The curtain will come down on Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday, with a spectacular closing ceremony that will gaze towards the future at Al Wasl Plaza.

More than 20 million guests will have visited the event over its 182 run.

Global music icons Christina Aguilera, Norah Jones and Yo-Yo Ma will sprinkle stardust on the stunning setting, with 20-plus giant screens across the Expo 2020 Dubai site, including the main stages, Festival Garden and various country pavilions, enabling everyone to experience the magic.

The celebration will continue into the night, with full headline concerts from each artist across Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.

The evening will begin at 19:00 GST with the young Emirati girl from the opening ceremony taking the audience on another compelling journey.

For 182 days, she has grown, learned and connected with people from around the world – what remains is the final step before she awakens to her full potential.

The audience will also put the focus on the next generation, as expo exclusively invites hundreds of children from across the UAE to witness the wonders as the country looks to the next 50 years, having celebrated its Golden Jubilee during Expo 2020 Dubai.

Later in the evening, Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma will play a concert at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre from 20:45 GST; celebrated Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Norah Jones will entertain visitors with her own concert on the Jubilee Stage from 21:00 GST.

Pop legend Christina Aguilera will present an extended performance on the Jubilee Stage from 22:45 GST.

The cast of the closing ceremony includes more than 400 professionals and volunteers from 56 different countries, with 745 costumes created for the culmination of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Forty members of a UAE-based children’s choir will perform Ishy Bilady, the National Anthem of the UAE, joined by the all-women Firdaus Orchestra, conducted by Yasmina
Sabbah.

As Expo 2020 Dubai looks to the future, sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, commissioner general of Expo 2020 Dubai, will hand the BIE Flag to ambassador Jai-chul Choi, president of the general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), who will then present it to representatives of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.

The celebrations will continue throughout the night, with more jaw-dropping fireworks displays at midnight and 03:00 GST.

Thursday is expected to be one of the busiest days at Expo 2020 Dubai and visitors are advised to arrive early to make the most of the site-wide entertainment and activities.

Five Currents are the producers of the closing ceremony, with Scott Givens as executive producer.