Doha, Qatar: With Art Basel set to draw global attention next year, Qatar's current exhibitions provide an early insight on the diverse and multifaceted art ecosystem already unfolding in the country.
From national museums to contemporary creative hubs, the country’s cultural landscape comes alive with exhibitions that reflect its flourishing and diversifying artistic identity. The National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Modern Art Museum, Fire Station Museum, and M7, which will be hosting the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar in February 2026, are among the key venues offering a rich array of artistic experiences.
As the new cultural season begins, here is a guide to some of the must-visit exhibitions across Qatar that promise to spark inspiration and match your aristic energy well before the prestigious art fair arrives.
A note of caution, most of the museums restrict entry a good 45 minutes before their closing time.
A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory: Fifty Years Told
Until February 7, 2026
National Museum of Qatar
Opening with a celebration of local heritage, this exhibition traces the 50-year journey of the National Museum of Qatar. Visitors can explore rare objects from the original museum, many displayed for the first time since its renovation, alongside archival photographs, personal stories, foundational documents, and multimedia presentations. It is an immersive tribute to one of the nation’s most iconic architectural landmarks.
Preview this exhibition. Tickets here.
Lehmesa: Return by Moonlight
Until February 7, 2026
Temporary Gallery 2, National Museum of Qatar
Lehmesa guides viewers into the world of sea turtles, with a special focus on the Hawksbill, the only species that nests on Qatar’s shores. The exhibition highlights their delicate journey from sand to sea, as the exhibition also advocates for the protection of Qatar’s coastal and marine environments.
Tickets here.
The Rooted Nomad: MF Husain
Until February 6, 2026
Qatar Museums Gallery, Katara, Building 10
Long-awaited by the public, The Rooted Nomad offers a fresh, immersive exploration of the work of Maqbool Fida Husain, also known as MF Husain, one of India’s most famous artists. Breaking away from traditional displays, the exhibition uses projection mapping and digital animation to reimagine Husain’s creations in a dynamic, multisensory format.
Preview this exhibition. Tickets here.
I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture
Until February 14, 2026
Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq
This full-scale retrospective celebrates the seven-decade career of renowned Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. Through original drawings, sketches, scale models, and archival materials, visitors can explore six thematic chapters that illuminate his visionary approach. The exhibition holds particular resonance in Qatar, where Pei designed the beloved Museum of Islamic Art.
Tickets here.
FTA: Threads of Impact. Celebrating 7 Years of Fashion Trust Arabia
Until January 3, 2026
M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha
M7 marks the seventh anniversary of Fashion Trust Arabia with an expansive showcase featuring works by more than 80 designers. The exhibition celebrates both traditional and contemporary influences, presented alongside complex and imaginative designs depicting the diverse visions across MENA.
Preview this exhibition. Tickets here.
Amazigh Hair Couture
Until January 12, 2026
M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha
This exhibition celebrates Moroccan Amazigh hair traditions, showcased through braiding, adornment, and ritual.
Preview this exhibition. Tickets here.
Houbara Haven: A Chaumet Tiara
Until January 12, 2026
M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha
This exhibition showcases the designs by Qatari artist Aisha Alattiya, which has been crafted by Maison Chaumet and commissioned by Alfardan Jewellery and Qatar Museums. The Houbara Haven: A Chaumet Tiara gives visitors an glimpse on the designer's creative journey behind the tiara, a piece design with elements paying homage to Qatar's rich hunting traditions.
Tickets here.
Woven Legacies: Uzbekistan’s Living Heritage
Until Janurary 3, 2026
Floor 2, M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha
This exhibition spotlights Uzbekistan’s centuries-old textile traditions and the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations. Visitors can immerse themselves in a vibrant display of patterns, materials, and narratives that highlights Uzbekistan’s artistic legacy at M7, in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Tickets here.
Portals in Flux Artist in Residence 9 Exhibition
Until December 31, 2025
Garage Gallery, Fire Station
Featuring the work of fifteen Qatar-based artists, this exhibition presents the culmination of their nine-month residency at the Fire Station Museum. Through diverse mediums, the artists explore themes of memory, materiality, and imagined worlds.
Tickets here.
Fatma Al-Naimi: And Then, A Return
November 13 - December 13, 2025
Gallery 3, Fire Station Museum
This exhibition showcases Fatma Al-Naimi's artworks brought forth by the Museum's 2025 Ruwad in Residence. Her works explore the balance between themes of control and surrender, depicting the journey of unpredictability which circles back to reflection and transformation.
Tickets here.
Aissa Deebi: “What remains to Be Seen”
November 13 - December 13, 2025
Fire Station, Gallery 4
Aissa Deebi’s powerful exhibition confronts the concept of vision in an era defined by surveillance. His grey-toned landscapes and horizons evoke cities altered by conflict, where white signals erasure, black signifies endurance, and birds appear as silent witnesses to loss.
Tickets here.
Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street
Until March 7, 2026
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
This thematic exhibition welcomes shoe and sneaker lovers as well as individuals interested in athletic gear. This exhibition will allow visitors to witness how sneakers evolved from athletic gear into global icons of design, culture, and fashion.
Tickets here.
Esports | A Game Changer
Until April 30, 2026
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
Esports | A Game Changer is an exhibition which spotlights the rise of esports and gaming. This exhibition also showcases its global cultural and economic impact.
Tickets here.
Resolutions: Celebrating 15 years of Mathaf
Until August 8, 2026
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
This exhibition presents a retrospective look into Mathaf's 15-year history through four distinct and thematic chapters while offering a new look at the museum's permanent collections and the evolution of Arab modernism.
Tickets here.
we refuse_d
Until February 8, 2026
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
On view at Mathaf, this exhibition presents the works of 15 contemporary artists from the Arab world following themes of refusal, resistance, action in the face of opposition, heritage and care.
“Countryside: A Place to Live, Not to Leave”
Until April 29, 2026
Qatar Preparatory School (QPS) and the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)
Countryside: A Place to Live, Not to Leave, is an exhibition which spans two locations in Doha, including the Qatar Preparatory School and the National Museum of Qatar. This exhibition reimagines the rural landscape as a space for sustainability, innovation, and future living.
Tickets here.
