Events in Qatar 2026 and 2027: Monthly Calendar (Festivals, Concerts, Sports)

Qatar packs an unusual amount into a small map. In the space of a few weeks you can watch Formula 1 under floodlights at Lusail, see a world-class film composer play beside the sea at the 974 Stadium Precinct, browse a contemporary art fair in Msheireb and join National Day crowds on the Corniche. The cooler months, roughly October to April, carry most of the calendar. The summer is quieter and moves indoors.

This calendar covers every month of 2026 and 2027. Each event carries a status: Confirmed means an organizer, the official calendar or an authorized ticket seller has published the date; Dates to be announced means the event is expected but no date is public yet; Completed, Postponed and Canceled mean what they say. We have not filled empty months with guesses. Where nothing is confirmed, we say so.

QatarVia is an independent guide. We do not sell tickets and we are not affiliated with Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism or any organizer or ticket seller. Dates, venues and ticket details were checked on 19 October 2026 against the official Visit Qatar events calendar, organizer websites and authorized ticket pages. Schedules, line-ups and ticket availability change, sometimes at short notice, so always confirm with the organizer before you book travel or leave home.

Qatar Events Calendar 2026 and 2027 at a Glance

The headline events from now until the end of 2027. Full monthly listings follow below.

Month	Major event	Date	Category	Status
Oct 2026	Qatar International Baja	28 to 31 Oct 2026	Motorsport	Confirmed
Nov 2026	MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar	6 to 8 Nov 2026	Motorsport	Confirmed (moved from April)
Nov 2026	Hans Zimmer Live in Doha	6 Nov 2026	Concert	Confirmed, sold out
Nov 2026	Shakira at Stadium 974	Was 18 Nov 2026	Concert	Canceled
Nov to Dec 2026	FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026	19 Nov to 13 Dec 2026	Football	Confirmed
Nov 2026	Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix	27 to 29 Nov 2026	Motorsport	Confirmed
Dec 2026	Qatar National Day	18 Dec 2026	National holiday	Confirmed (program to be announced)
Jan 2027	Qatar International Food Festival	13 to 23 Jan 2027	Food and family	Confirmed
Jan 2027	Ooredoo Doha Marathon	15 Jan 2027	Running	Confirmed
Jan 2027	Art Basel Qatar	28 to 30 Jan 2027	Art	Confirmed
Feb 2027	Qatar TotalEnergies Open and Qatar ExxonMobil Open	Mid-February 2027	Tennis	Dates to be announced
Mar 2027	MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar	12 to 14 Mar 2027	Motorsport	Confirmed
Mar 2027	Qatar 1812 KM (FIA WEC)	25 to 27 Mar 2027	Motorsport	Confirmed
May 2027	Doha Diamond League	7 May 2027	Athletics	Confirmed
Aug to Sep 2027	FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027	27 Aug to 12 Sep 2027	Basketball	Confirmed
Dec 2027	Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix	3 to 5 Dec 2027	Motorsport	Confirmed
Dec 2027	Qatar National Day	18 Dec 2027	National holiday	Confirmed (program to be announced)

Jump to a month: 2026: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
2027: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec

Qatar Events in 2026: Month-by-Month Calendar

2026 was a disrupted year. From March, organizers postponed or canceled several spring events, citing developments in the region. MotoGP and Hans Zimmer moved to November, while the Finalissima, the WEC Qatar 1812km and Garangao celebrations were canceled. January to September are summarized briefly below as completed. The detail starts in October.

January 2026

Completed. Marmi, the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival, ran at Sabkhat Marmi in Sealine from 1 to 24 January. The 15th Qatar International Food Festival took place at the 974 Stadium Precinct from 14 to 24 January, and the 25N51E Music Festival filled Stadium 974 on 30 January with Calvin Harris and Afrojack on the bill. Ludovico Einaudi played the Katara Amphitheatre on 9 January.

