Art Basel has officially announced details of its highly anticipated debut in the Gulf with Art Basel Qatar, taking place from February 5 to 7, 2026, with Preview Days on February 3 and 4. Set within M7 and the Doha Design District, the fair introduces a groundbreaking open-format model—a departure from traditional booths—designed to centre artistic vision, narrative, and depth.
Appointed as Artistic Director for the inaugural edition is renowned Egyptian artist Wael Shawky, whose multidisciplinary approach and regional insight will help shape the fair’s curatorial identity. Shawky, working alongside Art Basel’s Chief Artistic Officer Vincenzo de Bellis and a prestigious Selection Committee, will guide the fair’s thematic direction and gallery curation.
The central theme, “Becoming,” will explore transformation, personal, cultural, and systemic, within the context of the Gulf and beyond. Art Basel Qatar will feature solo presentations across M7, Msheireb, and public sites in Doha, highlighting artists from MENA, South Asia, and global markets. The initiative marks a bold new chapter in how art fairs are conceived, prioritizing experimentation, dialogue, and cultural storytelling.
And that was The Week According to YUNG.
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