Art Basel arrives in Qatar
After being announced as the first country in three decades to construct a permanent national pavilion at the Giardini gardens at the prestigious Venice Biennale, Qatar will also now host the newest art fair in the region. Following the launch of Art Basel Paris in 2022, the MCH Group – owner of Art Basel – has announced the inaugural edition of Art Basel in Qatar.
To take place in February 2026 in Doha – at M7 creative hub and Doha Design District in downtown Msheireb, close to cultural landmarks including National Museum of Qatar – the event has been announced in partnership with leading Qatari organisations such as Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+.
In a statement, Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums said, 'As part of His Highness the Amir's National Vision 2030, Qatar has been transforming itself into a knowledge-based economy, with culture and the creative industries helping to lead the way. We have built a thriving ecosystem of culture and sports, harnessing the capacity of both to break down barriers, create shared experiences, increase understanding and drive positive change. We have opened the National Museum of Qatar and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and this year we will launch the Lusail Museum and DADU: Children's Museum of Qatar.'
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While the region already boasts of other art fairs such as Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art, the entry of a prestigious property like Art Basel – which is one of the oldest art fairs on the circuit, founded by three Swiss art dealers in 1970 – backing the fair, strengthens the perception of the Middle East as a potentially important market for art.
Noah Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Art Basel, says, 'Growing the global art market, supporting artists and galleries and developing new collecting audiences is core to Art Basel's mission. The art scene across the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) 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.'
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