As winter brings festive energy to the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar becomes the ultimate destination for travelers
Eat at a stadium-side food festival, watch athletes race under circuit lights, or take a keepsake home. Pick an event based on location or your interest, Qatar in early 2026 has something for everyone.
Rhythms & culinary journeys
Sealine Season
Sealine Season transforms Qatar’s southern coastline into a hub for desert activities, packed with live concerts, Monster Jam shows, and family adventures.
Experience the thrill of dune bashing, sunset horse riding, and balloon rides in the crisp evening air.
The lineup features beloved regional artists like Khalid Abdulrahman, Moudi Al Shamrani & Sultan Khalifa, concluding with the Samri Night (30/01). Wwith fireworks lighting up the sky after every performance, i. It’s a place where Qatari heritage meets modern celebration against a backdrop of pristine golden sands.
- Time: 9 January to 30 January 2026
- Where: Sealine Circuit Sports Club – Mawater Sealine Beach, Mesaieed
Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF)
QIFF is the kind of festival that leaves you with a list of dishes worth returning to. coming back for.
With over 100 kiosks and nearly 30 restaurants serving everything from Arabian delicacies to Mediterranean favorites, every craving has a match here.
Highlights include dishes from acclaimed chefs at the Open Fire Food Festival by Steve Harvey Michelin Guide Village and live cooking competitions at the QIFF Ring. Families will love QIFF Juniors, a dedicated zone for little ones, while drone shows and fireworks light up the night sky, turning dinner into a spectacle.
- When: 14 to 24 January 2026
- Where: 974 Stadium Precinct Stadium 974 precinct
25N 51E Music Festival
Join fellow EDM lovers at the 25N 51E Music Festival. , With Calvin Harris, Afrojack, and Alesso at the 25N Stage, and NTO and Ben Böhmer at the 51E Stage,where Afrojack, Alesso, and Calvin Harris these global icons come together for a sensational showcase of popular electronic music.
- When: 30 January 2026 (from 5 pm to 1 am)
- Where: 974 Stadium Precinct
The arena awaits: A season of champions
For sports lovers and fans, Qatar’s winter calendar is packed with major events, from racquets to racetracks.
WTT Champions Doha
Watch the world’s top 32 players battle on a single show court at WTT Champions Doha. Fast and invigorating, you will feel the energy build with every spin and smash.
- When: 7 to 11 January 2026
- Where: Lusail Sports Arena
Samla International Race
Samla International Race turns Qatar’s landscape into a battlefield of endurance. A non-stop 100 km brutal endurance challenge that will see contestants swim, cycle, run, and kayak within a strict 12-hour cut-off period.point-to-point test across sand and sea, it challenges athletes in swimming, running, kayaking, and cycling in one go.
- When: 24 January 2026
- Where: Sealine Southern Qatar
Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA)
Top-tier women’s tennis returns with the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. Witness this prestigious WTA 1000 event, as it delivers a full week of competitive matches, high-stakes drama, and electric tournament energy.
- When: 8 to 14 February 2026
- Where: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha
Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP)
Men’s tennis follows with the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, now upgraded to a prestigious ATP 500 event. This elevated status brings bigger names and higher stakes to the court, especially perfect if you’re building a ‘Doha sports season’ trip around back-to-back world-class tournaments.
- When: 16 to 21 February 2026
- Where: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha
CHI Al Shaqab
CHI Al Shaqab is a key date on the global equestrian calendar. As the only competition of its kind in the Middle East, it brings the world’s best riders together for showjumping, dressage, and para-dressage, all rooted in Qatar’s living equestrian heritage.
- When: 2018 to 221 February 2026
- Where: Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, Doha
Longines Global Champions Tour (Doha)
Longines Global Champions Tour returns to its most glamorous stage in Doha.
The 2026 season opener brings high-level competition to the arena. Watch the world’s top riders and horses launch their championship campaigns on a global platform.
- When: 5 to 7 March 2026
- Where: Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, Doha
Finalissima 2026: Spain vs Argentina
Finalissima 2026 is set to deliver an iconic moment in late March in Qatar.
If you’re a football fan, you know exactly what’s waiting as Spain (Euro 2024 winners) and Argentina (Copa América 2024 victors) collide at Lusail Stadium. Cheer on this battle for intercontinental supremacy as history is made.
- When: 27 March 2026
- Where: Lusail Stadium, Qatar
MotoGP™ Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar 2026 MotoGP Qatar
MotoGP Qatar puts the Lusail International Circuit in the international motorsport spotlight for three days of racing. Feel the adrenaline rush from the stands as the world’s fastest riders push every limit under the floodlights in a spectacular night race.
- When: 10 to 12 April 2026
- Where: Lusail International Circuit
Where future tech meets living art
Web Summit Qatar
Web Summit Qatar turns Doha into a meeting point for innovators, equal parts conference and citywide buzz, especially around West Bay. It’s the place to get inspired, fuel big projects, and network at the region’s largest technological gathering.
- When: 1 to 4 February 2026
- Where: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC)
Art Basel Qatar
Art Basel marks its debut in Qatar, transforming M7 and the Doha Design District into a sprawling cultural hub. Whether you follow art closely or casually, be part of the experience during your winter getaway.
Curated by artist Wael Shawky, this inaugural edition abandons traditional booths for an immersive format. 87 galleries from 31 countries explore the curatorial theme ‘Becoming,’ with a strong focus on MENA and South Asian voices.
Site-specific installations spill outside, turning the entire Msheireb neighborhood into a canvas.
- When: 5 to 7 February 2026
- Where: M7, Barahat Msheireb, and Doha Design District
Grand finale with light & luxury
Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE 2026)
Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to conclude their stay with a refined retail experience, bringing together heritage craftsmanship and contemporary designDoha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) lets you conclude your vacation with a curated retail venture. It’s the perfect place to take home something unique, where heritage techniques and modern design come together through skilled craftsmanship.
Returning for its 22nd edition, the exhibition is a chance to indulge in the glittering world of haute horlogerie at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. Join 30,000 visitors from 175 countries to explore over 500 brands and rare pieces from leading international designers. the world’s finest craftsmen.
- When: TBC 28 April to 3 May 2026
- Where: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC)
