Qatar is launching Rubaiya Qatar, a new international contemporary art quadrennial set to open in November 2026. The first edition will take place across several sites, including the recently renovated AL RIWAQ space next to the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
The quadrennial’s inaugural edition, Unruly Water, will be curated by Tom Eccles, executive director of the Center for Curatorial Studies and the Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College; Ruba Katrib, chief curator and director of curatorial affairs at MoMA PS1; Mark Rappolt, editor-in-chief of ArtReview and ArtReview Asia; and Shabbir Husain Mustafa, chief curator at Singapore Art Museum.
Under the umbrella of Rubaiya Qatar, Rirkrit Tiravanija presents untitled 2025 (no bread no ashes), a new public art installation on view at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park through 30 January 2026. The work invites visitors to gather and share freshly baked bread, featuring four traditional ovens and griddles from Qatar, South Asia, and West Asia.
Speaking about Rubaiya Qatar in a press release, director Sheikha Alanood Al Thani said: ‘Through our programmes, commissions, and exhibitions, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue, nurture creativity, and reflect the dynamic culture that makes Qatar a unique destination for art and community engagement.’
