10/7/2025–|Last update: 12:37 (Mecca time)
The management of the Art Basel International Modern and Contemporary Art exhibition announced the first details of its opening version in Qatar, which will be held in the heart of the Doha Design neighborhood during the period from 5 to 7 February 2026, with the allocation of daily 3 and 4 of the same month for prior inspection.
This session represents a detailed moment in the history of the ancient global exhibition, as Qatar adopts the first unconventional formula for Art Basel exhibitions, based on artistic vision and aesthetic concept instead of the usual wings model.
In a qualitative step that enhances the local and regional artistic dimension of the event, the exhibition announced the appointment of Egyptian artist Wael Shawky as the technical director of the Qatari version, where he will take over the technical leadership task in cooperation with Vinsenzo de Pelis, the general coach of Art Basel, and his international exhibition director.
An innovative formula in Doha
The activities of “Art Basel” will be organized in two major sites, “M7” (M7), the creative center in Mushirip, and Doha Design District, along with selected public sites in Mushirip, giving the event an open urban extension and enhances its interaction with the general public.
The new formula of the exhibition is based on an open display form, as the showrooms offer individual participation with a pivotal topic carefully chosen by the technical administration. In this first session, the topic of “training” will be the conceptual framework of the exhibition, as a contemplation of human transformations and variable systems that reformulate lifestyles, beliefs and identities.
“In Art Basel Qatar, we go beyond the traditional model of art galleries, and we put the artistic intention at the heart of the experience, without giving up interacting with the art market. We chose Doha for its cultural richness and its openness to experimentation, and we are pleased to work with Shawky, who combines intellectual accuracy with visual imagination and deep knowledge of the region,” said Vinsinzo de Pellis.
Shawky described his appointment as a “great honor” and confirmed his endeavor to establish a platform that embodies the complications and richness of the Middle East and North Africa. “I look forward to cooperating with showrooms and artists to formulate an artistic experience dealing with the contexts of the region, and reflects its global resonance through research, narration, and experimentation,” he said.
Shawky is one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the region, and he won a wide praise of his last work, “Drama 1882”, who participated in the Venice Biennial 2024, actor of Egypt. Its exhibitions varied between Tate Modern in London, Moma “BS1” in New York, the Museum of Modern Arab Art in Doha, and other international artistic platforms.
Since October 2024, Shawky has also held the position of coach of the artists ’residence, as he launched an intense academic program aimed at developing cash and professional skills for emerging artists from Qatar and the region.
Art Basel Qatar represents the fruit of a partnership between Art Basel, its mother company, MCH (MCH), Qatar Sports Investment, and QC+to be part of the growing Qatari cultural scene, and strengthen the Doha site as a global destination for contemporary arts.