Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums has announced an expansive exhibition programme for the second edition of Design Doha, which will run from November 5, 2026, to January 31, 2027, bringing together more than 100 multidisciplinary designers and studios from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region and their diasporas.
The biennial, established under the leadership of Chairperson of Qatar Museums
H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, will be led by Director of Design Doha Fahad Al Obaidly, with Glenn Adamson serving as Artistic Director. Its 2026 edition will be centred on Fereej Al Asmakh, one of Doha’s significant heritage districts.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, Design Doha 2026 will feature more than 15 exhibitions, reflecting a significant expansion in scale and international reach.
The programme will be led by Arab Design Now 2026, curated by Noura Al Sayeh, featuring 81 designers, 78 new commissions and 15 films.
The participating designers represent 27 countries and work across more than 15 disciplines, including architecture, furniture, product design, craft, urbanism, sound and social design. The headline exhibition will explore contemporary Arab design through five themes: Narration and Ornamentation; Land and Agrarian Practices; Landscapes of Production and Extraction; Crafts, Technology and Community; and Belonging and Migrating.
Fereej Al Asmakh will serve as a key hub for the biennial, with the district envisioned not simply as an exhibition setting but as a site for cultural production, community engagement and design-led urban renewal. The programme aims to explore contemporary creative solutions while respecting the historic character and heritage of the newly renovated area.
Exhibitions will also take place across Doha, including Msheireb, Qatar Museums institutions, heritage sites and public spaces, creating a connected network of design experiences. Regional and international partners include Turquoise Mountain, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, Ithra and Liwan Design Studios and Labs.
A major new feature will be the Public Design Commissions programme, curated by Javier Peña Ibáñez. Ten designers, architects and urban practitioners from the MENASA region were selected through an open call, with five winning proposals set to be developed as context-responsive installations across Doha. The projects will address architecture, crafts, sustainability and cultural identity while activating public spaces through innovative design interventions.
The Design Doha Prize will also return, recognising talent in Craft, Product Design, Furniture Design and Emerging Talent. Four winners will share a support package of QR800,000, alongside mentorship and opportunities to develop and showcase their work. The winners will be announced on November 7 during the opening week.
Among other highlights, Mexico-based designer Fernando Laposse will present The Sower, his first exhibition in the MENA region, exploring cultivation, community, environmental responsibility and material transformation through connections between Mexico and Qatar. Other exhibitions will examine themes including traditional craft, post-oil industrialisation, weaving, Arabic and Persian typography, migration, heritage and contemporary technologies.
