Doha, Qatar: This February, Qatar Museums presents a vibrant programme of cultural and creative experiences for all ages, complementing the citywide calendar of exhibitions and public programmes taking place during Art Basel Qatar (5-7 February) that include performances by Tarek Atoui and Rirkrit Tiravanija; three major solo exhibitions by international artists at the Fire Station, and an exhibition on contemporary Ghanaian artists at Liwan Design Studios and Labs.
Alongside these presentations, Qatar Museums’ February programme also features a photowalk at a historic coastal Qatari village, curated tours of the we refuse_d exhibition at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and a series of I. M. Pei–related activations at ALRIWAQ, making February a dynamic month across Qatar Museums’ venues.
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Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art presents a book discussion that delves into abstraction and materiality, in addition to a workshop on free-form drawing and curated tours of we refuse_d, on view until February 9.
Curator-led tour: we refuse_d exhibition
February 3, 2026 | 4PM – 5PM | English
Join curators Nadia Radwan and Vasif Kortun for a tour and explore the works of 15 artists, gaining insight into the dialogues, newly commissioned works, and curatorial vision that bring the exhibition to life.
No registration required
we refuse_d: A Curatorial Presentation by Nadia Radwan
February 4, 2026 | 4PM – 5:30PM | English
The curators of we refuse_d, Nadia Radwan and Vasif Kortun, offer an in-depth introduction to the exhibition framework along with the historical research and political context which informed their curatorial decisions.
No registration is required
Book Presentation: Things Bigger Than What Can Be Seen with Oraib Toukan and Yazid Anani
February 4, 2026 | 5:30PM – 7PM | Arabic and English
A conversation between scholar and writer Oraib Toukan and Yazid Anani, a senior curator at Art Jameel in Jeddah. The two will discuss materiality, abstraction, and the ‘soil grain' of images. The book brings together a selection of Toukan’s essays, translated into Arabic for the first time.
No registration required
Workshop: Drawtastic
February 14, 2026 | 4PM – 6PM | English
Enjoy the freedom of expression with the entertaining workshop of Drawtastic! There are no limitations or guidelines, just a model to draw or paint in any medium or style you desire. Join us for an interactive and fun art session!
Register here
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The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is holding its monthly storytelling sessions in English and Arabic, as well as an art workshop tailored for children.
Workshop: An Artist’s Adventure
February 3 & 4, 2026 | 4PM – 5:30PM | English and Arabic
The workshop for children aged 8-11 will begin with a story focused on the world of art. Together, the workshop instructor and young participants will explore this creative, colourful world, followed by an activity, where children will be able to explore different craft mediums to expand on the things they learned during story time.
Register here
Story Time: Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi
February 24, 2026 | 8PM – 9PM | English and Arabic
Children aged 5–11 will read Natasha Khan Kazi’s Moon’s Ramadan at the MIA Library, which hosts story-led activities that bring environmental themes to life through readings, hands-on arts and crafts, and interactive learning inspired by museum objects.
Register here
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As part of the I.M Pei: Life is Architecture exhibition at ALRIWAQ, which will also be on display for Art Basel Qatar, Qatar Museums is inviting the public to several activations related to the late Chinese-American architect.
I.M. Pei Literature Salon
February 1, 2026 | 5:30PM – 6:30PM | English
Literature Salon is a weekly series that invites adult participants to engage with fiction, poetry and essays inspired and/or written by Chinese writers, in dialogue with visual works presented at the exhibition.
Register here
Curatorial tour: I.M Pei: Life is Architecture
February 2, 2026 | 5:30PM – 6:30PM | English
Join Zahra Khan, Art Mill Museum Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, for a guided tour of the I. M. Pei and the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art: From Square to Octagon and Octagon to Circle exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). The exhibition is an in-depth exploration of Pei’s design for one of Doha’s most celebrated landmarks. The tour continues into the Al Riwaq, in I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture exhibition where participants will gain a wider understanding of I.M. Pei's seven-decade career and life.
Register here
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QM Central Exhibitions is offering workshops on storytelling and the use of ink, as part of the The Rooted Nomad: MF Husain programme.
Medium and Movement Workshop
February 2, 2026 | 5PM | English
Age: 9-14
This workshop, introduces young participants to the dynamic and expressive medium of ink. Using nib pens and water brushes, students will explore how movement—of the wrist, arm, or entire body—can influence mark-making. Focusing on fluid and bold brushstrokes, the session encourages expression and boosts confidence in visual storytelling.
Register here
Frame By Frame: A Workshop on Storytelling
February 3, 2026 | 5PM | English
Age: 13+
The mixed media workshop introduces participants to cinematic styles and narrative techniques, by showing examples of India’s iconic artist the late MF Husain’s artworks. Using colouring materials, participants create a story board which focuses on memory and collective experience.
