Search on Qatar Moments

Participating Galleries Announced for Inaugural Art Basel Qatar

Global Art Powerhouses & Regional Innovators Unite: 84 Galleries from 31 Countries Join Art Basel Qatar’s First Edition

Art Basel Qatar has officially revealed the lineup of participating galleries for its inaugural edition, scheduled from 5-7 February, 2026. The exhibition, curated by Wael Shawky, will take place in Doha at M7 and the Doha Design District, with public-facing sites in Msheireb Downtown.

Read More: Omar M. Yaghi Wins the Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Unlike traditional booth layouts, this fair is adopting an open-format presentation to encourage more immersive and accessible interactions with art.

Under the theme “Becoming”, Art Basel Qatar explores themes of identity, transformation, belief systems, and the constant evolution inherent to human life. The theme reflects both personal and collective narratives and invites galleries and artists to engage with systems—spiritual, cultural or societal—that shape how we see ourselves and others.

The fair will host 84 galleries from 31 countries, exhibiting work by 87 artists, with more than half the artists coming from the MENA region.

Read More: Qatar Offers Marriage Bonus, Longer Leave, 150% Pay Raise for Public Workers

Participating galleries span the Gulf, wider Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, as well as Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Sixteen galleries are making their first appearance: notable newcomers include Hafez Gallery (Jeddah), Gallery Misr (Cairo), Le Violon Bleu (Tunis), Saleh Barakat Gallery (Beirut), and Tabari Artspace (Dubai).

Artists featured will include prominent names such as Ahmed Mater, Hassan Sharif, Maryam Hosseini, Etel Adnan, Ali Banisadr, Simone Fattal, Ali Cherri, Meriem Bennani, and Iman Issa. Their participation underscores a deliberate focus on amplifying voices from the region, offering both established and emerging practitioners a platform.

Read More: Qatar Customs to Auction 160+ Items Online This October—From Cars to Collectibles

As Art Basel Qatar approaches, anticipation is growing for how this open-format model and thematic framing will impact the art fair landscape in the Gulf. Viewers, collectors, artists and galleries alike will be watching how “Becoming” plays out across public spaces, private exhibitions, and the diverse array of global and regional perspectives on view.

Here is the full list of participating galleries: