Art Basel Qatar Announces Participating Galleries

The art world all took a gasp after the announcement of Art Basel coming to Qatar. With just a few months until the debut fair opens, the participating 87 galleries have been announced, all of whom will each present a booth in Doha in February 2026.

The inaugural Art Basel Qatar will feature artist presentations of 84 artists. The 87 participating galleries span 31 countries, with 16 galleries exhibiting at an Art Basel fair for the first time. This first Art Basel in Qatar will take place under the curatorial direction of Egyptian artist Wael Shawky, with each artist presentation responding to the theme of Becoming. “The theme ‘Becoming’ is a meditation on change, on how humanity reshapes the ways we live, believe, and create meaning. The Gulf lies at the heart of this story, where oral traditions flow into digital networks and ancient trade routes return as new pathways of culture and exchange. Here, art is not only a witness to history but a force that shapes how we imagine and reimagine identity. My hope is that the first edition of Art Basel Qatar becomes a space for these stories to surface”, says Shawky, “The additional commissioned public projects will extend this spirit, giving greater voice to artists from the region and allowing their perspectives to echo far beyond it. Their full scope will be unveiled in the weeks ahead, inviting audiences to anticipate what is still becoming.”

Excitingly, more than half of the artists presenting in the debut fair have roots in the region, with the likes of Etel Adnan, Ali Banisadr, and Meriem Bennani all having a presence. In addition, homegrown galleries like Misr in Cairo, Le Violon Bleu in Tunis, and Beirut’s Saleh Barakat will exhibit alongside blue-chip international galleries which include Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace, David Zwirner, and White Cube. Of the 84 artists being presented at the fair, over half of them come from the Middle East, North Africa, and south Asia. These include Ali Banisadr with Perrotin, Ali Cherri with Almine Rech, Hassan Sharif with Gallery Isabelle, and MARWAN with Sfeir-Semler. They will be exhibited alongside the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat (Acquavella Galleries), Christo (Gagosian), Alex Katz (Gladstone Gallery), Georg Baselitz (White Cube), and Marlene Dumas (David Zwirner), among many others.

The fair will be run in partnership with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI), QC+, and with Visit Qatar as the lead partner, highlighting the artistic production in the MENA region. It will take place across Doha, predominantly at M7 and the Doha Design District. “With Art Basel Qatar, we are furthering our mission to be a catalyst for cultural exchange and market growth. Our gallery line-up for year one is thrilling – welcoming diverse new voices to our platform and deepening our engagement with new geographies, while also creating opportunities across our network of existing clients and established partners”, says Noah Horowitz, CEO OF Art Basel, “This new venture is only possible thanks to the long-term commitment of our partners, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+, and I’m excited for the impact our collaboration will have over the coming years.”

The selection committee for the inaugural Art Basel Qatar includes Athr Gallery's Mohammed Hafiz and The Third Line's Sunny Rahbar. “We are delighted with the response to Art Basel Qatar, which has brought together an exceptional roster of leading galleries for our inaugural edition”, says Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs for Art Basel, “The breadth and quality of participation speaks to the strength of the project and the excitement it has generated both regionally and internationally. Working with Wael Shawky has been deeply energizing and rewarding: his vision has inspired outstanding presentations shaped around the theme of Becoming.”

Art Basel Qatar will run between 5 and 7 February 2026