Can Art Basel Qatar Redefine the Global Art Fair? Wael Shawky’s Vision Puts the Region at the Centre

Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.

With Wael Shawky leading the charge, the Gulf’s new flagship fair is swapping out traditional booths for something bolder – but is this a groundbreaking model or just a regional makeover?

When Art Basel announced its plans for a new fair in Doha, scheduled for February 2026, it introduced a departure from the conventional fair format. Instead of the familiar white-cube booths, the Doha edition will feature curated solo gallery presentations built around a shared theme, “Becoming”. These presentations will take place across M7, the Doha Design District, and surrounding public spaces.

The appointment of Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky as artistic director reflects a curatorial approach shaped by regional perspectives. Shawky, whose work often explores historical narrative through video and performance, described the new format as “a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation.”

A fair without booths?

Art Basel’s chief artistic officer, Vincenzo de Bellis, has described the new model as prioritising depth over display. This signals a deliberate break from the usual commercial churn. Instead of booths, galleries will present focused exhibitions aligned to a curatorial vision.

Such a departure is rare for an event of this scale. While similar ideas have been explored at curated platforms like Art Basel Unlimited or Frieze Projects, those remain sideshows to the main market activity. Here, the exhibition format is the core.

But can it work? For many galleries, booths offer autonomy and crucial visibility. Their absence raises logistical and financial questions. Sales in a boothless format may be less predictable.

Yet in a region where institutional collecting and state support are strong, the traditional sales-driven model may be less relevant.

Doha as cultural architect

Qatar’s cultural expansion has been both rapid and strategic. With landmark institutions like the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar, Doha has positioned itself as a collector’s capital. Yet questions remain about the coherence of this ecosystem. Art Basel Qatar could provide the missing curatorial thread. The fact that “Becoming” is the chosen theme is not incidental. It reflects both the fair’s ambition and the region’s evolving identity – one shaped by ancient histories and 21st-century globalisation.

Shawky’s unique position as the artistic director of Doha’s Fire Station and the founder of MASS Alexandria firmly anchors him in the regional arts scene. Unlike many guest curators who swoop in for a quick prestige boost, Shawky is actively involved in shaping local programming. His role helps create a seamless connection between the fair and the broader cultural landscape. Choosing an artist to steer a fair’s curatorial vision is a refreshing break from the usual art market practices. It hints at a format that values meaningful engagement over mere commercial appeal. Whether this approach will inspire confidence among collectors is still up in the air.

“Becoming” presents the Gulf as a palimpsest—a place where oral traditions, trade routes, and digital networks intertwine. This offers rich curatorial potential, but it also poses a conceptual challenge. Will the fair’s layout and gallery choices truly capture this complexity, or will they just hint at it? Renowned names like The Third Line, Chemould Prescott Road, and Galleria Continua add regional significance, but the real test will be whether these solo exhibitions come together to create a cohesive narrative rather than just a collection of disparate voices.

Then there’s the question of exclusivity. With a limited number of slots and carefully curated presentations, the fair risks becoming an insular space. But maybe that’s the point—a shift from a marketplace to a more intentional statement.

With partners like Qatar Sports Investments and QC+, Art Basel Qatar stands at the crossroads of culture, commerce, and soft power strategy. In this way, it aligns with a wave of Gulf initiatives—from the Louvre Abu Dhabi to the Diriyah Biennale—that leverage cultural programming as a form of geopolitical messaging. Its success won’t just be measured in sales; it will also hinge on its ability to spark new conversations, alter market perceptions, and redefine how the region is viewed.

As Shawky notes,

“The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me.”

The real test will be whether that framework holds – under the weight of expectation, investment and international scrutiny.

Upcoming Art Basel shows
Paris, October 24–26, 2025
Miami Beach, December 5–7, 2025
Qatar, February 5- 7, 2026
Hong Kong, March 27-29, 2026
Basel, June 18–21, 2026

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