Qatar's winter season 2026–27: what's on, month by month

The season at a glance

Qatar's outdoor season runs roughly from late October to April. The heat breaks, evenings turn cool, and the country fills its calendar. Visit Qatar says the 2026–27 Qatar Calendar has more than 560 events ↗, so this page does not try to list them all. It picks the big dates residents ask about, with only the dates that have been officially announced as of 27 October 2026. Everything else is marked "dates to be announced".

Dates to be announced: Darb Al Saai and the National Day parade, Sealine Season 2027, the Doha Tattoo festival, the Doha tennis tournaments, the new Doha Outdoors event and the Al Shamal maritime celebration. Check the official channels before you plan around them.

October and November: camping opens, motorsport arrives

The camping season ↗ opened on 25 October 2026 and runs to 20 April 2027. Seasonal permits are issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change through the Bee'ah app. Expat residents cannot hold their own permit this season, but they can still camp legally with licensed operators or visit as guests. Our winter camping guide explains who can register, the fees and the safety rules. Also note the rules ban motorcycles in all rawdat (green meadow) areas and all camping areas from 10 pm to 5 am.

November is motorsport month at Lusail. The MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix runs 6–8 November and the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix 27–29 November ↗. Expect heavy traffic on the Lusail Expressway and around the circuit on race evenings. The FIFA U-17 World Cup ↗ starts on 19 November, with group and round-of-32 games at the Aspire Zone complex, eight a day.

December: winter proper and National Day

The Qatar Meteorology Department says winter begins in December ↗. The average temperature for the month is about 19.8°C, with fresh to strong north-westerly (Shamal) winds after weather fronts pass. This is also when rain and thick morning fog become more likely. Read rain, fog and storm safety before your first wet commute.

The Katara Traditional Dhow Festival is listed for 3–12 December ↗ on the south side of Katara Beach. Times are still to be confirmed. The U-17 World Cup final is on 13 December at Khalifa International Stadium.

Qatar National Day falls on Friday 18 December 2026. As of late October, the 2026 dates for Darb Al Saai, the parade and the related shows have not been published ↗. Our National Day guide covers last year's pattern, the car decoration rules and getting around. What happens to your day off when it falls on a Friday is explained in public holidays.

January: food, running and art

January is the busiest month for big public events.

• The Qatar International Food Festival ↗ moves to the Lusail Stadium precinct, 13–23 January 2027.
• The Doha Marathon by Ooredoo ↗ is on 15 January 2027, with a full marathon, a new 42 km relay, half marathon, 10 km, 5 km and family races.
• Art Basel Qatar ↗ returns for its second edition, 28–30 January 2027, at the Doha Design District and M7 in Msheireb.
• Web Summit Qatar ↗ runs from 31 January to 3 February 2027.

Sealine Season, the desert festival south of Mesaieed, has no 2027 dates yet. For reference, the 2026 edition ran 9–30 January ↗. January is also usually the coldest month, so pack a warm layer for desert evenings.

February and March: sport and Ramadan

National Sport Day falls on the second Tuesday of February, so it is expected on 9 February 2027. It is a public holiday with free activities in parks; see staying active for free. Ramadan is expected to begin in early-to-mid February 2027, depending on the moon sighting. Working hours, opening times and evening life all change, as our Ramadan guide explains.

The first IRONMAN 70.3 Doha ↗ takes place at Old Doha Port from 18 to 20 March 2027, with the main race on 20 March (1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21.1 km run).

April: the season winds down

Camping ends on 20 April 2027, when permit holders must clear their sites. Days warm up quickly through April, so beach trips move to mornings and evenings. Our beaches guide explains which beaches are for families and which are open to everyone. On hot or windy days, Qatar Museums is a good indoor option: residents get in free with a valid QID (Qatar ID card). See museums and the Culture Pass.

Tips for the season

• Book early. Hotels, desert camps and race tickets fill up around Formula 1, National Day and January's festivals.
• Use the Metro for events in Lusail, West Bay and the Corniche. See the Doha Metro guide.
• Check the weather app before desert trips. After rain, low ground floods and sand gets soft.
• Watch for the ticketing app. Visit Qatar says a single digital ticketing platform for its events launches in the last quarter of 2026.