern Restaurant: Abd el Wahab, Allo Beirut, Awani, Bebabel, Courtyard at The Heritage Hotel, Autograph Collection, Leila Restaurant, Nai at Kempinski Central Avenue
• Favourite Casual Seafood Restaurant: Al Hallab Bab El Bahr, Aprons & Hammers, Ibn AlBahr, Harbor by Samakje, The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
• Favourite Casual Steakhouse: 71 Steak & Grill, Carna Dubai, Firelake Grill House Restaurant & Bar, Le Relais de L’Entrecôte, Rodeo Drive IBG, Rowley’s Restaurant, Uno Mas – Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai

Fine Dining Restaurants

• Favourite Fine Dining Asian Restaurant: Buddha-Bar, China Tang Dubai, MEI, Pai Thai, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Ronin, Sea Fu, Tong Thai
• Favourite Fine Dining Brunch: Buffet: Al Qasr Brunch, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Brunch Voyage, Bubbalicious Brunch, Café Nikki – Pearl Jumeira, Jou Jou Brasserie, London Social Garden Brunch, Traiteur Brunch
• Favourite Fine Dining French Restaurant: Alizee, Josette, La Cantine du Faubourg, La Dame de Pic, La Maison Ani, La Petite Maison, Maison Revka
• Favourite Fine Dining Indian Restaurant: Armani/Amal, Indego by Vineet, Jamavar Restaurant, Kinara By Vikas Khanna, Rang Mahal, Revolver, Tresind Studio
• Favourite Fine Dining Italian Restaurant: Cala Vista, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam, Chic Nonna, Il Borro Tuscan Bistro, Isabella Cucina Italiana, Loren, Lucia’s, Signor Sassi
• Favourite Fine Dining Japanese Restaurant: Akira Back, Baoli, Kayto, Jumeirah Al Naseem, Kigo Dubai, Mimi Kakushi, Salvaje, Sushisamba Dubai
• Favourite Fine Dining Latin American Restaurant: Coya, Girl & the Goose – Restaurante Centroamericano, Gitano Dubai, La Nina Restaurant, Nazcaa, Tamoka, Toro Toro by Chef Richard Sandoval
• Favourite Fine Dining Mediterranean Restaurant: Kira, Kyma, Lana Lusa, OPA Dubai, Orilla Restaurant, Shimmers, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam, Zenon Restaurant
• Favourite Fine Dining Middle Eastern Restaurant: Al Nafoorah, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Amaseena, Babel Restaurant, Etci Umut Restaurant, Gerbou, Huqqa Dubai Mall, Ninive
• Favourite Fine Dining Seafood Restaurant: Alici, Besar, Kraken Dubai, Sea Fu, Son of a Fish
• Favourite Fine Dining Steakhouse: Bushman’s, The Cullinan, Fuméé Steakhouse, Ina, Leña, Porterhouse Bar & Grill, Prime52

As anticipation grows for the What’s On Dubai Awards 2026, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the grand ceremony on April 16. Prepare to celebrate the outstanding talent and creativity that make Dubai’s leisure and dining scene truly exceptional.