Qatar ushers in February 2026 with a vibrant month-long lineup of activities spanning technology, culture, sport, and community engagement. The latest edition of Qatar Calendar showcases an array of international conferences, artistic exhibitions, outdoor festivals, live entertainment, and family-friendly experiences that reflect the nation’s dynamic cultural scene and growing status as a global hub for events.

Whether visitors are drawn to world-class equestrian tournaments, music concerts, or cutting-edge business summits, February offers something for everyone across Doha and beyond.

Heritage, culture, and outdoor experiences

Qatar’s natural landscapes and cultural diversity take the spotlight with an eclectic mix of heritage events and lifestyle experiences.

• Brouq 2026 continues in the picturesque desert terrain of Zekreet until February 10, blending luxury glamping, fine dining, art, and adventure for those seeking an escape into Qatar’s rugged beauty. The event offers visitors a chance to unwind under the stars while engaging in curated cultural and environmental activities.

• The Qatar Camel Festival 2026, ongoing at the Qatar Camel Mzayen Club until February 10, gathers camel owners and enthusiasts from across the GCC. It features traditional races, beauty contests, and cultural showcases celebrating the region’s enduring desert heritage.

• Kazakhstan Cultural Week, hosted at Darb Al Saai from February 4 to 7, forms part of the Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Weeks programme that fosters cross-border cultural exchange. The event offers vibrant performances, art exhibitions, and cultural workshops that underscore Qatar’s commitment to international collaboration through culture.

• Food lovers can look forward to the Throwback Food Festival 2026, which opens at Old Doha Port on February 16 and runs until March 19. It offers a nostalgic twist on traditional recipes paired with modern culinary creativity, all within a scenic coastal setting.

• Meanwhile, the 4th Pearl Ramadan Bazaar, running from February 17 to March 23, transforms The Pearl and Gewan Islands into lively cultural hotspots with shopping stalls, food outlets, and family activities, including Garangao celebrations.

• Lagoona Mall Ramadan Nights, held every Thursday to Saturday from February 19 to March 14, animates the North Court Lobby with entertaining cultural showcases, crafts, and live performances between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Business, culture, and major events

Qatar’s reputation as a rising global nexus for innovation and enterprise continues to grow, with several high-profile conferences and exhibitions anchoring the February calendar.

• The global tech community will descend on Doha for Web Summit Qatar 2026, taking place from February 1 to 4 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The event brings together entrepreneurs, tech visionaries, and investors to exchange ideas shaping the digital world—from artificial intelligence and fintech to sustainable innovation.

• The 21st International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2026) follows at the Qatar National Convention Center from February 2 to 5, gathering policymakers, industry leaders, and technical experts to discuss the latest developments and future outlook of the LNG sector—an industry integral to Qatar’s economic landscape.

• Art enthusiasts can experience a historic moment with the debut of Art Basel Qatar, held at M7 and the Doha Design District from February 5 to 7. The exhibition brings leading international galleries and contemporary artists under one roof, positioning Doha as a new cultural capital on the global art map.

• The Rouda Almalki Event, running from February 11 to 16 at QNCC, offers a women-centric exhibition spotlighting Ramadan and Eid preparations through fashion, perfumes, design, and luxury dining—creating a one-stop destination for seasonal inspiration.

• From February 12 to 16, AgriteQ 2026: Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition at Katara Cultural Village highlights the nation’s progress in sustainable farming, food security, and agritech innovation, featuring global experts, exhibitors, and investors in the green economy.

Sporting events and international competitions

Qatar’s sporting tradition continues to shine in February with a packed calendar of professional and community events attracting elite athletes and local participants alike.

• The Qatar Masters Golf Championship 2026, now in its 29th year, returns to Doha Golf Club from February 5 to 8 with a lineup of top golfers competing for regional glory and world ranking points.

• The 8th Al Adaid Desert Challenge takes place on February 6 in Sealine, testing endurance across sand dunes with mountain bike, duathlon, and trail-running categories for amateur and professional athletes.

• On February 7, the QTRI Meryal Waterpark Aquathlon kicks off the Qatari Islands Aquathlon Series at Qetaifan Island North, combining swimming and running in a race set against a striking coastal backdrop.

• Tennis fans can expect exciting matches at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026, running from February 8 to 14 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The WTA 1000 tournament welcomes some of the world’s leading women’s players for a week of top-tier competition.

• On February 10, the capital will pulse with energy during Education City Run: Color Edition and the QOC Half Marathon 2026, encouraging community participation in fitness at Education City Stadium and Lusail Boulevard, respectively.

• Qatar’s annual National Sport Day celebrations, also on February 10, will feature family-friendly sporting events at Aspire Park—as well as walkathons, fitness zones, and recreational activities throughout The Pearl and Gewan Islands.

• The prestigious HH The Amir’s Sword International Equestrian Festival 2026, held from February 11 to 14 at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, welcomes top riders and horses for one of the region’s most esteemed equestrian competitions.

• CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines, from February 19 to 21, continues the momentum with show-jumping, dressage, and para-equestrian disciplines that attract world champions and showcase Doha’s leadership in the global equestrian arena.

• Rounding off the month’s athletic highlights, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2026 takes place from February 16 to 21 at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, uniting top-tier ATP players for thrilling men’s singles and doubles action.

Concerts, live shows, and entertainment

February in Doha also delivers a full schedule of entertainment, blending classical performances, modern theatre, and international tours.

• The theatrical production “Warth Obona” runs at U Venue Theatre from February 5 to 6, captivating audiences with a blend of suspense, humor, and youthful energy.

• On February 7, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presents Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony under the baton of Maestro Pablo Mielgo at the Opera House in Katara Cultural Village. The concert also includes works by Brahms and Strauss, delivering a night of timeless classics.

