QATAR MUSEUMS TO PRESENT WIDE-RANGING CULTURAL PROGRAMME TO MARK THE INAUGURAL EDITION OF ART BASEL QATAR

February 2026 lineup includes performances by Tarek Atoui and Rirkrit Tiravanija; new exhibitions at the Fire Station curated by its Artistic Director, Wael Shawky; and an unprecedented presentation of the arts of Afghanistan across three millennia, organised in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture

DOHA, QATAR, – Qatar Museums (QM) presents a citywide programme of exhibitions, public art installations, and cultural initiatives across Doha to coincide with the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, taking place on 5 – 7 February 2026. 

Launching alongside Qatar Museums’ already comprehensive Fall–Winter season, these new presentations will activate multiple institutions and public spaces across the city, offering international audiences a broad view of Qatar’s cultural landscape during Art Basel Qatar, which is presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment and QC+.

Spanning centuries and continents, the full programme brings together landmark exhibitions, newly commissioned works, performances, and public programmes across Qatar Museums’ institutions, reflecting the breadth and depth of its year-round cultural activity.

New presentations this February include performances by Tarek Atoui and Rirkrit Tiravanija; public programmes, and an exhibition focused on Ghanaian contemporary artists at Liwan Design Studios and Labs. Other highlights include Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan at the Museum of Islamic Art – an unprecedented survey of the arts of Afghanistan spanning from the pre-Islamic era to the present day, showcasing contemporary works alongside rarely seen historical artworks that reflect centuries of global heritage. 

At the Fire Station, solo exhibitions by Chung Seoyoung, Haroon Mirza, and Ho Tzu Nyen mark a significant moment in the institution’s evolution, further establishing the Fire Station as a site for artistic and intellectual engagement under the leadership of Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of the Fire Station and Artistic Director of the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar.

Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, said,

“The first edition of Art Basel Qatar, presented in partnership with major Qatari institutions, will be a new milestone in our support for creativity in the nation and our region and in Qatar’s widely acknowledged achievements in international cultural engagement. As this unprecedented event brings us a host of visitors from around the world, we will welcome them with extraordinary exhibitions, programmes, and events that demonstrate the abundance of cultural and creative offerings in Qatar year in and year out.”

Also on view during Art Basel Qatar as part of Qatar Creates Fall–Winter season are a number of major exhibitions. These include two landmark presentations celebrating the life and work of I. M. Pei: I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture at ALRIWAQ, and I. M. Pei and the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art: From Square to Octagon and Octagon to Circle at the Museum of Islamic Art. (On view until 14 February 2026).

Further highlights include Countryside:

A Place to Live, Not to Leave, a major exhibition and manifesto by AMO/OMA, presented at the Qatar Preparatory School and the National Museum of Qatar, which reimagines the role of the global countryside.

At the National Museum of Qatar, Lehmesa: Return by Moonlight offers an immersive exploration of the hawksbill turtle and Qatar’s coastal marine ecosystems.

A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory: Fifty Years Told honours NMoQ’s 50-year history.

Additional exhibitions and installations on view include

• Untitled 2025 (no bread no ashes), an installation and performance by Rirkrit Tiravanija presented by the forthcoming Rubaiya Qatar
• A large-scale sculptural self-portrait by Argentinian artist Gabriel Chaile, presented as part of the Qatar-Argentina 2025 Year of Culture;
• The reinstallation of the public artwork SlugTurtle, TemplEarth by Ernesto Neto at Our Habitas
• Four exhibitions marking the 15th anniversary of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.

This year, Qatar Museums is marking its 20th anniversary with the launch of Evolution Nation, honouring the establishment of the National Museum of Qatar 50 years ago and highlighting the nation’s cultural milestones and its aspirations for the future. As Qatar Museums looks ahead, it continues to welcome those who wish to contribute to this shared cultural legacy, ensuring that the collections entrusted to the nation today will inform, inspire, and belong to generations to come.

About Qatar Museums 

Now marking its 20th anniversary, Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, ALRIWAQ, QM Gallery Katara, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, and Design Doha. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum.

Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects such as the Fire Station, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, M7, the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.

Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.