Design Doha returns for its second edition, celebrating regional design

Doha is preparing to welcome the second edition of Design Doha, Qatar’s contemporary design biennial, bringing together more than 100 designers and studios from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA), alongside international collaborators.

Following its debut in 2024, the 2026 edition will feature more than 15 exhibitions, public installations and collaborative projects across the city. Led by Director Fahad Al Obaidly, with Glenn Adamson as Artistic Director, the biennial explores how design connects cultural heritage, technology, ecology and contemporary life.

Established under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Design Doha continues to create opportunities for regional designers while bringing their work into conversation with the wider international design community.

What's new at Design Doha 2026?

At the heart of this year's programme is Arab Design Now 2026, curated by Noura Al Sayeh. The exhibition brings together 81 designers from 27 countries, featuring 78 new commissions and 15 films.

Its five thematic strands explore subjects ranging from ornamentation and agricultural practices to resource extraction, community-led craftsmanship and migration. Together, the works consider how geography, social histories and traditional knowledge continue to shape contemporary design, offering visitors different perspectives on the relationship between the past and the present.

The programme also spans traditional weaving, Arabic and Persian typography, industrial materials and the meeting point between craft and contemporary technology, highlighting the many ways designers are reinterpreting established practices.

Design beyond the gallery

Design Doha extends beyond traditional exhibition spaces, with projects taking place across Msheireb, Qatar Museums institutions, heritage sites and public areas.
One of the key locations this year is Fereej Al Asmakh, an important heritage district in Qatar. Here, design becomes a way to engage with the neighbourhood's history, encourage community participation and explore possibilities for urban renewal. Rather than simply providing a backdrop for exhibitions, the district becomes part of the conversation about how creative interventions can help shape its future.

Public installations will also bring design into the everyday urban environment. Curated by Javier Peña Ibáñez, director of Spain's Concéntrico festival, the Public Design Commissions programme selected ten designers, architects and urban practitioners through an open call across the MENASA region. Five projects will feature in the first phase, exploring architecture, craft, sustainability and cultural identity.

International collaborations to look out for

International exchange is another important part of this year's programme. As part of Qatar's 2026 Year of Culture with Mexico, designer Fernando Laposse will present The Sower, an exhibition exploring the environmental and cultural histories of Mexico and Qatar through cultivation, material transformation and community knowledge.

The collaboration reflects the biennial's wider interest in how design can connect places, people and different approaches to making. By bringing regional perspectives into dialogue with international practices, the programme creates space to explore shared challenges while celebrating distinct cultural identities.

Celebrating emerging and established talent

The Design Doha Prize also returns, recognising achievements across craft, product design, furniture design and emerging talent.

Chaired by Sheikha Al Mayassa, the prize features a 24-member international jury headed by Iranian-French architect and designer India Mahdavi. The four winners will be announced on 7 November, receiving a combined QAR 800,000 in funding, alongside mentorship and opportunities to develop and present their work.

Alongside the exhibitions and installations, bilingual publications, talks, workshops and professional networking events will offer further opportunities for visitors and design professionals to engage with the programme.

What to Expect

Running until 31 January 2027, Design Doha 2026 offers an opportunity to explore design through a variety of perspectives, from contemporary craftsmanship and material innovation to heritage, community and the future of urban spaces.

With exhibitions and installations spread across Doha, the biennial invites visitors to look beyond individual objects and consider the ideas, cultural knowledge and collaborations that shape the built environment around us.

Visit: designdoha.org.qa