Wael Shawky Named Artistic Director of Art Basel’s First Qatar Fair

Art Basel, one of the world’s most influential contemporary art fairs, is expanding to the Middle East for the first time with a new edition launching in Doha in 2026. Known for shaping global art markets and spotlighting leading galleries and artists, the fair will introduce a reimagined format tailored to the region. Scheduled to take place from February 5 to 7 at the M7 building in Doha’s Design District - with preview days on February 3rd and the 4th - the event will unfold across multiple venues, including public sites in Msheireb.

Egyptian artist Wael Shawky has been appointed Artistic Director of the inaugural edition. Best known for his multidisciplinary practice that spans performance, film, and sculpture, Shawky has exhibited work at Tate Modern, MoMA PS1, the Serpentine Gallery, and most recently at the 2024 Venice Biennale and LUMA Arles. In 2024, he was named Artistic Director of the Fire Station in Doha, where he launched the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP), designed to support emerging artists in Qatar and abroad.

"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," Shawky tells CairoScene. "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.”

The new format moves away from the traditional art fair booth structure, instead embracing curated exhibitions tied to a central theme. For the first edition, that theme is 'Becoming', a conceptual framework examining how human identity and cultural systems are continuously redefined, both historically and in real time. The exhibition will treat art not only as a witness to these shifts, but as an active force in reimagining what might come next.

Shawky will work closely with Art Basel’s Chief Artistic Officer Vincenzo de Bellis and a dedicated Selection Committee, which includes representatives from Galleria Continua, Chemould Prescott Road, White Cube, Athr Gallery, The Third Line, and Michael Werner Gallery. Together, they will determine the participating galleries and help shape the overall direction of the fair.

Beyond M7, installations and programming will be staged across the Doha Design District and Msheireb. The Fire Station will also be repurposed as an educational platform throughout the fair. Organisers have described Doha as a natural setting for this evolution of Art Basel, noting the city’s longstanding commitment to experimentation and culture — one where artistic intention is positioned alongside, rather than secondary to, market concerns.

Art Basel Qatar is being produced in collaboration with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), MCH Group, and QC+, a creative collective focused on cultural commerce.