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The third edition of the European Film Festival took place in the United Arab Emirates with screenings in Abu Dhabi from May 18 to 24, 2026, followed by Ras Al Khaimah from June 1 to 5, 2026, the European Union Delegation to the UAE announced on May 19. The programme included 16 European films, a selection of Emirati short films and a three-day professional workshop as organizers sought to broaden the event’s reach beyond the capital. The festival was organised in partnership with local institutions and supported by EU member states’ embassies to promote cultural ties through cinema.
The European Union Delegation to the UAE stated that the festival partnered with the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah Art under the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Support also came from EU Member States’ Embassies and Cultural Institutes in the UAE. This year’s edition aligned with the Year of the Family by including family-friendly productions alongside documentaries and stories from emerging voices in Europe and the UAE.
A curated selection of 16 films from 12 European countries formed the core programme according to the delegation’s announcement. Participating nations included Austria with The Village Next to Paradise, France with A Real Job, Italy with Gloria!, and Ukraine with The Taste of Freedom along with entries from Czechia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Spain. The festival also featured Emirati short films Guardians of the Mountains, Namoos and Unsaid to highlight local creative talent.
Screenings occurred at the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi for the capital leg and at the RAK Chamber Theater during the Ras Al Khaimah portion, the organisers reported. The event represented an expansion from previous editions with the addition of the northern emirate for the first time. It built directly on the inaugural 2024 festival which the official EUFF website described as a successful showcase of European filmmaking diversity.
In addition the delegation detailed a free workshop titled Your Film, The World’s Market: A Complete Guide to International Film Sales that ran from May 19 to 21 at the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi. European film expert Nicolas Rebeschini led the sessions aimed at UAE filmmakers, producers, students and industry professionals. The programme, presented in partnership with Cineuropa, covered international markets, sales strategies, festivals and global distribution channels.
The European Union has positioned film as a tool for cultural diplomacy in partner regions such as the Gulf a 2025 University of Liege report on international understandings of the European film industry noted. Data compiled by the Association for Cultural Economics International showed the EU accounted for approximately 30 percent of global feature film production between 1996 and 2014. Such festivals contribute to wider efforts promoting the circulation of European cinema and cross-cultural dialogue.
Tickets for all screenings were available online the delegation said. Further details on the full programme appeared at www.euff.ae. The event concluded with audiences gaining access to varied perspectives from European and Emirati productions.
