DOHA.- Qatar Museums opened Design Doha Biennial 2026, bringing together designers, artisans and creative practitioners from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) and beyond to explore how traditional knowledge, craftsmanship and contemporary innovation are shaping the future of design. On view through 31 January 2027, the second edition of the biennial features 20 exhibitions, new commissions, public installations and cultural programmes showcasing the region’s design heritage alongside bold new approaches to materials, making and production.

Presented under the curatorial vision Translating Knowledge: From Ancestral Systems to Economic Futures, the 2026 edition highlights how traditional practices continue to inform contemporary design and production. The programme unfolds across Doha, with the historic neighbourhood of Fereej Al Asmakh serving as its central hub, while the headline exhibition, Arab Design Now 2026, is presented in Msheireb Downtown Doha.

Fahad Al Obaidly, Director of Design Doha, said: “Design Doha 2026 celebrates the extraordinary talent and knowledge found across our region. From the historic houses of Fereej Al Asmakh to new installations across the city, this edition creates a space for designers, artisans and communities to share ideas, develop new work and connect with audiences. We want to celebrate the people behind design, the knowledge passed between generations and the possibilities this creates for the future.”

Glenn Adamson, Artistic Director of Design Doha, said: “The 2026 edition looks at design as a form of knowledge that evolves across generations, cultures and communities. Across the MENASA region, we see extraordinary traditions of making that continue to inspire new ideas and approaches to contemporary design. This biennial celebrates that exchange between past and present, while asking how the knowledge and skills of today can shape the design practices and economies of tomorrow.”

Arab Design Now 2026

The biennial’s headline exhibition, Arab Design Now 2026, curated by Noura Al Sayeh, features 81 designers, artisans and makers, 78 new commissions and 17 newly commissioned films. The exhibition celebrates the relationship between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.

Organised around five themes, the exhibition highlights the creative processes, materials and communities behind the works, including the relationships between designers and the artisans who contribute to their production. The exhibition is accompanied by the publication Arab Design Now Volume 2, released today.

Exhibitions Across Doha

Across Fereej Al Asmakh and other locations in Doha, an additional 19 exhibitions are presented in collaboration with regional and international institutions and creative partners, exploring the intersections of design, architecture, craft, material innovation, and cultural heritage.

Highlights include The Sower by Mexican designer Fernando Laposse, presented as part of the Qatar Canada Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, which connects the desert ecologies of Mexico and Qatar; Aslan’s Love, presented by Turquoise Mountain, celebrating Palestinian craft traditions; and Post-Oil 2026 a Saudi Modern initiative by Bricklab, which looks at the materials that have changed the Gulf’s built environment.

Al Khor Urban Futures presents an early vision for the regeneration of Al Khor’s historic centre, developed following two years of conversations with the local community. Presented across three traditional houses in Fereej Al Asmakh, the installation features a full-scale canopy designed by Kéré Architecture and invites visitors to contribute ideas that will inform the next stage of the Al Khor Heritage Trail project.

Other exhibitions include The Muqarnas of Sadu, which reinterprets traditional weaving as a large-scale architectural installation; The Thread That Binds, inviting visitors to participate in a collective weaving project; and Monumental: A Monobloc’s Memoir, which reimagines the familiar plastic chair as a sculptural work inspired by everyday life in the Arab world.

Public Design Commissionsv

Five new Public Design Commissions introduce site-specific installations across Fereej Al Asmakh, creating spaces for gathering, interaction and public use.

Curated by Javier Peña Ibáñez, Director of Concéntrico, and supported by Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) as Visionary Partner, the installations draw inspiration from regional approaches to architecture, climate and materials.

The selected projects are Falajscape by Studio By Three, Shoreline by platau, Salsabil by Meriem Chabani (NEW SOUTH), Cooling Pots by Haitam Daoudi and Oscar Cruz Garcia and Palm Construct by Abdalla Almulla. Together, they introduce contemporary approaches to shade, cooling, water and communal spaces.