This weekend, Dubai isn’t just a city. It’s a runway, gallery, stadium, and a kitchen – all rolled into one. The streets, long dominated by luxury malls and curated façades, surrender to the pulse of the city’s true cultural undercurrent: sneakers. Not as fashion or status, but as language. Sole DXB began here – in 2011, a warehouse in Al Quoz, a few hundred people, a dozen boxes of rare ‘kicks’, and an instinct that street culture, music, art, and fashion could be married in a way the city had never seen.
Those first attendees came for communion: the shared thrill of discovery, the knowledge of drops and customs, the way a pair of trainers could signal identity, allegiance, and taste. From that modest summit, Sole DXB has grown into a global touchstone for culture – a festival that now draws thousands from around the world, yet somehow still retains the electricity of its underground beginnings.
To walk into Sole DXB is to step into a living archive of the city’s youth, rebellion, and creativity. Sneakers are the lens through which everything else – the music, art, and most certainly the food – makes sense.
With all the excitement the festival brings, we’ve made sure to curate a guide of what this weekend has to offer – so no FOMO is had:
Fashion
Street culture remains at the festival’s core. Exclusive sneaker drops, limited-edition collaborations, and immersive fashion activations keep the energy grounded in Sole DXB’s roots. Qasimi previews its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, while ATLAL from GALBI presents a domestic-inspired space rooted in Algerian storytelling. Leaf Apparel partners with Samurai Farai on live-painted one-of-a-kind garments, and Congo Clothing Company invites guests to co-create custom pieces, reflecting the festival’s commitment to community-led style.
Music
Sole DXB 2025’s stages are a global tour without leaving d3. On the Main Stage, headliners Kaytranada, Tyla, and Miguel promise high‑energy performances spanning R&B, afrobeat, and hip-hop. Stage Two offers a deeper dive, with indie, world, jazz, and soul curated by Sole Sound System. La Hacienda by PATRÓN introduces 15 regional artists, fusing Middle Eastern electronica with African-inspired dancefloor edits. Don’t miss rising Saudi R&B singer Zeyne, Nigerian alt-soul newcomer Tommy WÁ, or the Haitian-French chanteuse Naïka – each bringing a distinctive voice to the festival’s sonic landscape.
Food
Sole DXB’s culinary offering has become a festival in itself. Elevated presents The Maine’s New England brasserie classics and fried chicken with caviar, Varak’s contemporary reinterpretations of Middle Eastern desserts, and Eleven Green’s award-winning Bull Burger. Discovery features Mihbash’s Emirati street food, Soil’s plant-forward bowls, Mirzam’s handcrafted chocolate, Club Ocha’s Thai iced teas, and MyGovindas’ vegetarian Sattvic dishes. Local Heroes brings crowd favourites like Shake Shack (with its Ball For All activation), Al Mallah’s shawarma counter, Bonbird’s fried chicken, PDL’s fresh bowls, and experimental ice creams from Noon – including flavours like 98 Petrol and Colgate.
Art
Humantra presents an exclusive product reveal through immersive installations, while Fujifilm x TA’YO explores street photography and memory. AOTA’s “KEEP YOUR FLOWERS” installation transforms botanical symbolism into reflective design, and the Art Jameel Shop offers artist collaborations and limited-edition objects. The festival blurs the line between audience and creator, inviting participation and discovery at every turn.
Play
From basketball pop-ups with Shake Shack to open table tennis and padel tournaments with Fred Perry, movement remains central. Shooters Shoot adds a storytelling twist to basketball with interactive mini-hoops and journaling walls. ASICS’ SportStyle playground offers kites, block-print workshops, and craft-inspired activations, bridging sport, creativity, and community in one immersive space.
