Art Basel Qatar

Art Basel Qatar features 84 artist presentations by 87 galleries as the fair debuts in Doha in February. Presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and QC+, the fair – Art Basel’s fifth globally – takes place from 5–7 February 2026, with Preview Days on 3–4 February. The 87 participants span 31 countries and territories, and 15 galleries show with Art Basel for the first time, bringing new voices and perspectives to the global platform.

Conceived under the curatorial direction of Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky, Art Basel Qatar’s first edition departs from the traditional booth model to present an open-format exhibition in which artist presentations respond to the central theme of Becoming. A meditation on humanity’s constant transformation and the systems that shape how people live, believe, and create meaning, the exhibition unfolds across M7 and the Doha Design District, as well as selected public sites in Msheireb Downtown Doha. Both the format and curatorial direction foreground storytelling and dialogue, offering new ways for galleries, artists, and collectors to engage while maintaining strong market relevance.

With Visit Qatar as Lead Partner, Art Basel Qatar highlights the vitality of artistic production and the expanding gallery landscape across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. The strong regional presence in the first edition affirms Doha’s position as a hub for cultural exchange, while linking the fair to Art Basel’s global network of galleries, artists, and collectors.

More than half of the artists presented in this first edition hail from the region, including Etel Adnan, Ali Banisadr, Simone Fattal, Ali Cherri, Meriem Bennani, and Iman Issa.

Galleries from across the region participate, including those based in the Gulf, the wider Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Homegrown galleries taking part in their first Art Basel fair include Hafez Gallery, Gallery Misr, Le Violon Bleu, Saleh Barakat Gallery, and Tabari Artspace.

International galleries from Europe, the Americas, and Asia also participate, including Acquavella Galleries, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace Gallery, David Zwirner, and White Cube.