Exhibitions
Art Basel lands in Qatar and redefines the map of contemporary art
Doha is preparing to write a new chapter in the history of global art. From February 5 to 7, the Qatari capital will host the first edition of Art Basel Qatar, solidifying its position as a new international cultural epicenter. This event marks the fifth major fair of the prestigious Art Basel brand, joining Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris, and confirms the region's growing prominence on the global art scene.
Art Basel Qatar will take place at M7, one of Doha's most important creative hubs, and in the Doha Design District, both located in the heart of Msheireb Downtown, the country's innovative smart and sustainable urban neighborhood. The architectural and urban context is not accidental: the fair is conceived as an immersive experience that engages with the city and its transformation.
The inaugural edition embraces an innovative format, taking advantage of Doha's winter sunshine to create an unprecedented open-air exhibition. Participating galleries will present individual projects articulated around a common conceptual theme: Becoming . This thematic framework proposes an open reflection on the processes of change, transition, and transformation, both on an individual and collective level.
The fair will bring together 87 galleries from 31 countries and territories, 16 of which are participating in an Art Basel fair for the first time, underscoring the expansive and global nature of this new edition. More than half of the 84 represented artists come from the region, solidifying Art Basel Qatar's position as a key fair in the regional art ecosystem and as an active bridge between the regional scene and the international Art Basel network.
One of the program's cornerstones is Special Projects , curated by Egyptian artist and artistic director Wael Shawky, in close collaboration with Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel Fairs. This program comprises the largest collection of public works ever presented at an Art Basel edition, reinforcing the fair's experimental and discursive nature.
In direct dialogue with the works presented in the Galleries section, the Special Projects further explore the conceptual framework of Becoming . In both spaces, the artists address processes of transformation from material and conceptual perspectives, exploring notions of metamorphosis, transition, rupture, and the thresholds between different states. The works are linked to environmental, economic, and social transformations of regional and global scope, situating the program within a framework of urgent contemporary issues.
With this first edition, Art Basel Qatar not only expands the brand's geographical reach but also proposes a new fair model: more open, more connected to public space, and deeply aligned with current debates. Doha thus establishes itself as an expanding cultural laboratory and a key meeting point for rethinking the future of contemporary art.
