Dubai's Culture and Arts Authority, Dubai Culture, is supporting — through the Dubai Cultural Grant — the participation of the National Youth Orchestra – Dubai and its affiliated Strings Orchestra in the 18th edition of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, to be hosted by the Austrian capital Vienna from 3 to 7 July 2026, under the patronage of Dr Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Republic of Austria, and under the supervision of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO.
This participation embodies the success of the Musical Education for Emiratis programme, implemented by Dubai Culture in partnership with the National Youth Orchestra – Dubai, which aims to discover, nurture and empower Emirati musical talents to develop their abilities and reach prestigious global platforms.
The programme also falls within the Authority's efforts to enhance the role of music and the arts as a bridge for cultural dialogue, and to consolidate Dubai's position as a global cultural hub, an incubator for creativity and a meeting point for talents.
The artistic tour includes a series of musical performances at some of the most prominent concert halls in the Austrian capital, among them the Musikverein (Golden Hall) and the Radio Kulturhaus of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation — an achievement that makes the National Youth Orchestra – Dubai the first orchestra in the United Arab Emirates to perform in these historic venues.
Shaimaa Rashid Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, noted that the participation of the National Youth Orchestra – Dubai and the Strings Orchestra in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, and their performances on some of Vienna's most prominent stages, represent a qualitative achievement that reflects the maturity of young talents and their capacity for international presence and competition.
She affirmed the success of the Authority's efforts in building a sustainable musical ecosystem capable of discovering, nurturing and empowering talented individuals to reach global platforms, noting that investing in young talent is a fundamental pillar in developing the music sector and strengthening its contribution to the cultural and creative industries.