Here are some of the highlights to look forward to. For the latest exhibition information, opening dates and public programmes, see the full calendar.
This fall, Qatar Museums (QM) invites you to experience a season shaped by two landmark launches: Rubaiya Qatar, the country's first contemporary art quadrennial, and the second edition of Design Doha, alongside exhibitions spanning fashion, photography, archaeology and architecture.
Photo: Tarek Moukaddem. Courtesy of Tarek Moukaddem
Design Doha 2026
When: 5 November 2026–31 January 2027
Where: Various venues
Design Doha returns for its second edition with an expanded programme celebrating design from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Alongside exhibitions, visitors can explore new commissions, installations and a series of talks featuring leading designers from across the region.
Photo: Untitled 2025 (No Bread No Ashes), public performance by Rirkrit Tiravanija, MIA Park, Doha, Qatar, October 2025. Photo: Qatar Museums
Rubaiya Qatar
When: 21 November 2026–30 April 2027
Where: Various venues
This fall marks the launch of Rubaiya Qatar, a new contemporary art quadrennial taking place across multiple venues. Through exhibitions, public art, performances and artist commissions, the inaugural edition brings together artists responding to place, memory and the world around us.
Art & Photography
Photo: Jewad Selim, Baghdadiat, 1956. Mixed media on hardboard, 98.5 × 169 cm. Courtesy of Qatar Museums
What Lingers in the Artist's Mind: The Experiments and Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group
When: 25 October 2026–6 February 2027
Where: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Explore the work of one of the Arab world's most influential artistic movements through paintings, sculptures and archival material drawn largely from Mathaf's collection. The exhibition revisits the group's ideas and the lasting influence they continue to have on modern Arab art.
Giuseppe Penone, Alberi libro (Book Trees), 2017, and Respirare l’ombra (To Breathe the Shadow), 2000. Installation view, Serpentine South. Photo: George Darrell. Courtesy of Giuseppe Penone and Serpentine
Giuseppe Penone: The Inner Flow of Life
When: 26 October 2026–13 February 2027
Where: National Museum of Qatar
Acclaimed Italian artist Giuseppe Penone brings his distinctive sculptures and installations to the National Museum of Qatar. Presented across indoor and outdoor spaces, the exhibition reflects on the relationship between people and the natural world.
Photo: Frame and Focus Advanced Photography Course, 2026. Courtesy of Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar
Frame & Focus
When: 5 September–5 October 2026
Where: Al Hosh Gallery
Bringing together photographers from Tasweer's advanced photography programme, Frame & Focus presents a collection of personal projects shaped by observation, lived experience and visual storytelling.
Photo: Bayt Al Wakrah Studio. Courtesy of Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar, Tasweer Residency: As the Image Unfolds — The Language of Athar, 2026
Tasweer Residency: As the Image Unfolds — The Language of Athar
When: 31 October–15 December 2026
Where: Tasweer Studios, Bayt Al Wakrah
Discover new photographic work developed through Tasweer's residency programme, where artists experiment with image-making through collaboration and mentorship.
Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station
Artists Intensive Study Programme Exhibition
When: Opens 6 November 2026
Where: Fire Station
See new works by the first cohort of artists completing Fire Station's intensive study programme, marking the culmination of nine months of artistic research and development.
History & Heritage
Photo: Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums. Photo: Marc Pelletreau
Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion
When: 3 September–28 November 2026
Where: Museum of Islamic Art
Discover Uzbekistan's artistic heritage through manuscripts, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and dress. Created in collaboration with the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the exhibition highlights centuries of craftsmanship and cultural exchange.
Photo: Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
When: 3 September–28 November 2026
Where: Museum of Islamic Art
Inspired by a cultural exchange programme in Uzbekistan, this exhibition presents new work by Qatari artists reflecting on the country's architecture, museums and artistic traditions through their own creative lens.
Photo: Ming dynasty Longquan kiln celadon-glazed vase with open carvings. Courtesy of National Museum of China
Boats Floating Afar: The Maritime Trade in Ancient Chinese Ceramics
When: 26 October 2026–31 January 2027
Where: National Museum of Qatar
Follow the story of maritime trade through a remarkable selection of Chinese ceramics that travelled along the Maritime Silk Road, connecting China with the Arabian Gulf, Africa and Europe.
Photo: Architectural detail, Wooden Doors of Qatar: From Storage to Story. © National Museum of Qatar / Qatar Museums. Photo: Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Wooden Doors of Qatar: From Storage to Story
When: 26 October 2026–29 May 2027
Where: Fahad Bin Ali Palace
Historic doors and windows from the National Museum of Qatar collection reveal stories of craftsmanship, architecture and everyday life. The exhibition highlights the importance of preserving these objects for future generations.
Photo: Qatar Museums
Atharna 2026: Life and Death in Pre-Islamic Qatar
When: 26 October 2026–29 May 2027
Where: Fahad Bin Ali Palace
Discover recent archaeological finds from Qatar's ancient burial sites through immersive displays that bring the country's early history to life.
Fashion, Design & Architecture
ERDEM SS18, Guinevere Van Seenus. Photo: Paul Kooiker
ERDEM: About Time, About Her
When: 27 October–26 December 2026
Where: M7
Celebrating 20 years of the House of ERDEM, this exhibition traces the evolution of the internationally renowned fashion label through garments, sketches and archival material.
Isaac Castañeda Pérez, La silla del Sol, 2026. Pine wood, Shou Sugi Ban technique. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Ángel Jonathan Ramirez
Expanded Tradition: Contemporary Craft Practices in Mexico
When: 27 October–26 December 2026
Where: M7
Traditional techniques meet contemporary practice in this exhibition celebrating the work of Mexican artisans. Discover how makers are preserving heritage while finding new ways to express it today.
Around the World in Jewellery
When: 27 October–26 December 2026
Where: M7
Travel across cultures through more than 500 remarkable jewellery objects from Qatar Museums' (QM) collections. From symbols of identity to expressions of craftsmanship, discover the stories behind adornment across the world.
Photo of ‘Memories of Landscape’, Hampi Art Lab, Hampi, by Sameep Padora. India, 2024 © Sameep Padora, Vami Koticha, Aparna Dhareshwar
Beyti Beytak • بيتي بيتك • My Home Is Your Home
When: 26 October 2026–29 May 2027
Where: Fahad Bin Ali Palace
Following its presentation at the Venice Architecture Biennale, this exhibition comes to Doha with an expanded look at architecture, hospitality and the meaning of home across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
Whether it is the launch of Rubaiya Qatar, a season of design or a quiet afternoon with archival photography, there is a reason to visit a QM venue every week this fall.
Not sure where to begin? Browse our What's On page for the latest exhibitions, events and programmes.