• The improv comedy show “3a Ka3ba”, taking place on February 12 at La Cigale Hotel’s Wajba Ballroom, invites laughter and audience participation with spontaneous, unscripted sketches.

• Classical Arabesque, another performance by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra on February 14, celebrates Arab musical heritage with elegant orchestrations at Katara’s Opera House.

• Also on February 14, music lovers can enjoy Cup of Joe’s Stardust International World Tour 2026 live at the Qatar National Convention Center, marking the Filipino pop band’s first-ever concert in Doha.

Spanning art, sport, business, and leisure, February’s Qatar Calendar cements the country’s place as a destination where global creativity meets local culture, offering memorable experiences under its winter skies.

The Norwegian Group carried 2.9 million passengers in August 2026, including 2.5 million passengers on Norwegian and 359,000 on Widerøe.

Norwegian increased its capacity by 3% year on year, while passenger traffic climbed 4%. Its load factor improved by 0.4 percentage points to 86.3%. The airline operated an average of 94 aircraft during the month.

Regularity stood at 98.9%, rising to 99.6% when cancellations related to the Avinor air traffic controllers’ strike are excluded. The industrial action disrupted travel for more than 20,000 passengers. Norwegian’s punctuality rate, measured by departures within 15 minutes of schedule, was 80.8%.

Widerøe increased capacity by 2%, while traffic remained unchanged. Its load factor consequently declined by 1.8 percentage points to 75.8%. The regional airline recorded punctuality of 93.3%, an improvement of 1.5 percentage points, while regularity reached 97.4%.

Norwegian said booking activity for the autumn remained strong, particularly around the school holidays. Meanwhile, its Norwegian Reward loyalty programme has surpassed 10 million members and is introducing five new membership tiers.

Source: QCAA

African airlines recorded a 6.4% year-on-year increase in passenger demand in July 2026, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Capacity across African carriers increased by 9.0% compared with July 2025, while the passenger load factor stood at 74.1%. Domestic revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) in the region rose 0.6% during the month.

Globally, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, increased just 0.2% from July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew 1.2%, while available seat kilometres, the industry measure of capacity, increased 0.3%.

The global load factor was 85.2%. International demand declined 0.1% year on year. When the Middle East was excluded, international demand increased 1.5%, with capacity also rising 0.3% and the load factor reaching 85.2%.

Domestic passenger demand worldwide grew 0.6% compared with July 2025, while domestic capacity increased 0.2%. The domestic load factor stood at 85.3%.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season had produced a largely positive result despite weaker performance by carriers in North America and the Middle East.

She also noted that traffic through Gulf aviation hubs was continuing to recover.

Thomsen said airlines remained confident about demand for the final months of the year despite elevated fuel costs, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. Carriers are planning to increase seat capacity by almost 3% in September, she added.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Global air passenger demand recorded modest growth in July 2026, as strong performances in several regions helped offset declines among carriers in North America and the Middle East, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Total revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) increased by 0.2% compared with July 2025. Excluding Middle Eastern airlines, global passenger demand rose by 1.2%.

Worldwide capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), grew by 0.3% year-on-year, while the global passenger load factor slipped by 0.1 percentage points to 85.2%.

International traffic declined by 0.1% compared with the same month last year. However, excluding Middle Eastern carriers, international demand increased by 1.5%.

Domestic passenger demand rose by 0.6%, supported by a 0.2% increase in capacity. The domestic load factor reached 85.3%.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season had delivered an overall positive picture for aviation despite challenges in key markets.

“Overall growth of 0.2% in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East,” she said, adding that traffic through Gulf hubs continued to recover.

Thomsen noted that high fuel prices, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions remain challenges for the industry. However, airlines remain confident about demand later in the year, with seat capacity expected to expand by almost 3% in September.

European airlines posted demand growth of 3.1%, supported in particular by a 12.1% surge in traffic between Europe and Asia.

Latin American carriers recorded a 7.1% increase in demand, while African airlines reported growth of 6.4%.

Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific demand declined by 0.7%, and North American carriers saw a 2.3% fall. Middle Eastern airlines reported the sharpest decline, with demand down 9.5%, although the pace of the downturn continued to ease.

Domestic traffic rose 0.6% worldwide, with China and Brazil reporting strong growth. In contrast, domestic markets in the United States, Australia and India recorded declines.

Source: ZAWYA

Typhoon Dolphin brought torrential rain to Shanghai on Monday, August 10, 2026, flooding roads and commercial areas and severely disrupting air travel in the city.

The weather system forced Shanghai’s two airports to cancel a combined 943 flights, while their overall passenger capacity was reduced by nearly 40%.

The disruption followed Dolphin’s landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening. The typhoon struck areas south and west of Shanghai with maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometres per hour near its centre.

Dolphin later weakened into a tropical storm, but its remaining rain bands continued to bring heavy precipitation across large parts of eastern China.

Shanghai, the country’s second-most populous city, experienced widespread flooding, including in several major commercial districts.

China Eastern Airlines said it was working to gradually restore flights to Shanghai, Zhejiang and other affected destinations as weather conditions improve.

Source: Asia News Network

Thousands of WestJet cabin crew members began strike action on Aug. 2 after nearly 11 months of contract negotiations failed to result in a new labor agreement, triggering widespread disruptions across the airline's network.

The industrial action involves around 4,400 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125. The strike officially started after talks between the union and the airline ended without a new collective agreement.

The labor dispute has already forced WestJet to cancel more than 300 flights, affecting travel plans across its domestic and international routes.

Ahead of the strike, the airline had begun grounding portions of its Boeing 737 fleet as a precautionary measure to minimize operational disruption and reduce the risk of leaving passengers and aircraft stranded during the work stoppage.

Source: Aero Time