Design Doha 2026: A new chapter for Arab design

Design Doha returns from November 5, 2026, to January 31, 2027, with an ambitious second edition that places contemporary design and regional creativity at the heart of Qatar’s cultural landscape. Organised by Qatar Museums, the biennial will present more than 15 exhibitions, large-scale public commissions and a multidisciplinary programme celebrating talent from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Led by Director Fahad Al Obaidly, with Glenn Adamson as Artistic Director, this year’s edition expands beyond traditional exhibition spaces, transforming Doha’s historic Fereej Al Asmakh district into a vibrant centre for cultural exchange, experimentation and creative expression.

At its heart is Arab Design Now 2026, curated by Noura Al Sayeh. Bringing together 81 designers, 78 new commissions and 15 films, the exhibition explores how geography, craft, technology and social identity influence contemporary design. Participating names include Dima Srouji, India Mahdavi, Carl Gerges Architects, Nada Al Mulla and Studio Safar, reflecting the diversity of creative voices shaping the region. Among the programme’s highlights is Aslan’s Love Story, presented with Turquoise Mountain, tracing Palestinian artisan Jalal Aslan’s journey through craftsmanship, love and cultural memory. Meanwhile, The Sower by Mexican designer Fernando Laposse explores the relationship between ecology, agriculture and community, connecting Qatar and Mexico through shared environmental narratives.e il Messico attraverso narrazioni ambientali condivise.

Other exhibitions include Post-Oil 2026, examining the materials that transformed the Gulf’s urban landscape, and Beyond The Letters, which reimagines Arabic and Persian typography through contemporary technologies and artistic expression. Beyond the exhibitions, the biennial introduces public design commissions, inviting architects and designers to rethink shared urban spaces through sustainability, heritage and innovation.

The Design Doha Prize also returns, recognising excellence in craft, furniture, product design and emerging talent, with winners announced on November 7. More than a showcase of objects, Design Doha 2026 positions design as a powerful language of identity, community and cultural continuity, celebrating the region’s creative heritage while imagining its future.