Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the Qatar Photography Center is set to launch the second edition of the Doha Photography Festival, one of the region’s most prominent specialized art events. The festival will take place from November 4 to 9, offering six days of creativity, learning, and cultural exchange.
This year’s edition reinforces the festival’s growing reputation as a leading artistic platform, with broad local and international participation, including eight major global camera and photography equipment companies. The festival will be held in Umm Salal, opposite Darb Al Saai, providing a vibrant interactive space for professional and amateur photographers alike.
In a statement, Mr. Jassim Ahmed Al-Buainain, Director of the Qatar Photography Center, affirmed that through the Doha Photography Festival, the Ministry of Culture seeks to strengthen Qatar’s position as a regional and international cultural and artistic hub. He noted that the event serves as an active platform for the development of Qatar’s photography community, helping photography continue as a powerful medium of artistic expression that reflects Qatari identity, beauty, and heritage.
He added that the festival offers an ideal opportunity for photographers to showcase their work, engage directly with audiences, and exchange knowledge and experience with peers from around the world, thereby enriching the country’s photographic culture and traditions.
The festival’s objectives include promoting photographic art in Qatar, emphasizing its role as a tool for documentation and expression, inspiring the public through photographers’ stories and experiences, promoting photographic tourism, and enhancing photographers’ technical skills through advanced training programs.
Mr. Al-Buainain revealed that the second edition will feature the participation of leading international companies such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, and Insta360, in addition to local firms including Qatar Fourcam and iBrand Connect. He emphasized that this strong presence of global and local photography brands will enrich the visitor experience by showcasing the latest technologies and innovations in the field.
The festival’s program includes a wide range of activities and exhibitions catering to different levels of photographers. It will feature 24 solo exhibitions and one group exhibition, as well as a special exhibition for the Doha Photography Award and another dedicated to astrophotography. For lovers of photographic history, there will be displays of vintage photographs, antique cameras, and film photography.
To support professional growth and knowledge exchange, the festival will host a main stage for lectures and panel discussions, with daily talks and specialized workshops led by renowned international photographers and experts.
These sessions offer valuable opportunities for participants to learn from leading professionals, refine their artistic and technical skills, and engage with the global photography community. The festival also pays special attention to the educational and recreational experience of younger generations, featuring a dedicated children’s area and interactive public platforms, ensuring an inclusive and engaging experience for families and visitors of all ages.