February 2026

Completed. February was the busiest month of the first half. Web Summit Qatar ran at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) from 1 to 4 February, and the first Art Basel Qatar opened in Msheireb from 5 to 7 February. On the sporting side, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (5 to 8 February), the Qatar TotalEnergies Open (8 to 14 February), the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (16 to 21 February) and CHI Al Shaqab (18 to 21 February) all went ahead. National Sport Day fell on 10 February and Ramadan began on 18 February.

March 2026

Mostly canceled or postponed. The Garangao celebrations of 3 and 4 March were canceled as a precaution. The Longines Global Champions Tour Doha and the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain at Lusail Stadium were also canceled. Eid al-Fitr fell on 20 March. The Al Ruwais Maritime Heritage Festival was scheduled from 18 March to 4 April; we could not find a report confirming it went ahead.

April 2026

Postponed or canceled. The MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar (10 to 12 April) moved to November, and Hans Zimmer's 10 April concert moved to 6 November. The FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup was canceled, Premier Padel's Qatar Major was postponed without a new date, and Shakira's 1 April concert was postponed and later canceled.

May 2026

Completed. The 35th Doha International Book Fair ran at DECC from 14 to 23 May. The Amir Cup final was played on 9 May at Khalifa International Stadium, and Doha hosted the 4th GCC Games from 11 to 22 May. Eid al-Adha fell on 27 May. The Qatar Economic Forum was postponed to April 2027.

June 2026

Completed. The Doha Diamond League, moved from May, was held on 19 June. The third Indian Mango Exhibition ran in an air-conditioned tent at Souq Waqif's Eastern Square from 18 to 27 June, with free entry.

July 2026

Completed. The Qatar Toy Festival filled DECC from 1 July, with its run extended to 4 August. The Local Dates Festival opened at Souq Waqif on 25 July.

August 2026

Completed. August is traditionally the quietest month because of the heat. The Toy Festival closed on 4 August and the Local Dates Festival on 10 August. We found no other major public events for the month.

September 2026

Completed. The season restarted in September. S'hail, the Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition, ran from 8 to 12 September with free general admission, and the QTerminals Qatar Classic squash event followed from 12 to 18 September. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra opened its 2026 to 2027 season on 6 September. On 16 September Qatar Tourism launched the Qatar Calendar 2026/2027 with more than 560 events. The 22nd Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition opened at DECC on 28 September and closed on 3 October. The WEC Qatar 1812km, which had been moved to October, was canceled in July with full refunds.

October 2026

Early October brought Arabic concerts at QNCC, including Angham on 16 October. These events were listed as confirmed when we checked on 19 October 2026:

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
21 to 30 Oct	Gabby's Dollhouse (free, per Visit Qatar)	Place Vendome Mall, Lusail	Family	Confirmed
22 Oct	Marilyne Naaman concert	QNCC, Al Mayassa Theatre	Arabic music	Confirmed
25 Oct to 6 Feb 2027	Baghdad Modern Art Group exhibition	Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art	Exhibition	Confirmed
26 Oct to 13 Feb 2027	Giuseppe Penone: The Inner Flow of Life	National Museum of Qatar	Exhibition	Confirmed
27 Oct to 26 Dec	ERDEM and two further exhibitions	M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha	Exhibition	Confirmed
28 to 31 Oct	Qatar International Baja (FIA World Baja Cup)	Lusail International Circuit and desert stages	Motorsport	Confirmed
29 Oct	George Wassouf live	Doha Golf Club	Arabic music	Confirmed
30 Oct	Swan Lake, Moscow Ballet La Classique	QNCC, Al Mayassa Theatre	Ballet	Confirmed
31 Oct	QPO: Brahms Reimagined	Katara Opera House	Classical	Confirmed

The Qatar Museums autumn program is the quiet highlight of the month. Several major exhibitions open within a week of each other and run into 2027, so they suit anyone visiting later in the season. The museums list them in their fall 2026 exhibitions guide. Visit Qatar lists the Marilyne Naaman concert over two nights (22 and 23 October), while the official October release names 22 October only.

November 2026

November is the busiest month of the year, with two motorsport world championships, a FIFA tournament and a dense concert schedule.

