Doha: The global Art Basel organization has confirmed that Doha will host the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar from 5 to 7 February 2026, with preview days scheduled for 3-4 February.
According to Qatar News Agency, this highly anticipated event will bring together 87 galleries from 31 countries, presenting 84 unique artistic showcases. Among them, 16 galleries will be making their Art Basel debut, highlighting the fair’s commitment to fresh perspectives and diverse artistic voices.
Presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+ – the cultural commerce arm of Qatar Museums – Art Basel Qatar becomes the fifth global edition in the prestigious Art Basel series. The event will take place across two primary venues, M7 and the Doha Design District, with additional public installations in Msheireb Downtown Doha, the city’s cultural heart.
Under the curatorial leadership of internationally acclaimed Egyptian artist Wael Shawky, the fair will forgo traditional booth layouts in favor of a
n open-format exhibition. This innovative structure aligns with the curatorial theme, Becoming, which explores ongoing human transformations and the evolving systems that shape how we live, think, and create meaning. The goal is to foster storytelling, dialogue, and artistic connection within a format that encourages deeper engagement between galleries, artists, and visitors.
Art Basel Qatar also highlights the city’s growing stature as a global hub for cultural and artistic exchange. With Visit Qatar as a key partner, the fair will spotlight the vibrancy of the contemporary art scene across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, while reinforcing Doha’s central role in connecting regional creativity to international audiences.
Over half of the participating artists will come from these regions. Notable regional galleries include Al Markhiya Gallery (Doha), featuring works by Bouthayna Al Muftah; Hafez Gallery (Jeddah/Riyadh), showcasing Lina Gazzaz; Green Art Gallery (Dubai), presenting Maryam Hose
ini; Lawrie Shabibi (Dubai), exhibiting works by Amir Nour; and Tabari Artspace (Dubai and London), offering pieces by Hazem Harb.
From the broader Middle East, participants include Marfa’ Projects (Beirut), showing works by Caline Aoun; Galerie Tanit (Beirut/Munich), featuring Adel Abidin; and Pilot Galeri (Istanbul), with works by Halil Altindere. In North Africa, galleries such as ArtTalks | Kanafani Gallery and Gallery Misr (both Cairo), Loft Art Gallery (Casablanca, Marrakech), and Le Violon Bleu (Tunis, Paris) will present works by artists including Ahmed Morsi, Souad Abdelrasoul, Mustapha Azeroual, and Farid Belkahia.
India will also be represented by Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai), featuring the work of Rashid Rana. These regional contributions will be complemented by a strong international presence, with leading global galleries such as Acquavella Galleries, Gagosian, Hauser and Wirth, Pace Gallery, David Zwirner, White Cube, Galerie Continua, and Gladstone Gallery showcasing works by renowned art
ists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Christo, Philip Guston, Marlene Dumas, Gabriel Orozco, and George Baselitz.