Art Basel has confirmed details for the debut of its first Middle Eastern fair, Art Basel Qatar, set to take place in Doha from 5–7 February 2026, with preview days on 3–4 February. The inaugural edition will feature 84 artist presentations by 87 galleries from 31 countries and territories, including 16 first-time participants on the Art Basel stage. Presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and QC+, and with Visit Qatar as Lead Partner, the fair will establish Doha as the latest node in Art Basel’s global network.
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Curated under the artistic direction of Wael Shawky, the fair departs from Art Basel’s traditional booth structure. Instead, it will present an open-format exhibition built around the theme of Becoming. Conceived as a meditation on humanity’s constant transformation, the project emphasizes storytelling and dialogue, with works presented across two venues, M7 and the Doha Design District, as well as selected public sites throughout Msheireb Downtown Doha. Shawky’s curatorial framework places the Gulf’s histories, oral traditions, and new cultural networks at the center of this global conversation.
The fair underscores Doha’s growing role as a hub for cultural exchange by foregrounding galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. More than half of the artists included in this first edition come from the region, with presentations by Etel Adnan, Ali Banisadr, Simone Fattal, Ali Cherri, Meriem Bennani, and Iman Issa among others. Notable regional galleries making their Art Basel debut include Hafez Gallery (Jeddah, Riyadh), Gallery Misr (Cairo), Le Violon Bleu (Tunis), Saleh Barakat Gallery (Beirut), and Tabari Artspace (Dubai).
Alongside these, many of the world’s most influential galleries will participate, including Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace Gallery, David Zwirner, White Cube, Gladstone Gallery, Sprüth Magers, Acquavella Galleries, and Michael Werner. Their presentations will place regional voices in direct dialogue with global figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Christo, Philip Guston, Alex Katz, Lynda Benglis, Marlene Dumas, and Georg Baselitz.
Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel, described the debut as “a thrilling line-up that welcomes diverse new voices while deepening engagement with existing partners, made possible through the long-term commitment of our collaborators in Qatar.” Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, emphasized the strength and quality of participation, noting the “exceptional roster of leading galleries” and praising Shawky’s vision.
For Shawky, the curatorial theme of Becoming reflects both the transformation of humanity and the Gulf’s unique position in shaping global cultural narratives. “Here, art is not only a witness to history but a force that shapes how we imagine and reimagine identity,” he explained. The inaugural edition will also include commissioned public projects, to be unveiled in the weeks leading up to the fair.
With its launch, Art Basel Qatar will stand as a new flagship for the region, bridging geographies while reaffirming the fair’s global role as a platform for exchange between artists, galleries, and collectors.
