Design Doha - Design Doha

Qatar Museums Update on Design Doha Biennial 2026

After careful consideration, in light of the evolving situation in the region, Qatar Museums and Design Doha have made the decision to postpone the opening of the Design Doha Biennial 2026 to 5 - 7 November 2026, with exhibitions remaining on view until 31 December 2026.

Qatar Museums remains committed to the extraordinary designers, artisans, makers, and artists who are a part of Design Doha. This postponement will ensure that the Biennial can be experienced in the spirit in which it was conceived: as a global celebration of the remarkable talent of the MENASA region. We believe the overarching goal of Design Doha—to connect people through dialogue and creativity—is more important than ever.

Design Doha continues to be in close contact with its community, and further updates will be shared in due course.

Biennial Leadership

Fahad Al Obaidly

Design Doha 2026 reflects a curatorial evolution of the Biennial. What began as a platform to map the contours of design across the MENASA region has matured into a more expansive proposition, one that situates design within landscapes, material histories, systems of knowledge and forms of collective memory.

Glenn Adamson

We’re back! Design Doha 2024 set a new benchmark for contemporary Arab design, bringing together hundreds of designers and 118,000 visitors through exhibitions, programming, and commissions. It was a celebration of the region’s creative energy, cultural depth, and craftsmanship. In 2026, we recognize the challenges facing the region. Yet, creativity remains a powerful force for hope. Our second edition will take you “behind the scenes” of design as a tool for transformation—an inspiring lens on the future of Arab creativity

Noura Al Sayeh

It's a great honor to work on the next edition of the Design Doha Arab Design Now exhibition following its inspiring inaugural edition in 2024. Amidst a challenging geopolitical context, it's an opportunity to delve deeper into the makings and meaning of design as a harbinger of hope and change across the different geographies of the Arab World. For this edition, we will be looking into the wider context of design, shedding light on the narratives, agendas and processes that are shaping the discourse of design across the Arab World.

Javier Peña Ibáñez

As curator of the Public Design Commissions at Design Doha, the aim is to explore how architecture design can improve the public spaces of Doha, opening up new ways to collaborate with communities and add meaning to the ways we share our lives. This program invites architects and designers to rethink the role of design in shaping inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant urban environments.

Design Doha Prize

The Design Doha Prize celebrates the region’s most outstanding creative talents—designers whose work bridges innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural relevance. Across four categories—Craft, Product Design, Furniture Design, and Emerging Talent—the Prize recognizes those shaping the future of design in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

By offering mentorship, residencies, and international visibility, the Prize empowers designers to expand their practice and reach new audiences. From its upcoming ceremony at the Museum of Islamic Art, the Design Doha Prize 2026 reaffirms a shared commitment to design excellence and global exchange, positioning Doha as a vital meeting point for creativity and collaboration.

Biennial Update