Doha’s biggest food playground returns
Also this week: Ceramic art, waterfront races and custom builds
Welcome to Al-Monitor Doha.
January in Doha has found its stride. The city moved past the rush of new beginnings and settled into something more deliberate, more alive. This week invites you to taste your way through a waterfront food festival where flame meets craft, to stand before a sculpture that redefines the self-portrait and to lace up running shoes for a marathon that turns the Corniche into a river of human determination.
There are motorcycles gathering at Katara, custom cars competing at the racing club and naval vessels docked for those curious about maritime defense. The thread connecting it all isn’t spectacle or scale. It’s how each experience invites you to step closer and engage — demanding attention not through volume, but through substance.
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Thanks for reading,
Reve
P.S. Have feedback or tips on Doha's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.
1. Leading the week: Qatar International Food Festival 2026
People visit food stalls during the 2025 Qatar International Food Festival in Doha. (Photo courtesy of Visit Qatar)
The Qatar International Food Festival returns for its 15th edition on Jan. 14-24 at the 974 Stadium Precinct — and this year feels different. What started as a celebration of food has evolved into a city-wide cultural moment where gastronomy, entertainment and community collide in ways that go beyond simply eating well. It’s become one of Qatar’s flagship cultural and culinary festivals, and for good reason.
Spanning the 974 Stadium waterfront, the festival features more than 100 kiosks and nearly 30 restaurants and cafes, offering everything from street food classics to reservation-only plated experiences. The real draw, however, goes beyond variety. QIFF’s thoughtfully designed zones cater to different tastes and interests. The Michelin Guide Village showcases exclusive creations from MICHELIN-starred chefs, while the Cooking Studio turns technique into theater with live demonstrations and masterclasses led by chefs who know how to engage a crowd.
The Open Fire Food Festival, curated and presented by Steve Harvey, takes place on Jan. 16-17 and brings together award-winning pitmasters and outdoor chefs from the United States. Alongside Harvey, chefs Melissa Cookston, Moe Cason and Bob Trudnak explore open-fire cooking through live demonstrations and signature dishes.
For families, QIFF Juniors offers child-focused activities, while the QIFF Ring hosts competitions and the playful Padel of Minds game. Daily fireworks start at 9 p.m. from Jan. 15 until Jan. 24, accompanied by drone shows.
Despite its scale, QIFF remains accessible. Entry is free, hours run from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends, and the waterfront setting allows for easy wandering without overcrowding.
Date: Jan. 14-24
Location: 974 Stadium Precinct
More information here.
2. Word on the street: Autorretrato at Mathaf
An installation from the 2025 exhibition “Autorretrato (Self-Portrait)” at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha. (Photo courtesy of Qatar Museums)
Standing before a self-portrait that refuses to show a face can be disarming. Gabriel Chaile’s Autorretrato, on view at Mathaf through Feb. 21, challenges conventional ideas of identity by shifting focus from features to form.
The monumental clay sculpture draws on prehistoric references such as the Venus of Willendorf, with raised clusters suggesting textured hair and echoing Chaile’s Afro-Arab and Latin heritage. Subtle eye-shaped impressions on either side reference pre-Hispanic dual-headed ceramics, introducing themes of duality and introspection.
What makes Autorretrato particularly fitting for Mathaf right now is how it signals the museum’s evolving direction. Presented as part of the Qatar-Argentina-Chile 2025 Years of Culture, the work coincides with Mathaf’s 15th anniversary and signals its future emphasis on ceramic art.
The work is crafted in adobe, the same clay used for centuries in indigenous architecture and pottery across Latin America. It’s this connection to earth, to material history, that makes the piece resonate beyond its physical presence.
Date: until Feb. 21
Location: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
More details here.
3. Doha diary
Runners take part in the 2025 Doha Marathon by Ooredoo. (Doha Marathon by Ooredoo)
- Doha Marathon by Ooredoo
The 14th edition of the Doha Marathon takes place on Jan. 16, welcoming more than 20,000 participants along the scenic Corniche route. Holding the World Athletics Gold Label for the third consecutive year, the marathon features five categories, a prize pool exceeding QAR 1 million (roughly $275,000), and a raffle including two Toyota Prado 2026 vehicles. Whether you’re running or cheering, the marathon transforms the Corniche into a celebration of endurance and community.
Date: Jan. 16
Location: Hotel Park
More information here.
- DIMDEX 2026
Qatar hosts the ninth Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference on Jan. 19-22 at the Qatar National Convention Center. For the first time, the event spans four days, with international naval vessels docked at Hamad Port and accessible to registered visitors aged 18 and above. Free shuttle buses operate between QNCC and the port. Whether you’re tracking defense innovation or curious about maritime technology, DIMDEX offers rare access to equipment and expertise that seldom reach public view.
Date: Jan. 19-22
Location: Qatar National Convention Center
More information here.
- Qatar Batabit 2026
The Qatar Batabit Show brings together motorcycle enthusiasts at Katara Cultural Village on Jan. 15-16, with participants competing for significant prizes including QAR 50,000 (roughly $13,700) for the best overall build. It’s become one of the region’s largest gatherings dedicated to custom bike culture, where motorcycle artistry meets competitive display.
Date: Jan. 15-16
Location: Katara Cultural Village
More information here.
- Qatar Custom Show 2026
The Qatar Custom Show returns for its 13th edition at the Qatar Racing Club on Jan. 13-17, showcasing custom cars and motorcycles from across the region. The show takes place alongside the second round of the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League, combining static displays with live motorsport action. If you appreciate the intersection of art and automotive engineering, this is where those worlds collide.
Date: Jan. 13-17
Location: Qatar Racing Club
More information here.
4. Movie of the week: ‘Black Gold’
A scene from “Black Gold” ( Photo courtesy of iloveqatar)
“Black Gold” (2011), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, explores the dramatic transformation of the Arabian Peninsula at the dawn of the oil era. The film follows rival rulers Emir Nesib and Sultan Amar as fragile peace collapses after oil is discovered beneath their shared desert lands, drawing their peoples into conflict over power, wealth and identity.
At its center is Tahar Rahim’s Prince Auda, a reluctant but determined leader torn between loyalty, identity and foreign influence. Featuring an international cast including Antonio Banderas, Mark Strong, Freida Pinto and Riz Ahmed, the film was praised for its sweeping desert cinematography but struggled with critics and at the box office, making it a flawed yet ambitious portrayal of a defining moment in Gulf history.
5. View from Doha
A tree decoration made of amber is displayed at the Katara International Exhibition for Kahraman, showcasing artwork and handicrafs made with amber, at the Katara cultural village in Doha on Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)
6. By the numbers
- Qatar ranks as the most secure Arab country with a Global Peace Index score of 1.593 (on a scale where 1 represents the highest level of peace, reflecting high internal stability and a strong security environment), according to the Institute for Economics & Peace.
- Qatar records the lowest unemployment rate among Arab countries at 0.1%, according to the International Labour Organization.