Written by Astrid Lesuisse
Spotlighting the Gulf’s Artistic Energy Through Art Basel’s Middle East Debut in Doha, February 3–7, 2026. When the prestigious Art Basel fair announced in May 2025 the launch of its first-ever Middle East edition in Qatar, I immediately blocked by calendar for February 2026.
What exciting news in the art world!
As an Art Consultant and Agent based in the United Arab Emirates for over six years, working to advance the Middle East’s art scene, this moment felt transformative. I was immensely proud, and at times, emotional, to witness the world’s attention on the region.
After the art market experienced softness due to various factors, including geopolitical instability, I noticed a positive turnaround following my visits to Art Basel Paris and Miami in Q4 of last year, which signaled renewed momentum.
Here, I share three key takeaways from Art Basel Qatar 2026, highlighting what this expansion may signal for the Middle East’s role in the global art market.
The Gulf Has the Potential to Become a Global Art Powerhouse
As a first-time visitor to Doha, I was in awe of the city’s remarkable infrastructure, museums, and institutions, all contributing to the fair’s vibrant programming: Qatar Art Center, The Fire Station, National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, Alriwaq, and Mathaf, to name a few.
Doha is a city built with intelligence and ambition that feels like a strategically designed cultural hub. The energy at this inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar was distinctly regional, with many Emiratis, Saudis, Qataris, and Kuwaitis traveling specifically for the fair. The event was a milestone in the maturation of the regional’s cultural ecosystem. I observed VIPs flying in from Dubai for the preview and others arriving directly from Saudi Arabia’s third Diriyah Biennale, truly a cohesive regional circuit and community.
It was also a delight to see the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his sister Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, walking through the fair, underlining the event’s significance within Qatar’s long-term cultural strategy.
Art Basel Doha Dared to Break Traditional Fair Models
This edition of Art Basel was unique.
While many internationally renowned galleries and blue-chip international artists were present, over half of the participants were from the Gulf and MENASA region. I was thrilled to support regional galleries like Dubai’s The Third Line in their Art Basel debut.
The fair emphasized not only the commercial exchange but also the intellectual exchange. Of course, ultimately it is about galleries selling art, and in turn supporting their artists, but it is also about educating the wider global audience on the art market, Arab world and regional talents.
Even though Art Basel is one of the largest commercial art fair companies in the world, the Qatar edition moved beyond the familiar hundreds of galleries, and introduced a more curated approach: 87 galleries, each presenting a single artist, under the theme “Becoming.”
This curation created a more engaging experience, allowing for a deeper understanding of each artist’s practice. The artworks were shown emphasizing institutional dialogue and historical narratives. The slower-paced, intimate format truly encouraged long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions.
Curating Emotional Connections Empowers the Next Generation of Collectors
The artist returned to the spotlight!
The fair’s smaller, solo-show format prioritizing experience over immediate sales nurtures a new generation of collectors with a long-term vision. As a professional who guides emerging collectors, I noticed younger, more geographically diverse audiences entering the market, particularly women.
Initially, I was skeptical about an artist, Wael Shawky, directing a fair. But seeing how fairs often reduce art to sales metrics, I appreciated the focus on artists at the heart of the experience.
Offering proximity to artists, inspiring discoveries, fostering real conversations, and creating emotional connections are crucial to cultivating long-term engagement and empowering the next generation of collectors.
Visiting Doha’s Fire Station, where Shawky serves as Artistic Director, exemplified this approach: a platform for experimentation and intellectual discourse that highlights storytelling, depth, cultural relevance, and emotional resonance. To me, this approach encourages long-term collecting and sustained relationships.
From my perspective, the launch of Art Basel in Doha marks not only a strategic but also a philosophical expansion. The edition provided an incredible opportunity for galleries to expand networks, forge new connections, and build cross-cultural bridges across regions, all with minimal commercial pressure, thanks to Qatari government support.
Art Basel Qatar was more than a marketplace.
It was a space for real conversations through artworks, talks, performances, and exchanges between visitors and professionals. I hope Doha preserves this unique platform for cultural dialogue within the crowed art fair ecosystem.
With such a successful launch, Art Basel Doha is destined to become an annual rendez-vous. See you next year, Doha!
Three “Coups de Coeur” from Art Basel Qatar 2026 To Watch:
Lelong Gallery
Selma Feriani Gallery
Green Art Gallery
About Astrid Lesuisse
Born in Paris, Astrid Lesuisse is an Art Consultant and Agent with notable fine arts experience across Europe and North America. Based in Dubai for over six years, she has been shaping the city’s rise as a cultural hub, making contemporary art more accessible and celebrated.
Astrid has collaborated with leading entities such as Art Dubai, curated exhibitions for galleries like Zidoun-Bossuyt, guided collectors, integrated art into commercial spaces like Hotel Indigo, and commissioned works for global brands including Nespresso. Known for her collaborative, multicultural approach, she creates personalized experiences that reveal the intrinsic value of art while helping artists and partners gain visibility and economic success.
“Society today is motivated by innovation, and I believe that art is an endless source for new experiences. Passionate about nurturing contemporary talent, I curate emotional connections with the public by sharing their stories in a meaningful way.”
