Zara Larsson Pulls Out of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Show Over Sudan War Concerns
Swedish pop star Zara Larsson has withdrawn from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's Yasalam After-Race Concerts after fans urged her to reconsider the appearance over the UAE's alleged role in the Sudanese civil war.
Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson has told fans she will not perform at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, following calls from her audience to reconsider the appearance over concerns about the United Arab Emirates' alleged role in the ongoing Sudanese civil war.
Larsson had been scheduled to perform alongside Lewis Capaldi on 3 December as part of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts at Etihad Live on Yas Island. The event is a flagship entertainment fixture of the Grand Prix weekend, which also features Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers and The Script.
The decision followed a wave of social media pressure from fans who urged her to cancel the date. One supporter asked her to «read about what UAE is doing to Sudan» and withdraw from the show. Larsson responded simply: «I will not be going to Abu Dhabi.» Those comments were later deleted, but screenshots have since circulated widely online.
Larsson subsequently elaborated on her decision, explaining that it was not based solely on politics. «I wanna perform and spread joy and music for people in every country, because no single person is their government,» she wrote. «I've met so many wonderful people from every corner of the world and I know this to be true in my heart.»
She added: «Maybe it came off as a impulsive response to a comment, but I have spent some time thinking about everything and decided that to not do the show aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.» The singer also appeared to indicate that a more formal statement on the situation could be forthcoming.
The context surrounding the cancellation is the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, which the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The watchdog noted last month that 13 million people have been displaced amid widespread atrocities, «including mass killings, sexual violence, child recruitment, attacks on hospitals and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure».
The UAE has been accused of involvement in the war by funding Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of crimes against humanity and of slaughtering thousands of civilians. According to a Human Rights Watch report, RSF fighters are being trained by a security company based in Abu Dhabi. The UAE government denies the accusations of its involvement with the RSF.
Larsson's move comes amid a broader conversation about the political impact musicians can have. The controversy follows Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after making a pro-Palestine speech, which shone a light on the consequences artists face for taking political stances.
At the time of writing, Ticketmaster still listed Larsson alongside Capaldi for the December concert, while the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's Yasalam page also continued to advertise her as one of the weekend's performers. It remains unclear whether those listings will be updated.
Larsson is known for weathering backlash over political causes. She told the Guardian that after she made a joke about abortion on TikTok, a brand revoked a multimillion-dollar sponsorship offer. «I lost $3 million, which is the biggest brand deal I'd been offered in my life,» she said. «I was genuinely like, 'OK, losers!'»
The cancellation adds to the growing scrutiny of cultural and sporting events in the Gulf region, as artists and audiences increasingly weigh entertainment against geopolitical and human rights concerns. For the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the loss of a headline performer weeks before the event raises questions about how such withdrawals will be handled by organisers and whether other acts may face similar pressure.