Register here
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Lusail Museum is launching the third lecture in its Lusail Museums Conversations series, where leading international historians and thinkers explore the Late Ottoman era.
Public Lecture: Arab-Ottoman Imperialists of Istanbul at the Fall of a Multicultural Empire by Mostafa Minawi
February 16, 2026 | 5:30PM – 7PM | English
In this lecture, historian Mostafa Minawi brings to life the experiences of Arab members of the Ottoman imperial elite living and working in Istanbul at the turn of the twentieth century. Drawing on archival research and his award-winning book Losing Istanbul (2022), Minawi reconsiders narratives of nationalism and ethno-racialisation, showing how loyalists from across the empire navigated identity, power, and belonging during the final years of Ottoman rule.
To register, contact: nelhajj@qm.org.qa
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Fire Station is holding a series of lectures at its auditorium with gallery owners, curators, and artists from its nine-month long Arts Intensive Study Programme (AISP). International artists Chung Seoyoung and Haroon Mirza, whose solo exhibitions at the venue coincide with Art Basel Qatar, will also lead special discussions.
A Conversation with Andrée Sfeir-Semler, Tom Eccles and AISP participants
5 February 2026 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 AM | English
Register here
A Conversation between Chung Seoyoung and Hoor Al Qasimi, moderated by Harry C. H. Choi
5 February 2026 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | English
Register here
A Conversation between Haroon Mirza and Jessica Cerasi
5 February 2026 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | English
Register here
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Tasweer is inviting photographers to imagine how Al Areesh, a Qatari coastal village with traditional Qatari architecture that was abandoned in the 1970s, could be reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary photography.
Photowalk: Reimagining Al Areesh Village with photographer Khalid Ismail
February 7, 2026 | 3PM – 5PM | English
In collaboration with Qatar Museums Archeology Department, Tasweer – is offering a creative photowalk at the historic village of Al Areesh. Participants will explore the site’s textures, architecture, and atmosphere while engaging with conceptual and fine art approaches and experimenting with framing, composition, and re-staging. Through thoughtful observation and creative interaction, photographers are encouraged to bring props or use natural elements to construct compelling visual narratives that breathe new life into this evocative landscape.
Meeting point: National Museum of Qatar parking lot at 1:00 PM*
Ticket Price: 50 QAR
Register here
*Transportation will be provided
Workshop: Photography Painting with Light
February 21, 2026 | 8PM – 10PM | English
A practical workshop focused on light painting techniques at Tasweer, Bayt Al Wakrah. The session also covers the basics of long-exposure settings, controlling shutter speed, and using handheld light sources to create patterns, outlines, and motion effects.
Location: Bayt Al Wakra
Ticket Price: 50 QAR
Register here
The Review Room: Photography Portfolio Reviews with Khalifa Al Obaidly and Khalid Ismail
February 25, 2026 | 8PM – 10PM | English
The Review Room offers a rare free opportunity for participants to receive direct, in-person feedback on their work from leading voices in the photography world.
In this dedicated portfolio review session, participants will engage in focused one-on-one meetings with renowned professionals in the photography field. The reviews are designed to provide constructive critique, insights into the industry, and guidance on developing a cohesive and impactful photographic practice.
Location: Bayt Al Wakra
Ticket Price: 50 QAR
Register here
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Liwan Design Studios and Labs is offering an industry sensitisation session for fashion designers, as well as textile and fibre-based artists in Qatar.
Workshop: Secrets of Supima
February 1 & 2, 2026 | 2PM – 6PM | English
Join us for an engaging sensitisation session with Supima cotton, a global leader in textile manufacturing. Participants will explore Supima manufacturer’s agricultural practices, sustainability approach, and fiber qualities, with hands-on comparisons of different cotton types to understand how fiber choice impacts fabric quality and specifications.
Register here
Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar invites children and families for a new season of play and dynamic activities at Dadu Gardens, offering a unique space to explore learning through open-ended play.
Dadu Gardens
Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday until April 2026
Get ready to embark on an extraordinary journey into the world of nature and discovery at Dadu Gardens. A captivating Dadu Museum activation to engage your senses, ignite your curiosity, engage with hands-on activities for children under 12 and their parents, and leave you with unforgettable family memories.
Register here
This year Qatar Museums celebrates Evolution Nation, a campaign honouring Qatar’s cultural journey over the past 50 years, since the founding of the National Museum of Qatar. Curated by Qatar Creates, the national movement positioning Qatar as a global hub for art, culture, and creativity, Evolution Nation highlights both the nation’s cultural milestones and its aspirations for the future.
