Art Basel Qatar Returns for Second Edition With 82 Galleries Under Artistic Direction of Wassan Al-Khudhairi, Aims to ‘Deepen Collector Relationships’

Art Basel Qatar is returning for its sophomore edition from January 28 to 30 to three venues in Msheireb Downtown Doha: Barahat Msheireb, M7, and Doha Design District. The fair features 82 galleries from 37 countries, with 50 percent of the artists hailing from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, while more than a third of the participating galleries operate within these regions.

The fair has teamed with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), QC+, and Visit Qatar as official partners to “deepen collector relationships, support galleries, and sustain momentum between editions.” This month, a program called “Collectors Majlis” will be introduced to local and international collectors, galleries, and institutions to engage them in the arts; the initiative includes master classes, workshops, invitation-led community encounters, cultural experiences, collection visits, and more.

The theme of the 2027 edition of Art Basel Qatar is “between” and was conceived by Iraqi artistic director Wassan Al-Khudhairi, who in May was announced to lead the fair into its second chapter. “For me, the theme between is a liminal space of possibility, where different perspectives, histories and ideas meet and new ways of seeing emerge,” said Al-Khudhairi in a statement. She added that the aim was to bring “together artists across generations and at different stages of their careers.” Al-Khudhairi has also been collaborating with Vincenzo de Bellis, chief artistic officer and global director of fairs at Art Basel. Like last year, each gallery’s booth will feature a solo presentation.

Galleries from the region, such as Efie Gallery (Dubai), Iyad Qanazea (Abu Dhabi), Le LAB Gallery (Giza), Alhosh Gallery (Doha), Contemporary Art Platform (Kuwait), and Dastan Gallery (Tehran, Toronto) will be participating in their first Art Basel Qatar fair, joining the likes of Sprüth Magers (Berlin), Lisson Gallery (London), White Cube (London), The Breeder (Athens), David Zwirner (New York), Gagosian (New York), and Sadie Coles HQ (London).

Art Basel outlined that it would be offering galleries the same support as it did with the inaugural edition, this includes customs clearance, in-country transportation, consolidated storage and installation services, hotel accommodation for up to two staff members, and travel and hotel costs for exhibiting artists. The fair is also offering covering 50 percent of outbound shipping costs for unsold works and up to a maximum of $20,000 per gallery. The fair has put these initiatives into place to provide participating galleries flexibility with cost control and reflect Art Basel’s “commitment to supporting galleries and contributing to the long-term development of the art market in the region.”

Art Basel Qatar, like fairs such as Frieze London and Art Basel Paris, will coincide with various exhibitions taking place in Qatar, including “What Lingers in the Artist Mind: Experiments and Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group” at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art until February 6, 2027, and “Bu’ed Nadhar” at Liwan Design Studios and Labs, through January 31, 2027.