The British Council Qatar Announces 10th Edition of the Qatar-UK Festival 2025, Celebrating a Decade of Cultural Collaboration

English , Qatar - قطر , Snippets , / Monday, December 1st, 2025

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Doha, 1 December 2025 — The British Council, in collaboration with Qatar Museums, the British Embassy Doha, and the UK Department for Business & Trade, has announced the 10th edition of the Qatar–UK Festival, to be held from 2–12 December 2025. Supported by the GREAT campaign, this year’s milestone edition celebrates ten years of cultural partnership and will spotlight Creative Industries as its central theme. The festival continues the legacy of the Qatar–UK 2013 Year of Culture, marking a decade of strong cultural, educational, and creative exchange between the two nations.
This year’s edition gains added significance as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Qatar Museums, underscoring Qatar’s long-term investment in arts, culture, and innovation. The festival also marks the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK Department for Business & Trade, the British Council, and Qatar Museums. Signed under the patronage of H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the MoU formalizes a renewed commitment to advancing cooperation in the creative industries and developing platforms that strengthen cultural dialogue and exchange.
The 2025 programme has been designed to activate this renewed partnership through a series of high-profile events that highlight creativity, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector collaboration. The festival aims to showcase how innovation and cultural exchange can empower youth, stimulate economic growth, and build deeper connections between Qatar and the United Kingdom.
A key feature of this edition is the Creative Industries Forum, scheduled for 10 December at the National Museum of Qatar. The forum will bring together policymakers, cultural leaders, designers, entrepreneurs, and innovators from both countries to explore collaboration across fashion, design, media, film, gaming, e-sports, cultural infrastructure, and creative hubs. It will serve as a flagship dialogue platform for shaping future cultural and creative cooperation.
Another highlight is the Fashion Show at the Museum of Islamic Art, celebrating sustainability, heritage, sport-inspired fashion, and emerging talent from Qatar’s growing fashion ecosystem. The festival also includes the Qatar International Art Festival, featuring exhibitions and live art performances by Qatari and international artists, reaffirming Qatar’s role as a rising global arts hub.
Youth engagement remains a core focus. Through the Teen Hub Collaboration, the festival will host teen-led innovation showcases, sustainable fashion presentations, and AI and art workshops in partnership with the Teen Art Awards. A Photography & AI Competition will invite young creatives to visually explore themes of identity and community, with winning entries featured during the festival. Additionally, a Gaming & E-sports Showcase on 9 December will highlight the growing intersection between digital industries, technology, and youth culture.
Mr. Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, said the joint celebration of Qatar Museums’ 20th anniversary and the 10th Qatar–UK Festival reflects Qatar’s growing global cultural role. He emphasized the importance of creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange in advancing the creative economy.
British Ambassador to Qatar H.E. Neerav Patel congratulated the British Council on a decade of cultural collaboration, noting that the festival embodies the strength of UK–Qatar relations and opens new opportunities for creativity, innovation, and economic growth.
Dr. Waseem Kotoub, British Council Qatar Country Director, highlighted the festival’s decade-long role as a catalyst for cross-cultural dialogue, creative exchange, and talent development. He reaffirmed the British Council’s commitment to supporting Qatar’s creative economy and contributing to the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
This year’s strategic partners include Years of Culture, Qatar Museums, Media City, Qatar Development Bank, Scale7, the Cultural Attaché Office in London, Qatar University, and a wide network of UK and Qatari businesses and cultural institutions.