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
1 to 14 Nov	ISSF World Championship	Doha (Lusail Shooting Complex, per local reports)	Shooting	Confirmed
2 to 7 Nov	FIP World Cup Qatar 2026 (padel)	Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex	Padel	Confirmed
4 to 7 Nov	Qatar Boat Show	Old Doha Port	Exhibition	Confirmed
4 to 7 Nov	Al Shaqab International Arabian Horse Show	Al Shaqab, Education City	Equestrian	Confirmed
5 Nov to 31 Jan 2027	Design Doha Biennial	Fereej Al Asmakh and Msheireb	Design	Confirmed
5 to 13 Nov	Tegahwa Exhibition (free, per Visit Qatar)	Galleria Al Hazm	Culture	Confirmed
6 Nov	Hans Zimmer Live in Doha	974 Stadium Precinct	Concert	Confirmed, sold out
6 to 7 Nov	Mughal-E-Azam: The Musical	QNCC, Al Mayassa Theatre	Musical theater	Confirmed
6 to 8 Nov	MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar	Lusail International Circuit	Motorsport	Confirmed
8 Nov	QPO: Sounds of Canada	QNCC, Auditorium 3	Classical	Confirmed
12 Nov	Fadel Chaker live	Katara Amphitheatre	Arabic music	Confirmed
18 Nov	Shakira at Stadium 974	Stadium 974	Concert	Canceled
19 Nov to 13 Dec	FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026	Aspire Zone	Football	Confirmed
19 to 27 Nov	Doha Film Festival (with the Ajyal youth strand)	Katara and other venues	Film	Confirmed
20 Nov	Wegz: Live in Doha	900 Park, Legtaifiya	Concert	Confirmed
21 Nov	UFC Fight Night Doha	Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena	Mixed martial arts	Confirmed
21 Nov to 30 Apr 2027	Rubaiya Qatar (contemporary art quadrennial)	Various venues	Art	Confirmed
27 to 29 Nov	Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix	Lusail International Circuit	Motorsport	Confirmed

The two Lusail race weekends and the U-17 World Cup are covered in the sports section, and the concerts in the music section. Visit Qatar gives 7 November for Sounds of Canada, but the orchestra and its ticket seller both say 8 November, so we use that date. The Shakira listing has been removed from the official calendar and marked canceled by its ticket seller. Anyone holding tickets should follow the refund instructions from their point of purchase.

December 2026

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
4 Dec	Trevor Noah live (age 16+)	QNCC	Comedy	Confirmed
5 to 6 Dec	Doha Forum	Doha	Conference	Confirmed
10 to 12 Dec	T100 Triathlon World Championship Final	Lusail	Triathlon	Confirmed
11 Dec	Saint Levant: Live in Doha	900 Park, Legtaifiya	Concert	Confirmed
13 Dec	FIFA U-17 World Cup final	Khalifa International Stadium	Football	Confirmed
17 Dec	Cairokee Live in Qatar	QNCC, Conference Hall	Concert	Confirmed
18 Dec	Qatar National Day	Nationwide	National holiday	Confirmed (program to be announced)
December	Darb Al Saai	Umm Salal	Heritage	Dates to be announced
December	Katara Traditional Dhow Festival	Katara Beach	Heritage	Dates to be announced
December	Qatar Balloon Festival	To be announced	Family	Dates to be announced
31 Dec	New Year's Eve celebrations	To be announced	Celebration	Dates to be announced

Some December dates are only reported, not confirmed. Marhaba lists the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival for 3 to 12 December, but we have not found a Katara announcement. A tentative 10 to 19 December window for the Balloon Festival is described as subject to approval. Darb Al Saai ran from 10 to 20 December in 2025, but its 2026 dates have not been published.

Qatar Events in 2027: Month-by-Month Calendar

Fewer 2027 dates are public so far, which is normal this far ahead. Ramadan and the two Eids depend on moon sighting, so their dates below are expected rather than official. Recurring events such as Marmi, Shop Qatar, the Toy Festival and the Doha International Book Fair are listed only once their organizers publish dates.

January 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
13 to 23 Jan	Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF)	Lusail Stadium Precinct	Food and family	Confirmed
15 Jan	Ooredoo Doha Marathon	Doha Corniche	Running	Confirmed
28 to 30 Jan	Art Basel Qatar (previews 26 and 27 Jan)	Doha Design District and M7, Msheireb	Art	Confirmed
31 Jan to 3 Feb	Web Summit Qatar	Doha	Technology conference	Confirmed

QIFF moves to Lusail for the first time, as announced at the launch of the 2026/2027 calendar. Local press report the 13 to 23 January dates, but the official QIFF page still says "stay tuned", so check it before you go. The Doha Marathon date comes from local press reports of the organizer's announcement. Registration is reported to be open. Exhibitions that opened in autumn 2026, including Penone at the National Museum of Qatar and the Design Doha Biennial, continue through January.

February 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
3 to 6 Feb	Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (DP World Tour)	Doha Golf Club	Golf	Confirmed
9 Feb	National Sport Day	Nationwide	Public holiday	Confirmed
Around 8 Feb	Start of Ramadan	Nationwide	Religious observance	Expected (moon sighting)
Week of 8 Feb	Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA)	Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex	Tennis	Dates to be announced
Week of 15 Feb	Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP)	Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex	Tennis	Dates to be announced

The two tennis weeks are provisional slots on the tour calendars. Exact dates have not been published. National Sport Day falls on the second Tuesday of February each year. If Ramadan starts around 8 February as expected, evening events and iftar-centered activities usually replace large daytime programs for the rest of the month.

March 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
Around 10 Mar	Eid al-Fitr	Nationwide	Public holiday	Expected (moon sighting)
12 to 14 Mar	MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar	Lusail International Circuit	Motorsport	Confirmed
18 to 20 Mar	IRONMAN 70.3 Doha (first edition)	Old Doha Port	Triathlon	Confirmed
25 to 27 Mar	Qatar 1812 KM, FIA World Endurance Championship	Lusail International Circuit	Motorsport	Confirmed
26 Mar	ONE Championship Qatar	Aspire Dome	Combat sports	Confirmed

March 2027 returns MotoGP to its usual early-season slot, just four months after the rescheduled 2026 race. The circuit lists the WEC season opener for 25 to 27 March, but the FIA had not yet formally approved its 2027 calendar when we checked. The main IRONMAN 70.3 race is on 20 March, with IRONKIDS on 19 March.

April 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
26 Apr to 1 May	Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (23rd)	DECC	Exhibition	Confirmed
27 to 29 Apr	Qatar Economic Forum (by invitation)	Doha	Business conference	Confirmed
Until 30 Apr	Rubaiya Qatar	Various venues	Art	Confirmed

May 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
7 May	Wanda Diamond League Doha (season opener)	Venue to be announced	Athletics	Confirmed
Around 17 May	Eid al-Adha	Nationwide	Public holiday	Expected (moon sighting)

Doha opens the 2027 Wanda Diamond League season. The Doha International Book Fair usually falls around May, but its 2027 dates have not been announced.

June 2027

No confirmed events yet. June is the start of the summer season. In 2026 the month brought the Indian Mango Exhibition at Souq Waqif, but no 2027 edition has been announced. Check the Visit Qatar calendar from spring 2027.

July 2027

No confirmed events yet. The summer campaign and indoor festivals such as the Qatar Toy Festival have run in July in recent years, but 2027 dates have not been published.

August 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
27 Aug to 12 Sep	FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027	Lusail, Doha and Al Wakrah arenas	Basketball	Confirmed

This is the first FIBA World Cup in the Middle East and the main reason to plan a trip to Qatar in late summer 2027. See the sports section for venues and tickets.

September 2027

The FIBA Basketball World Cup continues until the final on 12 September. No other events are confirmed yet. In 2026 the month brought S'hail at Katara and the Qatar Classic squash event, but neither has announced 2027 dates.

