The second edition of Art Basel Qatar will bring 82 galleries from 37 countries and territories to Doha, placing artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia at the centre of an increasingly international art market.
SONG, 2026, Light projection and drones. Museum of Islamic Art, Doha “How Far Is Far” by Mahmoud Darwish. Used with permission, © 2026 by the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation. © 2026 Jenny Holzer, member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY Photo Courtesy by Art Basel
Presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+, with Visit Qatar as lead partner, the 2027 edition will feature 80 single-artist presentations by 82 galleries representing 37 countries and territories. The fair will unfold across M7 and Doha Design District in Msheireb Downtown Doha, with selected projects extending into public spaces.
“Between”: A Curatorial Space for New Perspectives
The central theme of the 2027 edition, between / بين, has been conceived under the artistic direction of Iraqi curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi, in collaboration with Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs at Art Basel.
Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director Art Basel Fairs and Artistic Director of Art Basel Qatar 2027
Rather than treating regional identity as a fixed category, the theme explores the spaces between histories, geographies and cultural perspectives — and the ways in which artistic practices influence one another across borders.
“For me, the theme between /بين is a liminal space of possibility, where different perspectives, histories and ideas meet and new ways of seeing emerge,” says Wassan Al-Khudhairi, Artistic Director of Art Basel Qatar 2027.
She adds that the exhibition seeks to explore “the dynamic relationship between the MENASA region and the wider world”, examining how global currents have shaped the region and how its artistic practices and cultural histories have, in turn, influenced international artistic discourse.
Artistic Director, Art Basel Qatar 2027. Photo by Jim Lafferty. Courtesy of Wassan Al-Khudhairi
The solo-presentation format will allow galleries to devote greater attention to individual artists, offering visitors a more focused encounter with their practices. Approximately half of the artists presented will come from the MENASA region, reinforcing the fair’s commitment to placing regional voices at the heart of the international conversation.
A Global Gallery Network with Strong Regional Roots
The exhibitor list brings together established international galleries and a significant number of regional participants. More than a third of the galleries operate spaces in the Middle East, North Africa or South Asia, while more than 30 galleries will participate in an Art Basel fair for the first time.
Among the regional galleries are ATHR Gallery (Jeddah), Green Art Gallery, Lawrie Shabibi, The Third Line, Tabari Art Space and Leila Heller (Dubai); Hafez Gallery (Jeddah and Riyadh); al markhiya gallery (Doha); Sfeir-Semler Gallery (Beirut and Hamburg); Le Violon Bleu (Tunis); Marfa’ Projects (Beirut); and Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai).
The edition will also welcome galleries making their Art Basel debut, including Efie Gallery (Dubai), Iyad Qanazea Gallery (Abu Dhabi), Alhosh Gallery (Doha), Contemporary Art Platform (Kuwait) and Dastan Gallery (Tehran and Toronto).
The international roster includes Gagosian, David Zwirner, White Cube, Lisson Gallery, Sprüth Magers, neugerriemschneider, Matthew Marks Gallery, Acquavella Galleries, Paula Cooper Gallery, Sadie Coles HQ, Galerie Krinzinger, Mendes Wood DM, Jhaveri Contemporary, Silverlens, Tornabuoni Art and The Breeder.
Disrupted frequencies (Egypt, United States, Brazil, Malaysia, China, Slovenia, Italy, Singapore, Indonesia), 2013-2025 © Oscar Murillo. Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner
The selection reflects a growing emphasis on dialogue between regional artistic production and established international market infrastructure. For galleries based in the region, Doha offers an opportunity to reach new audiences and collectors while maintaining close connections with their local cultural contexts.
Artists to Watch
The announced presentations span generations, disciplines and artistic traditions. Among the artists highlighted by Art Basel are Mohammed Alfaraj, Monira Al Qadiri, Dana Awartani, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Yazan Khalili, Seher Shah, Shahzia Sikander and Vian Sora. Several presentations offer opportunities to encounter artists through the distinct perspectives of their representing galleries.
