Qatar Tourism (QT) launched the Qatar Calendar 2026-2027, featuring over 560 events in partnership with nearly 780 key stakeholders to showcase a diverse range of cultural, entertainment, and sports activities.
Delivered through Visit Qatar, the calendar serves as a unified national platform consolidating the country’s event lineup.
Promotional efforts include increasing monthly print distribution to 35,000 copies, alongside international digital distribution across 120 countries in co-ordination with Qatari embassies, as well as on Visit Qatar’s website and mobile application.
His Excellency Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar Saad bin Ali al-Kharji stated that the calendar acts as an integrated system connecting Qatar with the world while promoting events to local and international audiences.
Al-Kharji added that tourism remains a vital pillar of national economic diversification under Qatar National Vision 2030, emphasizing continued investment in major projects, digital solutions, and strategic public-private partnerships to enhance Qatar’s global competitiveness.
His Excellency Managing Director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan bin Abdullah al-Thawadi emphasised the importance of leveraging the advanced infrastructure and expertise gained from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to host major future global events, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 and the Asian Games 2030.
Speaking at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the Qatar Calendar 2026-2027 launch, al-Thawadi stated that Qatar has solidified its position as a global hub for event management expertise, relying increasingly on Qatari talent in international tournaments.
He added that the Qatar Calendar expands the impact of sporting events beyond stadiums by integrating sports passion with cultural, entertainment, shopping, and culinary experiences.
CEO of Visit Qatar Eng Abdulaziz Ali al-Mawlawi detailed initiatives to boost awareness of the calendar, including monthly print runs of 35,000 copies, outdoor advertising contracts, cinema screen promos, and dedicated in-flight promotional videos on Qatar Airways flights.
Al-Mawlawi noted that user activity on the calendar’s platform reached 230,000 users in 2026, up from 105,000 in 2025, alongside 1.6bn social media engagements this year.
He announced that a unified digital ticketing platform linked with Visit Qatar will launch by the end of the year, while the Hayya Platform prepares to release new incentive packages for visa holders. Highlighting tourism metrics, al-Mawlawi revealed that Qatar welcomed over 5mn visitors in 2025, with hotel occupancy exceeding 71% (10.8mn room nights) and the tourism sector supporting over 163,000 jobs in the local labour market.
Al-Kharji emphasised the role of tourism and major events in driving broad economic value across hospitality, retail, and transportation, while supporting job creation and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking during a panel discussion at the launch of the Qatar Calendar 2026-2027, al-Kharji noted that these efforts support Qatar’s goal to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP to 12 % by 2030. Al-Kharji stressed the importance of digital tourism and accessibility, highlighting seamless travel experiences facilitated by the Hayya Platform and visa-free entry procedures for citizens of over 100 countries.
He underscored joint collaboration between Qatar Tourism, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and public and private sector partners to sustain Qatar’s position as a global hub for tourism and mega-events. Reflecting on the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022, he noted that the tournament reshaped regional perception, expanded advanced infrastructure, and boosted visitor numbers, leading to a doubling of arrivals in 2023 compared to 2022.
Al-Kharji added that Visit Qatar targets specific international markets through tailored campaigns, such as the Hayya Summer initiative launched in May, which attracted significant family tourism from Qatar, the GCC, and neighboring regions.
On the sidelines of the events, Visit Qatar signed several memorandums of co-operation and strategic partnerships with prominent entities and institutions in the country, including Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, MELT Live, and Aspire Zone Foundation.
The memorandums strengthen existing strategic relationships, consolidate frameworks for co-operation, and establish a common platform that will enable the parties to develop promising opportunities through future events and initiatives, as well as other areas of mutual interest, drawing on their shared visions and ambitions and complementary expertise.
Further details on the key projects and initiatives to be implemented under these memoranda will be announced in due course.
In this context, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) Jassim Mohammed al-Ansari said the memorandum of understanding signed with Visit Qatar reflected Qatar Rail’s commitment to strengthening the role of public transportation in supporting Qatar’s tourism and events sector. He added that through the partnership, Qatar Rail looked forward to leveraging Doha Metro and Lusail Tram services to facilitate visitors’ access to various destinations and events, and to raise awareness of the public transportation options provided by its networks, thereby contributing to an integrated, world-class mobility experience at events throughout the year.
Al-Ansari added that the memorandum was intended to establish a strategic partnership supporting greater integration between Qatar’s rail-based public transportation system and its tourism sector. He noted that the partnership formed part of the two sides’ efforts to facilitate and support visitors’ access to events and tourist destinations across the country, in line with Qatar’s plans to develop a more integrated, sustainable tourism experience and further consolidate its position as a leading destination for tourism and events.
