Art Basel expands to Qatar despite the drums of war in the Middle East 

Following an aggressive expansion drive post-pandemic, Art Basel announced a new venue for 2026 in Doha, which is being set up by Vincenzo de Bellis. The Italian curator tells Swissinfo about the fair’s vision for the operation. Following an aggressive expansion drive post-pandemic, Art Basel announced a new venue for 2026 in Doha, which is being set up by Vincenzo de Bellis. The Italian curator tells Swissinfo about the fair’s vision for the operation. Art Basel has built an undisputable brand as the world’s leading art fair with a steady strategy of expansion, inaugurating a new venue roughly every ten years. In 2003 it opened Art Basel Miami; in 2013 it was Hong Kong; in 2022, Paris. The pace now seems to be accelerating: in late May, the company announced its next addition to the global art fair calendar – Art Basel Qatar, to take place for the first time in February 2026. The new fair is led by the Italian curator Vincenzo de Bellis, adding to his existing roles at Art Basel ...