Qatar Lounge at Art Basel 2026.
Doha: The Qatar Lounge, presented by Qatar Sports Investments, and QC+, in partnership with Qatar Airways, concluded its presence at Art Basel in Basel this week, engaging international collectors, galleries, artists, and cultural stakeholders around Qatar’s expanding arts ecosystem and the forthcoming 2027 edition of Art Basel Qatar.
The Lounge brought together hospitality, design, culinary programming, artistic collaboration, and cultural storytelling, highlighting Qatar’s continued investment in creative exchange, market development, and year-round cultural programming.
Art Basel Qatar recently announced the appointment of Iraqi curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi as Artistic Director for its 2027 edition. Al-Khudhairi, Founding Director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar, will develop the artistic and curatorial vision of the fair in close collaboration with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel’s Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, and will guide the gallery selection process together with the fair’s dedicated Selection Committee.
Designed as a calm and understated space within Art Basel in Basel, the Qatar Lounge featured limestone textures, dune-soft curves, mineral tones, and organic forms inspired by the desert and the oasis. The Lounge reflected a contemporary Arab sensibility and created a setting for conversation, connection, and cultural exchange.
A central part of the experience was the culinary offering by Jiwan, the MICHELIN-recognised restaurant at the National Museum of Qatar.The Qatar Lounge also featured an artistic collaboration with Qatari artist Mubarak Nasser Al-Thani, who designed the Lounge uniforms and a series of limited-edition items.
The Lounge hosted a series of intimate events and activations, including the presentation of Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League trophy; a meet-and-greet with Wassan Al-Khudhairi; an activation with Spanish artist Edgar Plans highlighting his limited-edition collection of jerseys and posters, which is part of an ongoing collaboration between Qatar Sports Investments, Paris Saint-Germain, and Art Basel; and a reception for Art Basel’s Discovery Programme, which brought together international lifestyle collectors for a curated experience at the fair.
CEO of QC+ Kirstin Mearns said, “The Qatar Lounge at Art Basel in Basel provided an important platform to engage directly with the international art community. Following the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar earlier this year, our presence in Basel helps continue that momentum, deepen relationships with collectors, galleries, artists, and cultural partners, and build anticipation for the fair’s second edition in Doha in January 2027.”
The activation supported continued international awareness of Art Basel Qatar, following the inaugural edition held in Doha in February 2026. The second edition of Art Basel Qatar will take place from January 28 to 30, 2027, with Preview Days on January 26 and 27, and will be presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+. Qatar Airways is the fair’s Premium Partner.
Art Basel Qatar is committed to supporting the development of the regional art market through an annual fair and year-round programme connecting galleries, artists, collectors, institutions, and audiences from the Global South and beyond.
