Media City Qatar to Host ‘Next in Arts’ Program as Official Partner of Art Basel Qatar

Media City Qatar

A three-year program championing emerging artists, beginning with a winning artwork presented during the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, the first MENA edition of the fair.

As the Official Partner of Art Basel Qatar, Media City Qatar will host ‘Next in Arts’, a three-year program exploring the intersection of art and media, designed to support emerging creative voices through a competitive platform for artistic experimentation. The program will culminate each year in the exhibition of a winning artwork, showcased during Art Basel Qatar, with the inaugural edition taking place from February 5 to 7, 2026.

Delivered in collaboration with Art Basel Qatar, now a licensed company at Media City Qatar, ‘Next in Arts’ invited alumni of VCUarts Qatar to propose a mixed-media artwork — digital, physical, or hybrid — interpreting the theme ‘Where Art Meets Media’. The winning artwork from the first edition will be exhibited at M7 in Msheireb Downtown Doha, placing emerging practices from the country into dialogue with an international audience during Art Basel Qatar.

As part of the selection process, submissions were reviewed by a multidisciplinary jury comprising representatives from Media City Qatar, Art Basel Qatar, VCUarts Qatar, and Qatar Museums. Proposals were assessed against criteria including conceptual strength, artistic innovation, media integration, sustainability, and technical feasibility, ensuring the program champions both creative excellence and thoughtful practice.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Media City Qatar, said: “At Media City Qatar, our mandate is to create the conditions where creativity carries meaning, scale, and global relevance. As the first edition of ‘Next in Arts’ unfolds during Art Basel Qatar, this program reflects Qatar’s belief that artistic expression is strengthened over time, through sustained investment in people, ideas, and platforms that enable local voices to engage meaningfully in global artistic dialogue.”

Hamad Omar A. Al-Mannai, CEO of Media City Qatar, said: “’Next in Arts’ reflects Media City Qatar’s role in building a sustainable creative economy, where art, media, and innovation contribute to economic diversification and long-term industry growth. As Qatar continues to invest in cultural infrastructure and talent development, the program creates a clear pathway for emerging artists to engage with premier global platforms such as Art Basel, as well as national leadership and international cultural patrons, collectors, institutions, and media executives, while remaining rooted in the local ecosystem.”

Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel Fairs, said: “Art Basel Qatar marks an important expansion of Art Basel’s global platform, grounded in long-term engagement with Qatar’s creative community and the wider MENASA region. ‘Next in Arts’ reflects our commitment to excellence and to building durable infrastructure around artistic practice — connecting new work to international audiences and professional networks, and supporting long-term visibility and growth.”

Home to more than 350 licensed companies, ranging from startups to international companies, Media City Qatar continues to support emerging creative talent through programs developed in collaboration with universities and industry partners, including training initiatives, internships, and workshops. These efforts contribute to the long-term development of Qatar’s creative and media ecosystem in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.