Art Basel, together with its parent company MCH Group, and leading Qatari organizations Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), a major investor in sports, culture, entertainment and lifestyle, and QC+, a strategic and creative collective specialising in cultural commerce, today announced a one-of-a-kind partnership that will include the launch of a new fair of modern and contemporary art that will debut in Doha (Qatar) in February 2026. Art Basel Qatar will integrate into the vibrant cultural landscape of Qatar and the MENA region, providing an unparalleled platform to showcase leading galleries and artistic talent from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and further afield. The inaugural edition will be held in the M7 creative hub and the Doha Design District in downtown Msheireb, in proximity to world-renowned landmarks, including the National Museum of Qatar.
This partnership builds on Qatar’s singular cultural vision and amplifies Art Basel’s unifying power to create new opportunities for the production, dissemination and discovery of art, going well beyond the operation of an art fair through year-round touchpoints both in Qatar and across Art Basel’s global platform. The fair will offer a gateway to the creative culture of the Middle East for the stakeholders and audiences of Art Basel and expand the circle of collectors, gallerists, artists and cultural leaders from the MENA region and around the world. Through educational programs and market development strategies, public arts engagement and more, Art Basel Qatar will holistically weave into the fabric of Qatar and further catalyze a growing collector and gallery network.
Charged by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with realising Qatar’s ambitions across multiple areas of social and economic development, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, has elevated the nation to a leading position in global cultural exchange. Qatar has assembled world-class art collections, developed a growing number of celebrated museums and exhibitions, founded design and photography festivals, and established incubators for the film, fashion and design industries. Ongoing initiatives include the creation of the future Art Mill Museum, development of the future Lusail Museum and the establishment of a permanent Qatar Pavilion in Venice, in the Giardini de la Biennale di Venezia.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairwoman of Qatar Museums (QM), said: “As part of His Highness the Amir’s National Vision 2030, Qatar is transforming 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 power of both to break down barriers, create shared experiences, increase understanding and drive positive change. We opened the Qatar National Museum and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and this year we will open the Lusail Museum and DADU: Children’s Museum of Qatar. We have also opened a variety of creative hubs, from the Fire Station: Artist in Residence to the M7 and Liwan design studios and labs. When we welcomed the world to Hamad International Airport for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the power of fusing culture and sports could not have been greater. could not be more evident. As Qatar Museums celebrates its 20th anniversary, we are delighted to We welcome the Art Basel organization as our partner to further promote Qatar’s initiatives to support our region’s creative industries, providing exceptional new artistic experiences and opportunities for our talents.”
His Excellency Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), said: “As a leading investor in sports, culture, entertainment and lifestyle, QSI is very proud and excited to play a role in bringing the world-renowned Art Basel fair to Qatar and our region, as part of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. As that event has so unforgettably demonstrated, sports and culture are closely linked in their ability to unite people and unite the world, which is at the heart of QSI’s mission. We are delighted to collaborate with QC+ and welcome Art Basel to Qatar, a partnership that will inspire the region and bring further investment to a great cultural organization.”
QC+, a key member of the Art Basel Qatar partnership, brings a rich legacy of supporting the arts and is a natural collaborator in bringing the world-renowned art fair to Doha. With its expertise in cultural commerce and art curation, exhibition design and visitor engagement, QC+ has played a pivotal role in developing Qatar’s cultural infrastructure. Art Basel brings to this project its 50-year history of creating the world’s leading art fairs in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Defined by its host city and region, each Art Basel show is unique, as reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented and the parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions.
Andrea Zappia, Chairman and Group CEO at MCH Group, said, “We are very proud to work with QSI and QC+. This is a groundbreaking project based on the unity of intent of ambitious organisations and we believe we will build something completely new that will attract art buyers and fans from the region and all over the world. We want to thank the partners who, under His Highness the Amir’s leadership, strongly believed in this collaboration from the very first day and have chosen Art Basel as a key driver to support Qatar’s cultural, sport and touristic vision. We are committed to Art Basel’s growth and following the launch of Art Basel Paris in 2022 we are ready to add a fifth fair to our exclusive and successful portfolio. MCH Group, owner of Art Basel, is committed to contributing unique resources and capabilities to this partnership to ensure its long-term success.”
Noah Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Art Basel, said, “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 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. We are compelled by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s singular vision for the arts ecosystem in Qatar, and we share a commitment to supporting artists in realising their highest potential. We are equally energised by the opportunities unlocked by our collaboration with QSI and QC+ to create new touchpoints for the broadest possible audiences. 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.”
