Art Basel Qatar Unveils 87 Galleries for 2026; Uzbekistan Wins Expo Gold; Karachi Biennale Names 2027 Curator
The inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar will take place in Doha from February 5–7, 2026, curated by Wael Shawky and themed 'Becoming.' A total of 87 galleries from 31 nations will participate, including new regional entrants such as Hafez Gallery, Tabari Artspace, and Saleh Barakat, alongside renowned international names like Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth. Featured solo exhibitions will showcase works by artists including Ali Cherri, Ahmed Mater, Mona Hatoum, and Simone Fattal. Art Basel's CEO, Noah Horowitz, commended the varied selection of galleries. Additionally, at Expo 2025 Osaka, the Uzbekistan Pavilion, designed by Atelier Brückner, earned a gold medal for 'Theme Development.' Noor Ahmed was named curator for the fifth Karachi Biennale, set for January 2027, while Min Tae-hong received the 20th Donggok Award on November 25 for his impact on Korean culture.
Key facts
- Art Basel Qatar's inaugural edition in Doha runs February 5–7, 2026 with 87 galleries from 31 countries.
- Egyptian artist Wael Shawky directs the fair under the theme 'Becoming.'
- New regional exhibitors include Hafez Gallery (Jeddah), Tabari Artspace (Dubai), and Saleh Barakat (Beirut).
- International galleries include Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and David Zwirner.
- Uzbekistan Pavilion won BIE gold medal for 'Theme Development' at Expo 2025 Osaka.
- Pavilion designed by Atelier Brückner under concept 'The Garden of Knowledge: A Laboratory for the Society of the Future.'
- Karachi Biennale Trust appointed Noor Ahmed as curator for fifth edition opening January 2027.
- Korean painter Min Tae-hong received 20th Donggok Award for culture and arts.
Entities
Artists
- Wael Shawky
- Ali Cherri
- Ahmed Mater
- Mona Hatoum
- Simone Fattal
- Min Tae-hong
- Noor Ahmed
- Hassan Sharif
- Maryam Hosseini
- Etel Adnan
- Ali Banisadr
- Meriem Bennani
- Iman Issa
Institutions
- Art Basel Qatar
- Hafez Gallery
- Tabari Artspace
- Saleh Barakat
- Gagosian
- Hauser & Wirth
- David Zwirner
- Almine Rech
- Athr Gallery
- Galerie Chantal Crousel
- Karma International
- Bureau International des Expositions
- Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation
- Atelier Brückner
- Karachi Biennale Trust
- Lahore Museum
- Taxila Museum
- Expo 2020 Dubai
- Pakistan Pavilion
- Korean National Commission for UNESCO
- Art Asia Pacific
- Art Basel
- Gallery Misr
- Le Violon Bleu
- Saleh Barakat Gallery
- Qatar Sports Investments
- QC+
- M7
- Doha Design District
- Msheireb Downtown Doha
- Mira Madrid
- Mira ArchivAcquavella Galleries
- al markhiya gallery
- Ames Yavuz
- Sabrina Amrani
- ArtTalks | Kanafani Gallery
- Barakat Contemporary
- BB&M
- Cardi Gallery
- carlier gebauer
- Chemould Prescott Road
- Sadie Coles HQ
- Galleria Continua
- Paula Cooper Gallery
- Lodovico Corsini
- Massimodecarlo
- Galerie Eigen + Art
- Selma Feriani Gallery
- Stephen Friedman Gallery
- François Ghebaly
- Gladstone Gallery
- Gray
- Green Art Gallery
- Grosvenor Gallery
- Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art
- Gypsum Gallery
- Leila Heller Gallery
- Gallery Isabelle
- Kalfayan Galleries
- Karma
- Sean Kelly
- David Kordansky Gallery
- Sylvia Kouvali
- Galerie Krinzinger
- kurimanzutto
- Lawrie Shabibi
- Lehmann Maupin
- Galerie Lelong
- Lisson Gallery
- Loft Art Gallery
- Luxembourg + Co.
- Magician Space
- Marfa’ Projects
- Matthew Marks Gallery
- Fergus McCaffrey
- Anthony Meier
- Mendes Wood DM
- Mennour
- Mignoni
- Victoria Miro
- Nature Morte
- neugerriemschneider
- October Gallery
- Galleria Lorcan O’Neill Roma
- Pace Gallery
- Perrotin
- Pilot Galeri
- Raster
- Niru Ratnam
- Thaddaeus Ropac
- Rossi & Rossi
- Lia Rumma
- Sargent’s Daughters
- Esther Schipper
- Galerie Thomas Schulte
- Sfeir-Semler Gallery
- Sprüth Magers
- Galerie Tanit
- The Third Line
- Tornabuoni Art
- Van de Weghe
- Axel Vervoordt Gallery
- Waddington Custot
- Michael Werner Gallery
- White Cube
Locations
- Doha
- Qatar
- Jeddah
- Saudi Arabia
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Osaka
- Kansai
- Japan
- Uzbekistan
- Karachi
- Pakistan
- South Asia
- Europe
- Lahore
- Taxila
- Gangwon
- Chuncheon
- Korea
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Tunis
- Tunisia