Art Basel Qatar launches this week in Doha. Brimming with exceptional art and thought-provoking events, the show opens to the public on Thursday, February 5 and runs through Saturday, February 7, with Preview Days on February 3 and 4. Here is all the information you need for a successful visit.

The fair

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 a central curatorial theme of Becoming. A meditation on humanity’s constant transformation and the systems that shape what we believe, and how we live and create meaning, the fair unfolds across two venues – M7 and the Doha Design District – as well as selected public sites in Msheireb Downtown Doha, the city’s creative and cultural heart.

Art Basel Qatar 2026 features 84 artist presentations by 87 galleries spanning 31 countries and territories, including 16 newcomers to any Art Basel fairs. 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.

Learn more about the curatorial concept and Wael Shawky here and discover the full list of exhibitors here.

Special Projects

Alongside its core presentation, Art Basel Qatar showcases a unique Special Projects program: a wide-ranging series of nine large-scale, site-specific sculptures, architectural installations, film and moving-image works, and performances staged across key cultural venues and public spaces in Msheireb Downtown Doha. These landmark projects respond to the fair’s central theme, Becoming, and together form the most extensive group of public works ever realized for an Art Basel show.

Exploring the environmental and social histories that have shaped contemporary life in the MENASA region and beyond, there are nine selected projects. The artists are Abraham Cruzvillegas; Nour Jaouda; Hasan Khan; Nalini Malani; Bruce Nauman; Khalil Rabah Rayyane Tabet; Sumayya Vally; and Sweat Variant (Okwui Okpokwasili and Peter Born).

Learn more about Special Projects here.

Conversations

Art Basel Conversations × Qatar Creates Talks brings leading voices in art and culture to Doha. Drawing on both entities’ unparalleled access, the three-day program explores how artists, institutions, and patrons shape today’s cultural landscape, reflecting on and expanding Qatar’s role as a catalyst for creativity. Featuring esteemed speakers such as Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, art historian Glenn Lowry, and architect Sumayya Vally, the Conversations program takes place at the Sky Theatre at M7 Level 3, Msheireb Cultural Forum from February 3 to 5.

Browse Conversations and book your seat here.

The Art Basel Shop

Designed to celebrate both the dynamic world of art and the unique cultural identity of each host city, the Art Basel Shop presents an exclusive selection of items that reflect the fair’s rich history and forward-thinking vision. From artist-designed products and original works to brand collaborations, limited-release collectibles, and Art Basel-exclusive merchandise, every piece has been carefully curated to connect you with the pulse of contemporary art.

The AB by Artist Collection features works by the Qatar Art Basel Shop artist Sophia Al-Maria in tandem with her on-site presentation. Using the language of her new body of work, HiLux, the artist has applied truck decal–inspired graphics to tote bags and keychains, plotting a timeline of the Gulf.

Learn more about the Art Basel Shop in Qatar here.

Events and exhibitions

Art Basel Qatar takes place alongside a vibrant range of exhibitions and cultural programs across Qatar Museums institutions, underscoring the nation’s role as a key hub for artistic innovation and cross-cultural dialogue in the region.

Alongside celebrated public artworks such as Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East and Olafur Eliasson’s Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day, the exhibitions program includes the 15th anniversary exhibition of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, ‘Resolutions’; two landmark presentations dedicated to the life and work of the renowned architect behind the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), I. M. Pei (held at MIA and at the Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq respectively); and a groundbreaking exhibition at the National Museum of Qatar, ‘Making Doha’, co-curated by architects Rem Koolhaas and Samir Bantal, that reimagines the rural landscape as a space for sustainability, innovation, and future living.

Learn more about the exhibitions to see in Doha during Art Basel Qatar here, and about our events program here.

Practical information

First, make sure to get your tickets, exclusively available at our online ticket shop.

Take a look at our visitor information page, where you will discover all kinds of useful information: opening hours, a floorplan to navigate the fair, rules for your safety, where to eat during the fair, and how to book guided tours. We have also compiled information to help you plan your stay in Qatar.

Want to learn more?

Dive into Art Basel Stories to meet the artists, collectors, and gallerists of Art Basel Qatar.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Weibo, and WeChat for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, unboxing videos, daily tips, and install our app to get easy access to all the information you need and to download your ticket.

We look forward to seeing you at Art Basel Qatar soon.