Qatar Museums (QM) has announced its October public program, offering a wide range of exhibitions, talks, workshops, storytelling sessions, creative classes and family activities across its museums and creative spaces.
The October program includes activities for children, teenagers, adults and families. Highlights include the opening of the photography exhibition As the Image Unfolds – The Language of Athar at Bayt Al Wakrah, creative workshops at Liwan Design Studios and Labs, QC Talks, and activities inspired by the Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art.
Activities at the National Museum of Qatar
The National Museum of Qatar will host activities exploring Qatar’s heritage, maritime history, traditional clothing and cultural practices. The program includes family activities, discussion sessions, guided tours, library sessions and interactive experiences.
Navigating the Seas of Qatar is designed for families with children aged eight and above. Participants will learn how sailors, pearl divers and traders navigated the Arabian Gulf before modern technology. The session explores traditional dhows, navigation tools such as the kamal and compass, and the maritime connections and pearl-diving routes that contributed to Qatar’s history.
Children aged three and above can take part in Old School Dress-Up, an activity inspired by character dress-up sticker games. Children can decorate illustrated characters with stickers showing traditional Qatari clothing while learning about garments and styles once worn in Qatar. The museum will also host Qatari Coffee and Hospitality to mark International Coffee Day. The discussion will look at Qatari hospitality and the cultural importance of Arabic coffee, drawing on the book Al-Dallah to explore popular memory and intangible heritage. Teenagers aged 13 to 16 can take part in Lost at Sea: An Immersive Maritime Navigation. The experience places participants in the role of a maritime crew navigating open waters and explores traditional and modern approaches to navigation, including celestial observation, environmental awareness, cultural knowledge and digital systems.
New Photography Exhibition
Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar will present As the Image Unfolds – The Language of Athar, a new photography exhibition opening on October 3 and running until December 15. The exhibition features photographic works created during a five-month artist residency program.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf’s October program focuses on drawing, portraiture, calligraphy and experimental art-making. The museum will also continue its storytelling sessions and Fanoon: Artist Talks series. Art Lessons with Ismail Azzam gives participants an opportunity to develop portraiture skills using pencil, charcoal and paint, while Essa Fakhroo Calligraphy introduces participants to Arabic calligraphy through step-by-step sessions.
Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art will offer activities covering Arabic calligraphy, geometry, printmaking, design, storytelling, cinema and literature. Several workshops are inspired by the Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion exhibition. The museum’s library will also host a storytelling and coloring session for young children focusing on the life of Ibn Sina. Other activities include Nasta’liq Beginners for children and teenagers and Diwani Intermediate for women.
Liwan Design Studios and Labs
Liwan will offer hands-on workshops focused on ceramics and textiles as contemporary design materials. One of the activities is Create with Clay, a beginner ceramics workshop where participants can learn hand-building techniques and create a cup, bowl or plate based on their own design. The October program also includes a week dedicated to exploring wool as a design material.
M7 and Dadu
M7 will offer activities for young creatives, including a hands-on jewelry-making workshop inspired by the Around the World in Jewelry exhibition. Children will explore how nature can influence jewelry design. At Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, children and families can take part in interactive activities designed around learning, play and discovery. The sessions use different themes to encourage creativity and meaningful family engagement.
QC Talks and Fall/Winter Program
As part of Qatar Museums’ Fall/Winter 2026-2027 program, QC Talks will continue with sessions bringing together artists, cultural practitioners and creative institutions. One session will connect Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art with the Painting and Printmaking program in the Department of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar). Another session will be held in collaboration between Lusail Museum and Georgetown University in Qatar. The talks provide opportunities to explore ideas and approaches shaping contemporary creative practices in Qatar.
Qatar Museums’ October program brings together cultural exhibitions, creative learning and family activities across its museums and creative hubs, with programs catering to different ages and interests.
