Art Basel has long reigned as one of the world’s most prestigious art fairs, connecting artists, collectors and gallerists from around the globe. And, in a landmark moment for the Middle East’s cultural credentials, it has announced it will be holding its first-ever edition in the region, with Art Basel Qatar.
Set to take place in February 2026, Art Basel Qatar’s inaugural edition will take over Doha’s creative hub, M7 Qatar, as well as the Doha Design District in downtown Msheireb. The fair is a partnership between Art Basel’s parent company, MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments and QC+, the commercial arm of Qatar Museums.
Art Basel Qatar will provide a platform to showcase modern and contemporary art from leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and further afield.
Doha joining Art Basel’s line-up, which includes fairs in its namesake city, Paris, Miami and Hong Kong, is no coincidence. Under royal patronage and led by chairperson, Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar Museums has spent the past two decades transforming Doha into a vibrant cultural centre. This effort has produced some of the most sophisticated and ambitious galleries and museums in the MENA region, inspiring cross-cultural dialogue and cooperation. From the Jean Nouvel-designed National Museum of Qatar and the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art to countless public artworks in the country’s souks and deserts, Qatar has long attracted art fans from the region and beyond.
“Growing the global art market, supporting artists and galleries and developing new collecting audiences is core to Art Basel’s mission,” says Noah Horowitz, chief executive of Art Basel. “The art scene across the MENA region has undergone exponential growth in recent decades, with the establishment of world-class institutions, the launch of leading cultural events and the growth of a vibrant community of artists, galleries and professionals. Qatar’s depth of collections, history of building great cultural institutions and unique role as an incubator and supporter of talent position the new Art Basel Qatar for success on the world stage.”
