Art Basel Qatar unveils new details of the artworks and programming that will define the inaugural edition of the fair in February 2026, presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and QC+.
Alongside its core presentation of 84 artists and 87 galleries, Art Basel Qatar will showcase a unique Special Projects program — a wide-ranging series of 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 & Global Director Art Basel Fairs, these landmark projects respond to the fair’s central theme, Becoming, and together form the most extensive group of public works ever realized for an Art Basel show.
In conversation with the artworks in the Galleries sector, the Special Projects deepen the fair’s exploration of Becoming. Across both sectors, artists consider transformation in material and conceptual terms — examining metamorphosis, transition, upheaval, and the thresholds in between. Works presented through the Special Projects engage directly with the seismic environmental, economic, and social shifts shaping our world, grounding the program in urgent regional and global realities. Visitors can expect an immersive, narrative-rich journey in which each work contributes to a wider reflection on transformation and identity across the MENASA region.
Featuring monumental architectural and mixed-media interventions, the Special Projects program underscores Art Basel’s commitment to staging fairs that are locally grounded and globally resonant, developed in close collaboration with host cities and their artistic ecosystems. Further details of the Special Projects program are outlined below.
Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer & Global Director Art Basel Fairs, said: “We are thrilled to announce the highlights of the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, which features an exciting series of Special Projects unfolding across Msheireb and responding to the theme Becoming. Together with the main Galleries sector of the show, these works present a narrative of transformation that offers audiences the chance to experience the region’s widest range of artistic practices. The first edition of Art Basel Qatar will be truly remarkable, an opportunity for visitors to encounter firsthand the richness of artistic expression in the MENASA region.”
Wael Shawky, Artistic Director, said: “Working with this extraordinary group of galleries and artists for the first edition of Art Basel Qatar is both a privilege and a milestone. Each presentation brings a practice that is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the Gulf and its extended geographies, while also pushing conversations forward in bold and unexpected ways. Together, they activate Msheireb with fresh perspectives and new encounters that reshape how audiences engage with place. We can’t wait for visitors to experience the exceptional creativity unfolding in Qatar.”
The fair brings together galleries from 31 countries and territories, including 16 making their Art Basel debut. Showcasing work by 84 international artists, with more than half hailing from across the region, this edition firmly positions Art Basel Qatar as the region’s anchor fair, creating a powerful conduit between the MENASA region and the Art Basel network worldwide.
Art Basel Qatar - with Visit Qatar as the fair's Lead Partner - will be held from 5-7 February 2026 (with Preview Days from 3-4 February), across Msheireb Downtown Doha venues M7 and Doha Design District, as well as other locations and venues in the area.
For further information about Art Basel Qatar visit the Art Basel website.
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