Wael Shawky Appointed Artistic Director of Art Basel Qatar

Art Basel has announced Egyptian artist Wael Shawky as the Artistic Director of its first fair in the Gulf region, Art Basel Qatar, set to launch in Doha in February 2026. 

Known for his genre-defying work in film, performance and narrative art, Wael Shawky brings a conceptual and cross-disciplinary approach to the fair. His appointment marks a bold step towards rethinking the traditional art fair format, one that aligns with Art Basel’s new curatorial ambitions in the Middle East. 

The inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, held at the M7 creative hub in the Doha Design District, will revolve around the theme Becoming, exploring evolving identities and cultural narratives through a series of solo gallery presentations. Departing from conventional booth layouts, the fair will adopt an open exhibition model, integrating venues across M7, the Design District and public spaces in Msheireb.

A global Selection Committee of leading gallerists will work with Wael Shawky and Art Basel’s Chief Artistic Officer Vincenzo de Bellis to shape the participant lineup.

Shawky, who also recently took charge of Doha’s Fire Station art space and launched the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP), views the fair as an opportunity to deepen artistic dialogue in the region. “We’re creating a platform that reflects the complexity of the MENA region and speaks to a global audience. It’s about storytelling, transformation, and rethinking how art is shared.”

With a fresh curatorial vision and strong ties to local and international art ecosystems, Art Basel Qatar, a joint initiative between Art Basel, MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+ is posed to redefine what an art fair can be in the 21st century.