Art Basel will launch a new modern and contemporary art fair in Qatar, which will debut in Doha in February 2026.
Art Basel adds yet another art fair to its catalogue.
On Tuesday, Art Basel, together with its parent company MCH Group, announced the launch of a new modern and contemporary art fair in Qatar, which will debut in Doha in February 2026.
“Growing the global art market, supporting artists and galleries and developing new collecting audiences is core to Art Basel’s mission,” said Noah Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Art Basel, in a prepared statement.
MCH Group has partnered with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), a major investor in sports, culture, entertainment and lifestyle, and QC+, a strategic and creative collective specializing in cultural commerce.
Art Basel Qatar will be held in the M7 creative hub and the Doha Design District in downtown Msheireb.
Art Basel Qatar 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.
“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,” said Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums (QM) in a press release, who added that, along with the already established National Museum of Qatar and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, this year Qatar will launch 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 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 merging culture with sports could not have been more evident.”
Art Basel Qatar will be held within proximity to landmarks including the National Museum of Qatar.
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.
Horowitz said that Art Basel Qatar will “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.”
The fair will launch as a tightly curated showcase featuring a select group of leading galleries and artists, designed to respond to today’s market while laying the foundation for growth. The partners involved in Art Basel Qatar state that through educational programming and market development strategies, public arts engagement and more, the art fair will holistically weave into the fabric of Qatar help further a growing collector and gallery network.
“This is a groundbreaking project based on the unity of intent of ambitious organizations 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 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,” said Andrea Zappia, Chairman and Group CEO at MCH Group.
- Upcoming Art Basel shows:
- Basel, June 19-22
- Paris, Ot. 24-26
- Miami Beach, Dec. 5-7
