Art Basel Goes To Qatar For The First Time In 2026

Art Basel Qatar revealed new details about the artworks and programming that will shape the inaugural edition of the fair, set to take place in February 2026. Presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and QC+, and with Visit Qatar as Lead Partner, the fair marks a significant new chapter for Art Basel in the MENASA region.

84 artists across 87 galleries will present their works at Art Basel Qatar, bringing together participants from 31 countries and territories, including 16 galleries making their Art Basel debut. More than half of the artists represented hail from the wider region, positioning the fair as a vital platform for regional voices while strengthening cultural exchange within Art Basel’s global network.

Complementing the Galleries sector, Art Basel Qatar will introduce a distinctive Special Projects program—the most ambitious public art initiative ever realized for an Art Basel fair. The program comprises nine large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations, and performances, unfolding across key cultural venues and public spaces in Msheireb Downtown Doha.

Curated by Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of Art Basel Qatar, in close collaboration with Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel Fairs, the Special Projects respond to the fair’s central theme, Becoming. Across both the Galleries and Special Projects sectors, artists explore transformation in material and conceptual terms, engaging with ideas of metamorphosis, transition, upheaval, and the liminal spaces in between.

Artistic Director, Art Basel Qatar 2026
Courtesy of Art Basel
Photo by Jinane Ennasri

The Special Projects extend this inquiry into the public realm, directly addressing the environmental, economic, and social shifts shaping contemporary life. Grounded in urgent regional and global realities, the works promise an immersive, narrative-rich journey through Msheireb—one in which each project contributes to a broader reflection on transformation, place, and identity across the MENASA region.

“These works present a narrative of transformation that offers audiences the chance to experience the region’s widest range of artistic practices,” said Vincenzo de Bellis. “The first edition of Art Basel Qatar will be truly remarkable—an opportunity for visitors to encounter firsthand the richness of artistic expression in the MENASA region.”

Courtesy of Art Basel

Wael Shawky emphasized the significance of the inaugural collaboration: “Working with this extraordinary group of galleries and artists for the first edition of Art Basel Qatar is both a privilege and a milestone. Each presentation is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the Gulf and its extended geographies, while also pushing conversations forward in bold and unexpected ways. Together, they activate Msheireb with fresh perspectives and new encounters that reshape how audiences engage with place.”

Featuring monumental architectural and mixed-media interventions, the Special Projects underscore Art Basel’s commitment to developing fairs that are locally grounded and globally resonant, shaped in close dialogue with host cities and their cultural ecosystems.

Art Basel Qatar will take place from 5–7 February 2026, with Preview Days on 3–4 February, across M7, Doha Design District, and additional venues throughout Msheireb Downtown Doha—cementing Qatar’s position as a leading cultural hub and establishing the fair as a defining moment for contemporary art in the region.