DOHA : Under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the sixth edition of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival 2026 will open on Wednesday, organisers said. Hosted by the Katara Cultural Village Foundation, the festival runs until Feb. 12.
Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, who also chairs the festival’s organising committee, told a press conference on Monday that the event reflects years of sustained development.
Since its launch, the festival has moved beyond being a seasonal attraction to become a permanent fixture on the Arabian horse calendar, built on continuity and long-term growth rather than a temporary showcase, Al Sulaiti said.
He added that six years of steady progress have driven higher attendance and strengthened confidence among breeders, owners and enthusiasts in Qatar and abroad. That trust, he said, has been earned through consistent effort and discipline, underpinned by a clear vision.
This year’s festival features 545 horses registered across the Arabian Horse Tour and the Arabian Peninsula Championships. Each championship has its own artistic identity and highlights different breeds, offering a broad and balanced view of purebred Arabian horses.
Qatar Equestrian Federation President Bader Mohammed Al Darwish said he was proud of the festival’s achievements, describing them as the result of a clear strategy and sustained work to enhance the global profile of Arabian horses.
Al Darwish added that the Arabian Horses Tour Doha returns for a second consecutive year as the festival’s centrepiece, with more than 200 horses competing for the World Arabian Horse Championship (Supreme) titles at the end of the season. He noted that the Doha leg holds particular symbolic and historical importance, with its name closely associated with Arabian horses and the values of authentic horsemanship.
