Qatar: Qatar Museums’ Years of Culture Initiative has announced an initial programme for its 2026 Years of Culture with Mexico, positioning cultural exchange as a long-term driver of international partnership. During the year-long initiative, Qatar will welcome a distinguished cohort of Mexico’s most influential chefs, designers, and artists and introduce Qatari culture to audiences across Mexico. The programmes seek to establish Mexico as a central partner in a sustained cultural collaboration that places creativity, knowledge exchange, and people-to-people connection at its core.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Years of Culture Advisor on Latin America and Qatar’s former Ambassador to Mexico Mohammed Al Kuwari, emphasized the importance of building enduring relationships. He stated, “In 2026, Qatar will welcome an exceptional group of Mexican cultural voices to Doha, including chefs, artists, and designers who will collaborate, exchange knowledge, and form partnerships that extend well beyond the year itself. At the same time, we are proud to share Qatar’s culture and values with the people of Mexico, deepening mutual understanding between our societies.”
Acting Director of the Design Doha Biennial Fahad Al Obaidly remarked on the initiative’s sustained platform for engagement. He highlighted that the collaboration does not begin or end within a single calendar year and expressed excitement for the partnerships taking shape during Mexico Design Week, a significant event in Mexico’s cultural calendar.
The cultural year will commence with the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) 2026 in January in Doha, featuring Mexican chefs who will share practices rooted in regional knowledge, research, and community-led food traditions. Additionally, a special edition of Mal Lawal at the National Museum of Qatar will showcase Qatari and Mexican private collections, examining clothing and textiles as living cultural archives.
In parallel, a traveling photography exhibition, “Under One Sky,” will celebrate the spirit of togetherness experienced during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Presented by Qatar Museums’ Tasweer Photography initiative in collaboration with the Art in Embassies programme, the exhibition will tour cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, extending the World Cup’s legacy of friendship and cross-cultural exchange.
Public art collaborations are also central to the initiative, with new commissions by Mexican artists planned for key sites in Qatar. Qatar Museums’ JEDARIART mural programme will continue, featuring large-scale, site-specific works that aim to activate public space while strengthening shared urban narratives between the two countries.
The “Design in Dialogue” initiative, a Qatar-Mexico residency, will culminate in a public exhibition at G56 during Mexico Design Week, before travelling to the Design Doha Biennial. This initiative brings together designers, artisans, and materials to explore craft heritage through contemporary practice, further bridging tradition and innovation.
Moreover, Mexican artists have been commissioned to create new works at prominent sites across Qatar, and the ongoing “Jidari Art” program continues to revitalize public spaces and foster shared urban narratives between the two countries. This comprehensive cultural exchange aims to deepen the ties between Qatar and Mexico, fostering a lasting partnership that celebrates creativity and mutual understanding.