Doha: HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, inaugurated the Design Doha
Biennial 2026, bringing together designers, craftspeople and creative
practitioners from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and beyond. Running
until January 31, 2027, the second edition features 20 exhibitions, new design
commissions, public installations and cultural programmes exploring how
traditional knowledge and craftsmanship can shape the future of contemporary
design.
Events are taking place across Doha, with the
historic district of Fereej Al Asmakh serving as the main hub, while Msheireb
Downtown Doha hosts the flagship exhibition, "Arab Design Now 2026."
Design Doha Biennial Director Fahad al-Obaidly said the event celebrates the region's
creative talent and rich knowledge, providing a platform for designers,
craftspeople and communities to exchange ideas, develop new work and engage
with the public. Artistic Director Glenn Adamson said the biennial presents
design as a form of knowledge that evolves across generations and cultures.
The flagship exhibition, curated by Noura
al-Sayeh, brings together 81 designers, craftspeople and makers, featuring 78
newly commissioned works and 17 specially commissioned films across five
thematic sections, accompanied by the launch of the second volume of "Arab
Design Now." A further 19 exhibitions across Fereej Al Asmakh and other
Doha locations have been organised with regional and international institutions
and creative partners.
Highlights include "The Planter" by Mexican designer Fernando Laposse, presented as part of the Qatar-Canada and Mexico Year of Culture 2026, "Aslan's Love Story" by the Turquoise Mountain Foundation celebrating Palestinian craft traditions, and "Post Oil 2026" by Saudi Modern and Bricklab. The programme also features an initial vision for the regeneration of Al Khor's historic centre, developed after two years of consultations with the local community, displayed across three traditional houses in Fereej Al Asmakh with a full-scale canopy designed by Kere Architecture.
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