Qatar Museums Launches Inaugural Rubaiya Qatar Quadrennial
The inaugural Rubaiya Qatar, a major new international visual arts quadrennial, opens in Doha in November 2026 with three exhibitions and public art focused on water ecology and maritime heritage.
Qatar Museums has announced the curatorial programme and participating artists for the inaugural Rubaiya Qatar, a new international visual arts quadrennial. Established under the leadership of QM Chairperson H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the event will open at various venues across Doha beginning November 21, 2026. The quadrennial aims to inspire new generations of artists and thinkers with a focus on global ecology, the importance of water, and maritime heritage, giving particular attention to artists from the global majority. Its institutional home is the newly renovated Alriwaq Arts + Architecture building.
Three exhibitions structure
Rubaiya Qatar comprises three main exhibitions-'Unruly Waters', 'Our Common Currents', and 'Seething Sea'-alongside a public art component across Doha venues. The headline exhibition, 'Unruly Waters', is curated by Tom Eccles, Ruba Katrib, Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, and Mark Rappolt. It will run from November 21, 2026, to April 30, 2027, primarily at Alriwaq Arts + Architecture, with some works at the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park. Around 54 artists and collectives will feature, with 30 presenting new commissions.
'Our Common Currents', curated by acting head of curatorial affairs Lina Patmali, responds to 'Unruly Waters' at Katara QM Gallery. It includes work by 12 artists, four of which are commissions. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art will present 'Seething Sea', curated by Wadha Al-Aqeedi with assistant curator Loulwah Kutbi, featuring some 53 artists and collectives and over 80 works from Mathaf’s collections. Both these exhibitions open on November 22, 2026, and run until April 30, 2027.
The event will also feature at least seven major public art installations debuting across the country. These include Rirkrit Tiravanija’s return to MIA Park, Lubna Chowdhary’s intervention at the Barzan Towers, Minerva Cuevas’ mural at the National Museum of Qatar metro station, and Shaikha Hala Al Khalifa’s playground in Al Khor. A work by Ibrahim Mahama made for the forthcoming Art Mill Museum will also be shown. A display of historic artifacts from the tenth-century Cirebon shipwreck, revealing ancient exchange routes, is included.
Artists and themes
Rubaiya Qatar will host more than 120 artists from around the world. The participating countries include Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nepal, Palestine, the Philippines, Sudan, and Thailand. The full list spans a wide geographic and generational range.
| Exhibition | Curators | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Unruly Waters | Tom Eccles, Ruba Katrib, Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, Mark Rappolt | ~54 artists/collectives, 30 new commissions, runs Nov 21, 2026-Apr 30, 2027 |
| Our Common Currents | Lina Patmali | 12 artists, 4 new commissions, runs Nov 22, 2026-Apr 30, 2027 |
| Seething Sea | Wadha Al-Aqeedi, Loulwah Kutbi | ~53 artists/collectives, 80+ works from Mathaf’s collection, runs Nov 22, 2026-Apr 30, 2027 |
Tom Eccles is executive director of the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College. Ruba Katrib is chief curator at MoMA PS1. Shabbir Hussain Mustafa is chief curator at the Singapore Art Museum. Mark Rappolt is editor in chief of ArtReview. Rubaiya Qatar Director is Sheikha Alanood Al Thani, with Sheikha Reem Al Thani as deputy CEO of Alriwaq Arts + Architecture, Public Art, and Rubaiya Qatar.
Artists in 'Our Common Currents' include Nadia Belerique, Basim Magdy, and works from the Art Mill Museum Collection by KABINDA and Olafur Eliasson. The 'Seething Sea' roster features artists such as Dia Azzawi, Hassan Sharif, and Monira Al Qadiri. The inaugural edition opens on November 21, 2026, with 'Unruly Waters' at Alriwaq Arts + Architecture and other venues across Doha.
