Large bold letters “Q+A Qatar and Arts” with the text “QATAR AND ARTS” below and its Arabic translation “قطر والفنون” underneath, all in black on a white background.

Cover by Wael Shawky. The drawings originate from Isles of the Blessed, Shawky’s exhibition with Lisson Gallery, New York, in 2022-23, and are studies for paintings presented alongside the film Isles of the Blessed (Oops!... I forgot Europe), 2022

ART BASEL QATAR SPECIAL

WINTER 2026
WINTER 2026
A woman wearing a beige headscarf and jacket with a yellow and black patch near the collar, featuring two arrows pointing in opposite directions, stands against a plain gray background—her style reflects the contemporary spirit of Art Basel Qatar.
  • Introduction

Art Basel Qatar Special

Welcome to the first edition of Q+A magazine
Street view of modern beige buildings with geometric patterns, lined with trees. Bright pink banners on lampposts read “Art Basel Qatar” and “Visit Qatar,” showcasing Art Basel highlights under a clear blue sky.
  • In Focus

A Snapshot of Art Basel Qatar

A few highlights from our experience at Art Basel Qatar in February
Illustration of a man in a beige suit holding a microphone, appearing to speak or present. The background shows an outlined crowd of seated people, drawn with minimal detail.
  • Creative Voices

The Fifth Pillar

CEO of Art Basel Noah Horowitz talks to Q+A about the fêted art fair’s expansion into Qatar
A modern outdoor plaza with abstract dark sculptures, surrounded by tall glass buildings and light-colored stone structures under a clear sky.
  • Art Basel

Special Effects

Art Basel Qatar has commissioned a series of site-specific installations to extend the fair’s impact
A man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a dark shirt and light pants, sits and smiles outdoors in front of a modern building with yellow accents and a clock tower. Trees and fountains are visible in the background.
  • Creative Voices

Epic Vision

Egyptian artist Wael Shawky on why Art Basel Qatar will be different from all other art fairs
A blue world map with black dots marking various locations across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The background is a lighter blue. There are no labels or text.
  • In Focus

The World Arrives

A map of the global galleries exhibiting at Art Basel Qatar, offering a snapshot of cultural exchange across continents
Bouthayna Al Muftah photographed by Robin Augustine, courtesy of al markhiya gallery
  • Art Basel

Threads of Memory

Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah expands her exploration of identity and craft through a sculptural installation for al markhiya gallery
Four people sit on stage in front of a seated audience, engaged in a panel discussion outdoors beneath lush green trees. The panelists appear to be in conversation, with microphones and water glasses on the table.
  • Creative Voices

The Swiss Connection

Sheikha al-Mayassa Al Thani, curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, architect Jacques Herzog and artist Urs Fischer were all born in Switzerland and shared a platform at Art Basel to discuss their projects in Qatar
A person stands on the geometric, sand-colored steps of a modern building with an arched window, raising their arms as two birds fly nearby against a clear blue sky.
  • In-Depth

The Couture Sculptor

Dutch-Moroccan fashion designer Mohamed Benchellal and a collection inspired by the landmarks of Qatar
A small, white-framed digital display hangs on a wall, showing a grayscale image with architectural patterns and faint text. The background features a blurred, mural-like photo of a building with arches.
  • Art Basel

Rewriting the Future

Qatari-American artist Sophia Al Maria’s new work with The Third Line gallery looks to the past in order to define a new narrative
A modern building with beige and gray concrete walls, yellow accents, large windows, and wooden lattice panels on the upper floors. Small trees are planted in the paved courtyard in front.
  • Art Basel

Kindling a Creative Future

The Fire Station is one of Doha’s most engaging creative hubs, with a dynamic residency and exhibitions programme
A woman in a bold outfit stands in front of microphones, facing the camera, with a diverse group of serious-looking people and a person with a film camera behind her; all gaze forward in a public outdoor setting.
  • Art Basel

Putting MENA on the Map

Art Basel Qatar is exhibiting the region’s most compelling voices, both established and emerging
A group of people, wrapped in shawls, gathers on a busy street in front of shops. An elderly man with a long white beard walks past. Bicycles and motorcycles are visible, and signs hang above the shops.
  • In-Depth

The Immersive Artist

The “Indian Picasso” and one-time resident of Doha, MF Husain, is celebrated with moving images
A hotel lobby with a dramatic, tall beige fringe wall hanging, marble floors with geometric patterns, dark green marble walls, seating areas, and a flower arrangement near glass doors in the background.
  • Notes

Desert of the North

A recently installed piece of public art in Doha
Black and white portrait of a person with short hair, wearing a ribbed, short-sleeve top and a skirt, standing and looking to the left, smiling softly with hands clasped in front.
  • In-Depth

Another Way of Seeing the World

A visit to the Paris studio of Lina Ghotmeh, architect of the forthcoming Qatari pavilion at Venice
A black-and-white photo shows a foot wearing a minimalist, toe-separating athletic shoe that appears worn and torn, viewed from above against a plain white background.
  • In-Depth

Sneakers Unboxed

How the athletic shoe became a cultural phenomenon
A woman in a long, color-block dress and striped, ruffled white top stands on a muddy construction site with debris, dirt, and blue sky in the background. She gazes seriously at the camera.
  • In-Depth

The New Guard

Designers Yasmin Mansour, Amir Al Kasm and Roni Helou on what winning a Fashion Trust Arabia award has meant for their careers
An older man in a dark suit stands in profile, holding a cane, against a large beige stone wall with geometric patterns in a modern, spacious interior.