October 2027

No confirmed events yet. Organizers usually publish autumn dates from mid-year, and Qatar Tourism typically launches its next annual calendar in September.

November 2027

No confirmed events yet. Qatar is due to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup every year until 2029, so a 2027 edition is expected, but FIFA has not announced its dates.

December 2027

Date	Event	Venue	Category	Status
3 to 5 Dec	Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix	Lusail International Circuit	Motorsport	Confirmed
18 Dec	Qatar National Day	Nationwide	National holiday	Confirmed (program to be announced)

The 2027 race is round 23 of 24 on the official Formula 1 calendar, one week before the Abu Dhabi finale. National Day 2027 falls on a Saturday.

Biggest Sports Events in Qatar in 2026 and 2027

Qatar's sports calendar is built around a handful of permanent venues: Lusail International Circuit for motorsport, Aspire Zone and Khalifa International Stadium for football and athletics, and the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex for racket sports. These are the events most visitors plan trips around.

Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2026

• Date: 27 to 29 November 2026 (race on Sunday 29 November, 16:00 track time)
• Venue: Lusail International Circuit, Lusail
• Category: Motorsport
• Tickets: Formula 1 official tickets or the circuit's ticket site. Only Main Grandstand seats are numbered.
• Status: Confirmed
• Official source: formula1.com Qatar Grand Prix page

Round 22 of 23, so the race often has a bearing on the championship. Sessions run into the evening under floodlights, which keeps temperatures comfortable for spectators. The official schedule shows a conventional weekend with three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday and no sprint. Visit Qatar says race weekends include entertainment, but no 2026 concert line-up had been announced when we checked. Ignore lists that repeat previous years' artists.

MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar 2026 and 2027

• Date: 6 to 8 November 2026; 12 to 14 March 2027
• Venue: Lusail International Circuit
• Category: Motorsport
• Tickets: tickets.lcsc.qa. Seating is unreserved, and tickets bought for the original April 2026 date carry over. Tickets for 2027 were not on sale when we checked.
• Status: Confirmed (2026 race moved from 10 to 12 April)
• Official source: MotoGP calendar and Lusail International Circuit

Lusail held MotoGP's first night race, and the event is known for an easy-going atmosphere and good-value grandstand access compared with Formula 1. The rescheduling means Qatar hosts two MotoGP rounds within about four months: a late-season round in November 2026 and the second round of the 2027 season in March.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026

• Date: 19 November to 13 December 2026
• Venue: Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan; final at Khalifa International Stadium
• Category: Football
• Tickets: The local organizers have said tickets will be sold through roadtoqatar.qa. Prices for 2026 had not been confirmed when we checked.
• Status: Confirmed

The 48-team tournament is the second of five editions Qatar is hosting from 2025 to 2029. Grouping matches at Aspire Zone makes it easy to watch several games in a day, and youth tournaments tend to be affordable for families. Aspire Zone is a short walk from Sport City station on the Gold Line.

Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2027

• Date: Friday 15 January 2027
• Venue: Doha Corniche
• Category: Running (marathon and shorter distances)
• Tickets: Registration through the organizer; prices not confirmed by us
• Status: Confirmed (date reported by Qatar Tribune and Marhaba)

One of the few major events in Qatar where residents can take part rather than watch. The flat Corniche course and January temperatures suit first-time marathon runners. Expect road closures around the Corniche on race morning.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027

• Date: 27 August to 12 September 2027
• Venue: Lusail Arena (final), Duhail Arena, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and a converted Al Janoub Stadium
• Category: Basketball
• Tickets: On sale through FIBA's official ticketing site, linked from the FIBA World Cup 2027 event page. The early-bird pass discount ended on 29 August 2026.
• Status: Confirmed

Thirty-two teams will play 92 games in a single host city, the first time the tournament has been held in the Middle East. All games are indoors, which matters in late August. Short distances between venues make it realistic to see more than one game in a day.

