This February, Art Basel will expand its global footprint to the Gulf with the inaugural Art Basel Qatar, a fair that promises to reshape how we think about art, place, and storytelling. From February 5 to 7, 2026 (Preview Days February 3 to 4), Doha will host 87 galleries from 31 countries and territories, in a format that boldly departs from the traditional fair model.

Conceived by Wael Shawky, the Egyptian-born artist serving as artistic director, Art Basel Qatar does away with the rigid booth structure in favor of an open-format exhibition. Artists will respond to a central theme – ‘Becoming’ – a meditation on transformation, identity, and the systems that shape human experience. Unfolding across M7, the Doha Design District, and public sites in Msheireb Downtown Doha, the fair will be as much about cultural dialogue as it is about the market. ‘The Gulf lies at the heart of this story,’ says Shawky. ‘Where oral traditions flow into digital networks, and ancient trade routes return as new pathways of culture and exchange.’

More than half of the 84 artists presented hail from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) – a clear signal that the fair is designed to be a flagship for the region. Highlights include Etel Adnan with Anthony Meier and Waddington Custot, Ali Banisadr with Perrotin, Shirin Neshat with Lia Rumma, and Ahmed Mater with Athr Gallery. Alongside them, regional heavyweights such as The Third Line (Dubai), al markhiya gallery (Doha), Hafez Gallery (Jeddah, Riyadh), and Marfa’ Projects (Beirut) bring forward names like Sophia Al-Maria, Bouthayna Al Muftah, Lina Gazzaz, and Caline Aoun.

The North African contingent adds further depth, with Loft Art Gallery (Casablanca, Marrakech) presenting Mustapha Azeroual and Le Violon Bleu (Tunis) showing Farid Belkahia, while India is represented by Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai), showing Rashid Rana. These regional anchors will sit in conversation with blue-chip galleries including David Zwirner, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and White Cube, which will present works by figures such as Marlene Dumas, Christo, Philip Guston, and Georg Baselitz.

While market heft is undeniable, what sets Doha apart is its curatorial proposition. By placing narrative and dialogue at the center, the fair underscores a different mode of engagement: less transactional, more experiential. Public projects commissioned across the city will extend this ethos, amplifying regional voices into the urban fabric. As Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz notes: ‘Our gallery line-up for year one is thrilling – welcoming diverse new voices to our platform and deepening our engagement with new geographies, while also creating opportunities across our network of existing clients and established partners.’

Held in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+, this edition signals the Gulf’s determination to position itself not just as a market, but as a cultural crossroads.

Visit Qatar is Lead Partner of Art Basel Qatar.