The Road to MIA

Journeying with architect IM Pei on his search to unlock the key to the design of Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art
Issue cover by Fatima Alsharshai. The text reads: “Everything beautiful that fills the soul

Paris & Miami: Cover Lines

Words with calligrapher and Q+A cover artist Fatima Alsharshani
Art Mill Silos, Doha
  • In-Depth

From Mill to Museum and Beyond

Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena, and his studio ELEMENTAL, are transforming a flour mill in Doha into a future wonder of the art world
Three tall, dark monoliths stand upright in a row on a barren, sandy desert landscape under a clear blue sky. A small rocky hill appears on the left side of the image.
  • In Focus

Across Borders

Selected highlights of past cultural exchanges between Qatar and the Americas
A large gold thumb sculpture stands upright in an open plaza with white stone buildings and empty outdoor tables under a clear sky.
  • Notes

Across Borders

Selected highlights of past cultural exchanges between Qatar and France
A Persian-style miniature painting shows a lion leaping toward a black bull near a stream, with another animal nearby. The background features rocky cliffs, trees, clouds, and a gold sky with intricate details.
  • Notes

Fables Reborn

The tales of Arabic classic Kalila wa Dimna reimagined in Spanish
A woman with curly hair stands outdoors, leaning on a stone wall. She wears a striped jacket over a white top. Behind her are modern sculptures and a building with a glass facade.
  • In-Depth

First 15

Celebrating 15 years of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Qatari street artist Mubarak Al Malik in front of the mural he completed with Argentine street artist Martin Ron. Courtesy of Mubarak Al Malik
  • Notes

A Night to Remember

A new mural immortalises football legend Lionel Messi in Doha
Autoerretrao by Gabriel Chaile. Photo courtesy of Qatar Museums
  • Notes

The Shape of Us

Argentinian artist Gabriel Chaile reimagines self-portraiture
A modern building with COUNTRYSIDE and Arabic text on its facade, surrounded by green palm trees. A small white vehicle is parked to the right, and city buildings are visible in the distant background.
  • In-Depth

A Place to Live, Not to Leave

Following its debut in New York in 2020, the AMO-curated Countryside exhibition lands in Doha
A serving tray crafted from hammered brass engraved and inlaid with gold from Egypt, Cairo or Syria that dates back to the Damascus Mamluk period, c.1330-1341CE. © Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Museums
  • Notes

The World on a Plate

From illuminated manuscripts to jewelled vessels, A Seat at the Table offers a sensory journey through the history of feasting
Four women pose together outdoors. Two are seated on modern green benches while two stand behind them. They wear modest clothing in neutral and dark colors, and trees and white columns frame the background.
  • Notes

Liwan x MaNa

Four Qatari designers head off for a summer residency in France
Three people sit or stand among scattered rocks, platforms, and modern art installations in a spacious, minimalist gallery with white walls and a concrete floor. Suspended trays hold stones and objects overhead.
  • Notes

Harbour Master

French-Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui brings his watery installation to Doha
A hand holds a jeweled floral brooch above a sheet with intricate jewelry sketches, surrounded by other metal jewelry pieces and a ring on a wooden table.
  • Notes

A Gilded Narrative

Parisian elegance and Gulf heritage combine in a collaboration between jewellers Maison Chaumet and Qatari designer Aisha Alattiya
A mural in blue tones shows a veiled woman kneeling and facing a futuristic cityscape with tall, geometric skyscrapers. Arched lines rise above the city, merging culture and modernity. The mural is signed “MinuAirLabder 2021.”.
  • Notes

Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture

The Jedariart programme brings artists together to add vibrancy and meaning to Doha’s city walls. During the Qatar–USA Year of Culture 2021, it crossed continents to transform US city walls into canvases for cultural dialogue
Elegant restaurant with tall columns, large windows, and tables set with white cloths; dramatic ceiling art and warm, ambient lighting create a luxurious, sophisticated atmosphere.

A Taste of Qatar at Le Meurice

One of Doha’s top dining experiences makes a reappearance in Paris
The London heats of Britain's first national space invaders championships. The event attracted 350 dedicated players. Lisa Penry wears antennae. 19th April 1981.
  • Notes

Game On

The world of competitive esports

Cultural Calendar

Explore Calendar

All Issues

Browse Issues

Issue 000 Contents

FEATURES
NEWS

Contents

Neighborhood Guides

Contents

Features

The Fifth Pillar

The artist takes over the market

Sweet Fifteen

A place to live, not to leave

Fashion Trust Arabia: The new guard

The Road to MIA

Sneakers Unboxed

The Couture Sculptor

Moving Pictures

Architecture as memory: Lina Ghotmeh in Venice

NEWS

Crossing Borders
A Taste of Qatar at Le Meurice
A Gilded Narrative
Game On
A Universal Language

Harbour Master

  • WHAT'S ON
  • QATAR DIRECTORY