Other confirmed sports events

• UFC Fight Night Doha, 21 November 2026, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. Fight card details come from press reports; check UFC.com.
• ISSF World Championship, 1 to 14 November 2026, Doha (ISSF event page).
• T100 Triathlon World Championship Final, 10 to 12 December 2026, Lusail.
• IRONMAN 70.3 Doha, 18 to 20 March 2027, Old Doha Port.
• ONE Championship Qatar, 26 March 2027, Aspire Dome.
• Qatar 1812 KM (WEC), 25 to 27 March 2027, Lusail International Circuit.
• Wanda Diamond League Doha, 7 May 2027.
• Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2027, 3 to 5 December 2027.

Music Concerts and Live Entertainment in Doha

Doha's concert scene has grown from the occasional stadium show into a steady program of Arabic stars, international acts, classical music and comedy. Venues range from the open-air 974 Stadium Precinct to the theaters at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) and the Katara Opera House. The Visit Qatar music listings are the best single starting point.

Hans Zimmer Live in Doha

• Date: Friday 6 November 2026 (show 8pm)
• Venue: 974 Stadium Precinct
• Tickets: Sold out on Platinumlist, the authorized seller, when we checked. Tickets for the original 10 April date remain valid.
• Status: Confirmed, sold out
• Official source: Visit Qatar event page

The composer behind Gladiator, Inception and Dune brings his band to an open-air setting by the water. With the show sold out, be wary of resale offers on social media. Only buy through channels the organizer endorses.

Wegz: Live in Doha

• Date: Friday 20 November 2026 (doors 5pm)
• Venue: 900 Park, Legtaifiya, near InterContinental Doha The City
• Tickets: Mystique Management, linked from Visit Qatar. General admission was listed from QAR 150 for the first wave when we checked on 19 October 2026. Prices rise by wave, so check the current price before you book.
• Status: Confirmed
• Official source: Visit Qatar event page

The Egyptian rapper is one of the most-streamed artists in the Arab world, so expect a young, high-energy crowd. Entry is 10+ and some zones are 18+.

Saint Levant: Live in Doha

• Date: Friday 11 December 2026 (doors 5pm)
• Venue: 900 Park, Legtaifiya
• Tickets: Mystique Management. Third-wave general admission was QAR 325 and standing VIP QAR 475 when we checked on 19 October 2026; check the current price before you book. Older reports of QAR 275 refer to an earlier wave.
• Status: Confirmed
• Official source: Visit Qatar event page

The Palestinian-Algerian artist mixes Arabic, English and French over pop and rap. There is a family zone for ages 10+.

Cairokee Live in Qatar

• Date: Thursday 17 December 2026 (doors 6pm, band on stage 9:30pm)
• Venue: QNCC, Conference Hall
• Tickets: Platinumlist, via the Visit Qatar "Book Tickets" link. Age 13+.
• Status: Confirmed
• Official source: Visit Qatar event page

The Cairo rock band's sing-along anthems make this a good pick on the eve of National Day.

More confirmed shows

• Classical: The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra plays Brahms Reimagined (31 October, Katara Opera House), Sounds of Canada (8 November, QNCC) and a Mozart program (20 November, QNCC).
• Arabic music: George Wassouf (29 October, Doha Golf Club) and Fadel Chaker (12 November, Katara Amphitheatre).
• Stage: Swan Lake by Moscow Ballet La Classique (30 October) and Mughal-E-Azam: The Musical (6 and 7 November), both at QNCC's Al Mayassa Theatre.
• Comedy: Trevor Noah at QNCC on 4 December (age 16+); see Visit Qatar's comedy listings for more.

Canceled: Shakira's concert at Stadium 974, last scheduled for 18 November 2026, has been canceled. Some older articles still list it. 2027: No concerts for 2027 had been officially announced when we checked.

Cultural Festivals and Traditional Celebrations

It helps to separate two kinds of date. Official public holidays are set by the Amiri Diwan (see our Qatar public holidays guide): National Sport Day, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and National Day. Eid dates depend on moon sighting and are announced shortly beforehand. Entertainment programs such as Darb Al Saai, Garangao nights and Eid concerts are organized separately and announced closer to the time.

