Art Basel Qatar names Wael Shawky as Artistic Director

9 July 2025

A new show concept and one of the world's most celebrated contemporary artists at its helm: The highly anticipated, inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar will innovate on all fronts. Set to take place from February 5–7, 2026, in the center of Doha, the fair will depart from a booth-centric model and introduce a format anchored in curatorial rigor and conceptual depth.

Renowned Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky has been appointed Artistic Director for the inaugural edition. Collaborating closely with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel’s Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, Shawky will steer the curatorial direction and gallery selection in consultation with a Selection Committee composed of leading gallerists from the region and beyond. Known for his rich, multidisciplinary practice, Shawky brings a profound understanding of the region and a passion for storytelling, research, and experimentation. Since 2024, he is also the Artistic Director of the Doha Fire Station, where he has launched the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP) designed to foster critical thinking, hands-on learning, and professional development for a cohort of 20 emerging international and Qatari artists.

Art Basel Qatar will feature solo presentations by galleries that respond to a unifying thematic framework. The 2026 edition will revolve around the theme ‘Becoming’, a meditation on humanity’s ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning. The theme positions the Gulf as a dynamic cultural landscape, where oral traditions intersect with digital networks, and ancient trade routes are reimagined as contemporary flows of culture and capital. This open-format exhibition will span M7, the surrounding Doha Design District, and select public spaces in Msheireb, Doha’s cultural heart. Conceived by Art Basel as a platform to foster deeper engagement with leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and further afield, the show will prioritize an engaging experience that maintains strong market relevance.

Wael Shawky said: 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format. The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.'

Find out more via Art Basel.

Image: Portrait of Wael Shawky, June 2025, Courtesy Art Basel, Photography by Matthieu Croizier