The Facts
On October 27, 2026, Art Basel Qatar announced the exhibitors for its second edition, scheduled for 2027, and details for a new year-round market development initiative. The fair, presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and Visit Qatar, will maintain a solo presentation format under the curatorial theme 'between / بين,' conceived by artistic director Wassan Al-Khudhairi. More than a third of the participating galleries operate in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, with approximately 60 international galleries from regions including Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. The event will take place across M7, the Doha Design District, and public sites in Msheireb Downtown Doha. A new year-round program, the 'Collectors Majlis,' launched in October 2026, offering masterclasses, workshops, and curated encounters for emerging collectors, designed to build sustained engagement between fair editions.
The Signal
Art Basel's expansion into Qatar reflects a strategic push to develop the MENASA art market, leveraging its global network while rooting the fair in regional culture. The 'between / بين' theme and solo presentations position the fair as a platform for deep, cross-cultural dialogue rather than a conventional booth-style event. The year-round collector program signals a shift toward long-term relationship-building, aiming to strengthen the regional ecosystem and attract new international participants. This model suggests that Art Basel sees significant growth potential in Qatar and the broader region, moving beyond one-off events to sustained market cultivation.
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- Artists: Yazan Khalili, Vian Sora, Seher Shah, Jumana Abboud, Waqas Khan, Paulo Nazareth, Huda Lutfi, Salah Elmur, Naiza H. Khan, Dana Awartani, Ayesha Singh, Kamruzzaman Shadhin, Sirak Melkonian, Aref El Rayess, Stéphanie Saadé, Youssef Ahmad, Mohammad Alfaraj, Faisal Samra, Chaïbia Talal, Pacita Abad, Dalal Al-Obaidi, Ihsan Oturmak, Aya Haidar, Monira Al Qadiri, Moataz Nasr, Nabil Nahas, Marcos Grigorian, Nicene Kossentini, Andy Warhol, Oscar Murillo, Maurizio Cattelan, Ken Price, Rosemarie Trockel, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Anish Kapoor, Park Seo-Bo, Lucio Fontana
- People: Noah Horowitz, Vincenzo de Bellis, Wassan Al-Khudhairi
- Galleries: Lawrie Shabibi, The Third Line, Green Art Gallery, Iyad Qanazea Gallery, Galerie Krinzinger, Mendes Wood DM, Gypsum Gallery, Mariane Ibrahim, Rossi & Rossi, Chemould Prescott Road, Nature Morte, Jhaveri Contemporary, Dastan Gallery, Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Marfa’ Projects, al markhiya gallery, Athr Gallery, Hafez Gallery, Le Violon Bleu, Silverlens, Taymour Grahne Projects, Öktem Aykut, Tabari Artspace, Contemporary Art Platform, Le LAB Gallery, Saleh Barakat, Leila Heller, Selma Feriani Gallery, Acquavella Galleries, David Zwirner, Gagosian, Matthew Marks Gallery, Sprüth Magers, neugerriemschneider, Lisson Gallery, White Cube, Tornabuoni Art
- Locations: Doha
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