In a left-field move, Art Basel has appointed the Egyptian artist Wael Shawky as the artistic director of its inaugural Doha fair. Art Basel Qatar (ABQ), a partnership between the Swiss fair brand and two Qatar state-owned enterprises, QC+ and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), will be held across the M7 and Doha Design District sites from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 February 2026, with VIP days on 3 and 4 February.
Shawky, who received widespread critical acclaim for his Egypt Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, is the first artist to be appointed to a leadership position at an Art Basel fair. He will work alongside Art Basel’s chief artistic officer and global director of fairs, Vincenzo de Bellis, to realise the forthcoming show.
“I am an unconventional choice,” Shawky tells The Art Newspaper.