Qatar is gearing up for a busy stretch from September 2026 to March 2027, with a lineup that spans global music acts, high-octane motorsport, international football, and a growing slate of cultural and design events. For European travellers looking for a winter escape with a difference, Doha and its surroundings offer a mix of familiar favourites and new attractions.
Music and live performances
The season kicks off with a rare intimate show by US singer-songwriter John Legend at the Qatar National Convention Centre on 10 September. Titled “An Evening of Songs & Stories,” the concert will feature stripped-back versions of hits like “All of Me” and “Ordinary People.” Legend, a 13-time Grammy winner and one of the few artists to have achieved EGOT status, has a career spanning soul, gospel, and pop. Tickets start at QAR195 (around €46).
German film composer Hans Zimmer brings his “Live: The Next Level” show to the 974 Stadium Precinct in Doha on 6 November. Zimmer, whose scores include The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, Interstellar, and Dune, will perform with a 19-piece band. Tickets start at QAR95 (€23).
Egyptian singer Angham, known as “the Voice of Egypt,” performs at the Al Mayassa Theatre on 16 October. With a career spanning nearly four decades, she has sold over 500,000 copies of her 2007 album Kolma N'arrab and became the first Egyptian female artist to play London's Royal Albert Hall in 2025.
Motorsport and football
Lusail International Circuit hosts the MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix from 6-8 November, continuing a tradition that began in 2004 and saw the championship's first night race in 2008. A three-day adult ticket costs QAR200 (€48).
The Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix follows on 27-29 November, part of a ten-year deal running to 2032. The 2025 edition drew over 162,000 spectators, and the 2026 weekend promises another full house.
Football fans can look forward to the FIFA U-17 World Cup from 19 November to 13 December. Qatar hosts the second of five consecutive editions, with 48 national teams competing across venues in the Aspire Zone, culminating at Khalifa International Stadium. The 2025 tournament attracted more than 100,000 spectators, with Portugal beating Austria 1-0 in the final.
Culture, design, and heritage
The Design Doha Biennial returns from 5 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, showcasing work across 16 disciplines from architecture to textiles. Its headline exhibition, “Arab Design Now,” curated by Noura Al Sayeh, features 81 designers. The Design Doha Prize will be awarded in four categories, including emerging talent.
Earlier in the season, the 10th edition of S'hail, the Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition, takes place at Katara Cultural Village from 8-12 September. The event draws over 260 exhibitors from more than 20 countries, with falcon auctions, live demonstrations, and workshops on falconry heritage.
The Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (28 September-3 October) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre typically attracts around 30,000 visitors from over 175 countries. Admission is free.
For those interested in marine life, the Qatar Boat Show returns to Old Doha Port from 4-7 November, featuring superyachts, watersports, and more than 65 vessels. The 2025 edition drew over 27,000 visitors from 105 countries.
Beyond the events
Qatar's winter season also offers a chance to explore Doha's evolving dining scene, which blends global flavours with Qatari identity, as highlighted in our recent feature on Doha's restaurants. And with the country's diplomatic efforts in the Gulf, as seen in Qatar's mediation between the US and Iran, the region remains a focal point for international affairs.
Whether you're a motorsport enthusiast, a football fan, or a culture seeker, Qatar's packed calendar offers plenty of reasons to book a flight this winter.
