Qatar Museums October 2026: Best Things to Do in Doha
Qatar Museums October 2026 is packed with art exhibitions, creative workshops, family activities, storytelling, calligraphy, talks and cultural experiences across Doha.
From the National Museum of Qatar and Museum of Islamic Art to Mathaf, M7 and Liwan, there is something planned for children, teenagers, adults and families. The official Qatar Museums calendar confirms a busy October programme, including exhibitions and workshops across its venues.
If you are searching for things to do in Doha in October 2026, these are some of the programmes worth adding to your calendar.
1. Explore Qatar’s Maritime History at the National Museum
Navigating the Seas of Qatar
10 and 24 October
12 PM to 1:30 PM: English
2:30 PM to 4 PM: Arabic
National Museum of Qatar
Families with children aged 8+ can discover how sailors, pearl divers and traders navigated the Arabian Gulf before modern technology.
The experience explores traditional dhows, navigation tools such as the kamal and compass, and the maritime routes that shaped Qatar’s history.
2. Let Kids Dress Up in Traditional Qatari Clothes
Old School Dress-Up
12 and 19 October
11 AM to 12 PM
Ages 3+
Free, no registration required
Children can decorate character templates using stickers inspired by traditional Qatari clothing, discovering different garments and styles along the way.
3. Discover Qatari Coffee and Hospitality
Discussion Session: Qatari Coffee and Hospitality
12 October
12 PM to 1 PM
Mohammed Jassim Al Khulaifi Library
Held around International Coffee Day, the session explores Qatari hospitality, Arabic coffee and intangible heritage, using the book Al-Dallah to look at popular memory and culture.
4. Step Into an Immersive Sea Adventure
Lost at Sea: An Immersive Maritime Navigation
31 October
10 AM to 12 PM
Ages 13 to 16
National Museum of Qatar
Teenagers can take on the role of a maritime navigation crew dealing with unpredictable waters.
The immersive experience explores navigation through celestial observation, environmental awareness, cultural knowledge and digital technology.
5. See a New Photography Exhibition in Al Wakrah
As the Image Unfolds: The Language of Athar
31 October to 15 December
Bayt Al Wakrah, Souq Al Wakrah
The new photography exhibition brings together work developed through a five-month residency programme.
The participating artists are Mohammed Fakhroo, Ghada Al Mawlawi and Raja Aderdor, exploring the idea of athar, an Arabic word referring to traces and imprints.
6. Try Calligraphy, Drawing and Experimental Art at Mathaf
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art has a full October programme for creative learners.
Highlights include:
Essa Fakhroo Calligraphy
5, 6, 11 and 12 October
Ages 16+
Drawtastic
10 and 24 October
Ages 15+
Action Model Drawing
14 October
Ages 15+
Mirror Portrait
28 October
Ages 15+
Before the Word
31 October
Adults 18+
The sessions range from Arabic calligraphy and portraiture to experimental mark-making and model drawing.
7. Take Part in Uzbekistan-Inspired Workshops at MIA
The Museum of Islamic Art is bringing the Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion exhibition into its October activities.
Workshops include:
- Nasta’liq Calligraphy: 3, 10 and 17 October
- Design Your Own Uzbek Robe: 4 and 5 October
- Geometry for Teens: 10 October
- Linocut Printmaking: 11 to 14 October
- Flowers of the Past: 12 and 13 October
- Book Club: Samarkand: 19 October
The official Qatar Museums calendar confirms these October workshops and their dates.
8. Watch a Film About the Forbidden Art of Uzbekistan
Film Club: The Desert of Forbidden Art
18 October
5 PM to 6 PM
Museum of Islamic Art
The MIA Library Film Club will screen The Desert of Forbidden Art, exploring Islamic art, culture and history through documentary film.
9. Make Your Own Ceramic Art at Liwan
Create with Clay
7 October
4 PM to 6 PM
Beginners can learn how to work with clay and create their own cup, bowl or plate.
There is also Ceramic Glaze Artistry on 10 and 11 October, exploring painting, glazes, colour and patterns.
10. Explore Wool as a Contemporary Design Material
Wool: A Contemporary Design Medium
17 to 22 October
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM daily
Led by fibre artist, weaver and researcher Ishraq Zraikat, the workshop explores traditional wool processing, including sorting, washing, carding, weaving and felting.
The programme then moves into contemporary design and conceptual approaches to wool.
11. Let Kids Discover Jewellery Design at M7
Inspired by Nature
31 October
11:30 AM to 1 PM
Ages 9 to 13
QAR 150
Inspired by the Around the World in Jewellery exhibition, children can explore how nature influences jewellery design before creating their own wire-wrapped nature pendant.
Qatar Museums lists Around the World in Jewellery as opening at M7 on 27 October 2026
12. More New Exhibitions Are Coming in Late October
October also brings several major exhibition openings across Qatar Museums.
These include:
- Atharna 2026: Life and Death in Pre-Islamic Qatar: Opens 26 October
- Boats Floating Afar: The Maritime Trade of Ancient Chinese Ceramics: Opens 26 October
- Giuseppe Penone: The Inner Flow of Life: Opens 26 October
- Around the World in Jewellery: Opens 27 October
- What Lingers in the Artist Mind: Opens 25 October
The Atharna 2026 exhibition will explore archaeological discoveries from Neolithic and pre-Islamic burial mounds in Qatar and opens at Fahad Bin Ali Palace in Msheireb.
Qatar Museums October 2026: Quick Picks
For families: Navigating the Seas of Qatar, Old School Dress-Up, Family Day and Dadu Playdate
For teenagers: Lost at Sea, Geometry for Teens and Uzbek-inspired workshops
For adults: Calligraphy, drawing, film club, book club and creative workshops
For art lovers: Mathaf programmes, The Language of Athar and October exhibition openings
For kids: Story Time, Planet Kids Club, jewellery making and creative museum activities
What to Do in Doha This October
Whether you want a family activity in Doha, an art workshop, a cultural experience or something different to do over the weekend, Qatar Museums has programmes spread across several of the city’s major cultural venues.
The official Qatar Museums calendar is the best place to check registration requirements, timings and programme updates before visiting.
Qatar Museums October 2026 Calendar
