Art Basel Qatar has unveiled new details about the artworks and programming that will shape the inaugural edition of the fair, scheduled for February 2026. The event is presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and QC+, and is set to become a major meeting point within the international art calendar and the MENASA region.
The fair will feature a core presentation bringing together works by 84 artists represented by 87 galleries, alongside a dedicated Special Projects program that expands the exhibition beyond the conventional fair format. This program comprises nine large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations, and performances, unfolding across key cultural venues and public spaces in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Curated by Art Basel Qatar Artistic Director Wael Shawky in close collaboration with Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director Art Basel Fairs, the Special Projects respond to the fair’s central theme, Becoming. Together, they form the most extensive group of public works ever realized for an Art Basel show.
In dialogue with the Galleries sector, the Special Projects deepen the exploration of Becoming. Across both platforms, artists address transformation in material and conceptual terms, examining processes of metamorphosis, transition, disruption, and the thresholds between states. The works engage directly with environmental, economic, and social shifts shaping the contemporary world, grounding the program in pressing regional and global realities.
The curatorial approach proposes an immersive, narrative-driven journey, in which each work contributes to a broader reflection on transformation and identity across the MENASA region. Featuring monumental architectural and mixed-media interventions, the program underscores Art Basel’s commitment to fairs that are locally grounded and globally resonant, developed in close collaboration with host cities and their artistic ecosystems.
According to Vincenzo de Bellis, the highlights of this inaugural edition point to a compelling narrative of transformation unfolding across Msheireb, offering audiences access to a wide range of artistic practices from the region. Wael Shawky emphasized that working with this group of galleries and artists marks a milestone for Art Basel Qatar, noting that each presentation is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the Gulf while opening new conversations and encounters in the urban space.
Art Basel Qatar will bring together galleries from 31 countries and territories, including 16 making their Art Basel debut. More than half of the 84 participating artists hail from the region, positioning the fair as an anchor platform for MENASA and a conduit between regional practices and the global Art Basel network.
With Visit Qatar as Lead Partner, Art Basel Qatar will take place from 5–7 February 2026, with Preview Days on 3–4 February. The fair will be hosted across Msheireb Downtown Doha, including venues such as M7 and the Doha Design District, as well as other locations throughout the area.
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