Qatar National Day

Qatar National Day on 18 December marks the country's founding in 1878. It falls on a Friday in 2026 and a Saturday in 2027. Celebrations traditionally center on the Corniche, with fireworks and the Darb Al Saai heritage program in Umm Salal. Darb Al Saai typically runs for several days beforehand, with traditional crafts, food, performances and children's activities. The parade did not take place in some recent years, so wait for the official program before planning around it. As of 19 October 2026, neither the 2026 program nor the Darb Al Saai dates had been announced.

Heritage, art and museum season

• Katara Traditional Dhow Festival: wooden boats, sea songs and maritime crafts on Katara Beach. The 2026 edition is reported for early December but not yet confirmed by Katara.
• Design Doha Biennial: 5 November 2026 to 31 January 2027 in Fereej Al Asmakh and Msheireb (official site).
• Art Basel Qatar: 28 to 30 January 2027 in Msheireb (artbasel.com/qatar).
• Rubaiya Qatar: Qatar Museums' first contemporary art quadrennial, 21 November 2026 to 30 April 2027.
• Doha Film Festival: 19 to 27 November 2026, including the Ajyal youth program at Katara (Doha Film Institute).

Family-Friendly Events in Qatar

Many of Qatar's biggest events welcome children, but age rules vary, especially at concerts. Check the minimum age on the ticket page before buying: Wegz is 10+, Cairokee 13+ and Trevor Noah 16+.

• Qatar International Food Festival (13 to 23 January 2027, Lusail Stadium Precinct): food stalls, cooking demonstrations and evening entertainment. It has historically been one of the most family-oriented events of the year.
• FIFA U-17 World Cup (19 November to 13 December 2026, Aspire Zone): youth football in compact venues, with green space around Aspire Park.
• Gabby's Dollhouse (21 to 30 October 2026, Place Vendome Mall): aimed at young children; Visit Qatar tags it as free.
• Qatar Boat Show (4 to 7 November 2026, Old Doha Port): a day out by the water. The Peninsula reported public tickets at QAR 50 a day in October 2026; check before you go.
• Ooredoo Doha Marathon (15 January 2027): shorter distances usually let families take part together. Check the organizer's categories when registering.
• Museum exhibitions: the National Museum of Qatar and Mathaf both have major exhibitions running through winter.

Visiting family in Qatar for a big event? Our guide to the Qatar family visit visa covers sponsorship rules and processing.

Free Events and Budget-Friendly Activities

We list an event as free only where an organizer or the official calendar says so. Free entry rarely covers everything: food, rides, parking and premium areas usually cost extra.

Event	Dates	What is free
Gabby's Dollhouse, Place Vendome	21 to 30 Oct 2026	Tagged free by Visit Qatar
Tegahwa Exhibition, Galleria Al Hazm	5 to 13 Nov 2026	Tagged free by Visit Qatar
Qatar National Day celebrations	18 Dec 2026 and 18 Dec 2027	Public celebrations and fireworks; individual ticketed events may charge
Qatar International Food Festival	13 to 23 Jan 2027	Entry reported as free; food and activities are paid

Year-round, Souq Waqif, Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha and the Corniche cost nothing to walk around and often host pop-up performances. For more ideas, see our guide to the best places to visit in Qatar.

Where to Buy Qatar Event Tickets

Qatar has no single ticket platform. Each organizer chooses its own seller, so the safest approach is to start from the official listing and follow its link.

1. Start with the official calendar. Find the event on Visit Qatar's events calendar and use its "Book tickets" link, which points to the authorized seller.
2. For motorsport, use tickets.lcsc.qa or, for Formula 1, the official F1 ticket site.
3. For concerts and shows, organizers in Qatar typically use Platinumlist, Q-Tickets, Virgin Megastore Tickets or the promoter's own site, as with Mystique Management for Wegz and Saint Levant.
4. For FIFA and FIBA, buy only through the governing body's official platform or the local organizing committee.

Avoid tickets sold through social media messages or classified ads, especially for sold-out shows. Ticket sellers often display prices in another currency, such as US dollars, so check the final amount in QAR before paying. Keep your confirmation email and the name on the booking, as some events check ID at entry.

