Ryan Reynolds to speak at LIVEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi
Hollywood actor, producer and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds is heading to Abu Dhabi as one of the headline speakers at LIVEX 2026, a new international event focused on the future of cities, investment and quality of life.
The inaugural Livability and Investment Exhibition will take place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from September 29 to October 1, bringing together more than 100 speakers from entertainment, technology, government, investment and sustainability.
Reynolds brings Hollywood and business experience to Abu Dhabi
Best known for films including Deadpool and Free Guy, Reynolds has also built a significant business career away from cinema.
His portfolio has included Aviation American Gin, Mint Mobile and Maximum Effort, his production and marketing company.
At LIVEX, Reynolds is expected to discuss the intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship and brand-building, drawing on his experience developing companies alongside his Hollywood career.
His participation reflects the event’s broader ambition to bring together people from very different industries to explore how cities can become more attractive places to live, work and invest.
More than 100 global speakers
Reynolds will be joined by a wide range of international figures.
Among those confirmed are YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, actor and environmental advocate Adrien Grenier, former Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and former Bogotá mayor Enrique Peñalosa.
The programme will also feature former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres and Sebastian Thrun, founder of online education platform Udacity.
Together, speakers will explore topics ranging from urban development and technology to culture, healthcare and sustainability.
20,000 visitors expected
Organised by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, LIVEX is expected to welcome more than 20,000 attendees from over 50 countries.
More than 75 exhibitors are also expected to participate during the three-day event.
The exhibition will focus on how cities can improve quality of life while continuing to attract investment and support long-term economic growth.
Key areas of discussion will include real estate, mobility, healthcare, education, technology, culture and sustainability.
A wider conversation about the future of cities
LIVEX is designed to go beyond a traditional business conference.
Alongside the main programme, the event will include activities intended to involve Abu Dhabi residents in discussions about what makes a city genuinely liveable.
The concept places people and everyday quality of life alongside infrastructure and investment, reflecting the growing international focus on creating urban environments that are not only economically successful but also attractive places to live.
For Abu Dhabi, the event adds another large-scale international platform to a calendar already filled with major conferences, cultural events and entertainment.
Ryan Reynolds already has strong Abu Dhabi ties
Reynolds’ appearance will not be his first connection with the UAE capital.
In 2024, he was named Yas Island Abu Dhabi’s Chief Island Officer, becoming the face of a series of promotional campaigns for the destination.
The role has kept him closely associated with Abu Dhabi and its tourism and entertainment sector.
His return for LIVEX now places him in a different setting, with the actor appearing not only as a Hollywood star but also as an entrepreneur and marketing figure.
Abu Dhabi brings global names together
With Reynolds, Steve Chen, Adrien Grenier, Christiana Figueres and other international figures on the programme, LIVEX is positioning itself as a meeting point for ideas about the next generation of cities.
The three-day event will combine investment, urban development and technology with conversations about culture and quality of life.
For Reynolds, it also marks another high-profile return to Abu Dhabi — this time to share the business experience behind a career that has expanded far beyond the movie industry.
