The Smashing Pumpkins to Play First-Ever UAE Show at Etihad Arena

The Smashing Pumpkins are heading to Abu Dhabi for the very first time, bringing decades of alt-rock anthems to Etihad Arena on Thursday, October 9th, as part of their globe-spanning Rock Invasion tour. The Chicago-born icons, led by frontman Billy Corgan alongside original members James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, are set to ignite the capital with a career-spanning set that blends grunge-era nostalgia with their latest sonic experiments.

Fans can expect to be swept up in the emotional swell of classics like ‘Tonight, Tonight’, scream along to the angst-fuelled chorus of ‘Bullet with Butterfly Wings’, and drift back to teenage memories with the shimmering dream-pop of ‘1979’. But this won't be just a greatest hits show—the band’s newer material, including tracks like ‘Empires’ and ‘Beguiled’ from their recent albums, will keep things fresh and furious.

With over 30 million albums sold, Grammy wins, and a legacy that helped shape the alt-rock movement of the ’90s, The Smashing Pumpkins remain one of rock’s most dynamic acts—balancing poetry, distortion, and the occasional existential scream.

Tickets go live this Friday, May 23rd, at 10 AM via Live Nation Middle East’s official website. Set your alarms—because in the words of Billy Corgan, the world is a vampire, and this show will sell fast.