Best Places in Qatar for Events and Festivals

Venue	Area	Typical events
Lusail International Circuit	Lusail	Formula 1, MotoGP, WEC endurance racing, Qatar International Baja
Katara Cultural Village	Between West Bay and The Pearl	Opera House and Amphitheatre concerts, S'hail, the Dhow Festival, film screenings
Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC)	Education City, Al Rayyan	Concerts, theater, comedy and conferences
Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC)	West Bay	Jewelry and watches exhibition, Book Fair, Toy Festival, Web Summit
Souq Waqif	Central Doha	Seasonal festivals such as Local Dates and the Indian Mango Exhibition, Ramadan traditions
Msheireb Downtown Doha	Central Doha	Art Basel Qatar, Design Doha, M7 exhibitions
Lusail Boulevard	Lusail	Large public celebrations and seasonal festivities
The Pearl	North of West Bay	Hotel-based shows and comedy, waterfront dining events
974 Stadium Precinct	Ras Abu Aboud	Open-air concerts and festivals
Aspire Zone	Al Rayyan	Youth football, Aspire Dome indoor sports, combat sports

A venue appearing here does not mean an event is scheduled there. Always check the event listing itself.

Practical Tips for Event Days in Qatar

• Use the Metro where you can. Doha Metro serves Lusail, West Bay, the Education City area on the Green Line (for QNCC), Sport City (for Aspire Zone and Khalifa International Stadium) and Ras Bu Aboud (for the 974 Stadium Precinct). Plan your journey with our Doha Metro map and route guide. For big events, check for extended hours and shuttle services on the organizer's page.
• Parking fills early. At Lusail race weekends and stadium concerts, official car parks may be some distance from the gates, with shuttle buses between them. Allow extra time.
• Plan around the weather. From June to September, daytime heat is intense and most events move indoors or after dark (our Qatar weather by month guide has the details). October to April is comfortable outdoors in the evening, and desert nights in winter can feel cool.
• Dress modestly in public spaces. Covering shoulders and knees is a respectful default at heritage sites, souqs and family events. Some venues set their own dress rules.
• Check age limits and child policies before buying, and bring ID where minimum ages apply.
• Accessibility: large venues such as QNCC, Lusail International Circuit and the stadiums have accessible facilities. Contact the organizer in advance to book accessible seating or assistance.
• Arrive early. Security screening is standard, and bags may be restricted. Doors often open one to two hours before the headline act.
• Visitors from abroad: check entry requirements before booking. Our guide to the Hayya platform and how to apply explains the visa routes, and our Qatar Airways baggage allowance guide helps if you are flying in with the national carrier.
• Save emergency contacts. Large crowds and late finishes make it worth having our list of emergency numbers in Qatar on your phone.
• Allow for Ramadan and Eid. Hours, traffic and event formats change during Ramadan, and Eid holidays bring extra public celebrations.

Final Thoughts

For most visitors, the best window is late October 2026 to March 2027. It brings two MotoGP rounds, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the U-17 World Cup, National Day, the Food Festival, Art Basel Qatar and a strong winter concert program. Basketball fans should already be planning for late August 2027. Sports carry most of the second half of 2027 so far, and more concerts and festivals will be added as organizers announce them.

We review this calendar regularly and add events once dates are confirmed. Before you buy a ticket or book a flight, check the latest details on the official Visit Qatar calendar or with the organizer.

Event details were checked on 19 October 2026. Sources include Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism, Qatar News Agency, Qatar Museums, formula1.com, MotoGP, Lusail International Circuit, FIBA, World Athletics, ISSF, Art Basel, Design Doha, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and authorized ticket sellers. Some dates come from local press (The Peninsula, Qatar Tribune, Marhaba) and are flagged as such. Feature image: National Day fireworks over Doha Bay seen from the Corniche, 18 December 2017, by Ndqatar via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized by QatarVia. The edited images are shared under the same licenses as their originals. No images were supplied by event organizers.