Lawrie Shabibi will present Yazan Khalili, while The Third Line will show Vian Sora and Green Art Gallery will present Seher Shah. Athr Gallery will feature Mohammad Alfaraj, and Chemould Prescott Road will present Dana Awartani.
Written in Defiance on Stone (detail), 2026 Courtesy of Green Art Gallery, Dubai Photography in collaboration with Randhir Singh
The programme will also place regional artists in conversation with internationally recognised names. Gagosian will present Maurizio Cattelan; David Zwirner, Oscar Murillo; White Cube, Park Seo-Bo; Lisson Gallery, Anish Kapoor; Sprüth Magers, Rosemarie Trockel; neugerriemschneider, Rirkrit Tiravanija; and Acquavella Galleries, Andy Warhol.
Beyond the Fair: Building a Year-Round Collecting Culture
One of the most significant announcements accompanying the exhibitor list is the launch of Collectors Majlis, a new year-round market-development initiative designed to extend Art Basel Qatar’s impact beyond the annual fair.
The invitation-only pilot programme will bring together approximately 30–40 new, emerging and art-adjacent collectors for masterclasses, workshops, collection visits, cultural encounters and private salons. Its activities will span the period before, during and after the fair, offering practical insights into the art market, the acquisition process and the development of collections.
Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel, describes the initiative as part of a longer-term ambition.
“Art Basel Qatar was conceived as an enduring platform for the region, and the 2027 edition marks an important next step in bringing our vision to life,” he says. “Our ambition extends well beyond the fair week: through our new 365 program, we aim to deepen collector engagement between editions and contribute to the sustained growth of the regional art market.”
Vincenzo de Bellis similarly emphasises the balance between international reach and local identity. The ambition, he explains, is
“to build a fair that is rooted in its region and resonates around the world”.
Art Basel Qatar 2026 © Art Basel
The programme will involve collectors, galleries, institutions and cultural figures from Qatar and the wider region, including Her Excellency Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, alongside representatives of Art Basel and the broader collecting community. International encounters are also planned across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Greece and other key locations.
Doha’s Expanding Cultural Calendar
Art Basel Qatar will take place within a wider cultural programme that positions Doha as an increasingly important destination for contemporary art, design and architecture. The surrounding calendar includes Giuseppe Penone: The Inner Flow of Life at the National Museum of Qatar, running from October 26, 2026, to February 13, 2027, and What Lingers in the Artist Mind: Experiments and Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, on view from October 25, 2026, to February 6, 2027.
Doha Design District © Art Basel
The inaugural edition of Rubaiya Qatar, a new contemporary art quadrennial exploring global ecology, water and maritime heritage, will open on November 21, 2026, and continue through April 30, 2027. Meanwhile, Design Doha 2026 will present exhibitions and commissions across the city, bringing together designers and practitioners from the MENASA region and beyond.
Together, these initiatives suggest a cultural strategy that extends beyond major events, investing in the institutions, audiences and collecting networks needed to sustain artistic exchange throughout the year.
A New Chapter for the Regional Art Market
Art Basel Qatar 2027 arrives at a moment when the international art world is increasingly attentive to new collecting geographies and the institutions shaping them. Its combination of solo presentations, established international galleries, regional participants and year-round collector development reflects an ambition to build more than a temporary marketplace.
© Art Basel
For artists and galleries, the fair offers a platform for visibility and exchange. For collectors, it promises a concentrated encounter with diverse artistic practices. For Doha, it forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the city’s cultural infrastructure and international standing.The meaning of between / بين may ultimately lie in this convergence: not simply bringing different art worlds into the same venue, but creating the conditions for them to influence one another.
Art Basel Qatar 2027
Dates: January 28–30, 2027
Preview days: January 26–27, 2027
Venues: M7 and Doha Design District, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar
Partners: Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+
Lead partner: Visit Qatar
Official website: artbasel.com/qatar
