Art Basel Qatar in Msheireb Downtown Doha
Art Basel today launched its very first fair in the MENASA region (Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia): the inaugural art fair, "Art Basel Qatar," under the theme "Becoming"
Art Basel Qatar will take place from February 5 to 7, with preview days on February 3 and 4, 2026 (Deutsch, English, Italiano, Français)
Qatar. Downtown Msheireb in Doha. With Art Basel Qatar, the Swiss art fair opens a new chapter for the global art market. Art Basel Qatar is presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+. The international art fair will be held from February 4 to 7 at the M7 motorway and in the Doha Design District in Downtown Msheireb (Msheireb Downtown Doha). Instead of a traditional exhibition booth model, this new art fair features individual presentations by the artists. The new fair, which represents a pivotal moment in Art Basel's 55-year history, is a response to Qatar's long-standing commitment to culture.
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| Sun over palm trees - 2025 - Photo: H. Waess (Press photo archive) |
On the eve of the first VIP Preview Day of the exhibition, Art Basel and Visit Qatar,
the fair's main partner, celebrated with the unveiling of SONG, a new site-specific work by Jenny Holzer and the tenth piece in the fair's Special Projects program, at a welcome event at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha. The work activated the museum through two simultaneous projections across the main facade and the courtyard, accompanied by a single, choreographed performance featuring over 700 drones in the night sky.
The inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar brings 87 international exhibitors to the new exhibition venue.
A total of 84 artists will be featured, more than half of whom are from across the MENASA region.
The fair's artistic direction is overseen by Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs at Art Basel, together with Wael Shawky, artistic director of the first edition of Art Basel Qatar.
O-Töne zur Eröffnung der Art Basel Qatar
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums said: “Today marks a special moment — one that connects talent and industry, by welcoming the establishment of Art Basel in the Middle East. This is the beginning of a bold, exciting, and truly unique undertaking — one that merges with and amplifies the cultural and artistic ecosystem we have been building, piece by piece, for the past fifty years. We are here not just to present yet another art fair, but to curate a platform that uplifts the creativity of an entire region, remaining deeply human-centered and humane, and inviting the world to be curious about who we really are, and engage in meaningful conversations.”
His Excellency Nasser bin Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments said: “The launch of Art Basel Qatar marks a historic moment, showcasing Qatar and the Arab world as a place where the world comes together to exchange ideas and be inspired. It also reflects our national vision rooted in creativity, culture, innovation and openness. We are very proud that Art Basel Qatar continues the great legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, alongside many other leading global events in Qatar every year - uniting people through sports, art and culture; and inspiring positive cultural change and understanding all around the world.”
His Excellency Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: "The arrival of Art Basel Qatar marks an important milestone in Doha’s evolution as a global cultural destination, building on years of investment in museums, creative districts, and international events. As Lead Partner, Visit Qatar is proud to support a platform that places culture at the heart of the destination experience, inviting the international arts community to engage with Doha as a place of dialogue, inspiration, and exchange. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to strengthen creative industries and position culture as a bridge between Qatar and the world."
Andrea Zappia, Chairman and Group CEO, MCH Group, said: “I’m incredibly proud to see Art Basel Qatar come to fruition – a hugely important milestone for the Art Basel business and for MCH Group’s wider work across the region and globally. Qatar’s vision and long-standing investment in culture have created fertile ground for entrepreneurship, partnership, and cultural collaboration, and we see extraordinary opportunities across the board. We are honoured to have worked with QSI and QC+ to bring Art Basel’s platform to Doha at this moment and excited for both this inaugural week, and what is to come.”
Noah Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer, Art Basel, said: “Art Basel Qatar represents a pivotal moment for our platform and for the global art market. Conceived specifically for this place and developed in close partnership with our Qatari collaborators, the fair reflects the region’s extraordinary cultural ambition as well as our commitment to building platforms that are both locally and globally resonant. By connecting the broader MENASA region more deeply with Art Basel’s international ecosystem, we are creating new opportunities for artists, galleries, and audiences – while advancing a model of growth that is entrepreneurial, inclusive, and built for the long term.”
Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Fairs, said: “With Art Basel Qatar, we wanted to rethink how an art fair is structured and experienced. The multi-site format across Msheireb and the decision to work exclusively with solo artist presentations create a slower, more deliberate rhythm – one that prioritizes focus, context, and return over speed and accumulation. This approach reflects how we believe art fairs can evolve: as platforms that remain commercial, but also offer deeper, more sustained engagement with artistic practice.”
Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, said: “What interested me about this role was the possibility of an art fair that doesn’t separate the market from education, but understands them as part of the same ecosystem. The open format of Art Basel Qatar allows artists to present complete thoughts rather than fragments and invites audiences to truly encounter the work. In that sense, the fair is not only a place to acquire art, but a cultural platform that can generate long-term knowledge, dialogue, and opportunity for artists.”
His Excellency Nasser bin Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments said: “The launch of Art Basel Qatar marks a historic moment, showcasing Qatar and the Arab world as a place where the world comes together to exchange ideas and be inspired. It also reflects our national vision rooted in creativity, culture, innovation and openness. We are very proud that Art Basel Qatar continues the great legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, alongside many other leading global events in Qatar every year - uniting people through sports, art and culture; and inspiring positive cultural change and understanding all around the world.”
His Excellency Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: "The arrival of Art Basel Qatar marks an important milestone in Doha’s evolution as a global cultural destination, building on years of investment in museums, creative districts, and international events. As Lead Partner, Visit Qatar is proud to support a platform that places culture at the heart of the destination experience, inviting the international arts community to engage with Doha as a place of dialogue, inspiration, and exchange. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to strengthen creative industries and position culture as a bridge between Qatar and the world."
Andrea Zappia, Chairman and Group CEO, MCH Group, said: “I’m incredibly proud to see Art Basel Qatar come to fruition – a hugely important milestone for the Art Basel business and for MCH Group’s wider work across the region and globally. Qatar’s vision and long-standing investment in culture have created fertile ground for entrepreneurship, partnership, and cultural collaboration, and we see extraordinary opportunities across the board. We are honoured to have worked with QSI and QC+ to bring Art Basel’s platform to Doha at this moment and excited for both this inaugural week, and what is to come.”
Noah Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer, Art Basel, said: “Art Basel Qatar represents a pivotal moment for our platform and for the global art market. Conceived specifically for this place and developed in close partnership with our Qatari collaborators, the fair reflects the region’s extraordinary cultural ambition as well as our commitment to building platforms that are both locally and globally resonant. By connecting the broader MENASA region more deeply with Art Basel’s international ecosystem, we are creating new opportunities for artists, galleries, and audiences – while advancing a model of growth that is entrepreneurial, inclusive, and built for the long term.”
Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Fairs, said: “With Art Basel Qatar, we wanted to rethink how an art fair is structured and experienced. The multi-site format across Msheireb and the decision to work exclusively with solo artist presentations create a slower, more deliberate rhythm – one that prioritizes focus, context, and return over speed and accumulation. This approach reflects how we believe art fairs can evolve: as platforms that remain commercial, but also offer deeper, more sustained engagement with artistic practice.”
Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, said: “What interested me about this role was the possibility of an art fair that doesn’t separate the market from education, but understands them as part of the same ecosystem. The open format of Art Basel Qatar allows artists to present complete thoughts rather than fragments and invites audiences to truly encounter the work. In that sense, the fair is not only a place to acquire art, but a cultural platform that can generate long-term knowledge, dialogue, and opportunity for artists.”
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| Art and culture blog from Munich, photo: Helga Waess (press photo archive) |
(H.W.)
Soundbites: Press release from Art Basel Qatar
