Qatar has named Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal and Spain as its future Years of Culture partners, building on previously announced partnerships with Egypt and Greece.
Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative has announced its cultural partners through 2030, with five European countries set to take part in programmes aimed at strengthening cultural exchange and international cooperation.
The announcement, made on Friday, confirmed that Qatar will partner with Italy in 2028, the Netherlands and Switzerland in 2029, and Portugal and Spain in 2030.
The new partnerships will follow the previously announced Years of Culture programmes with Egypt and Greece in 2027.
Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Years of Culture, highlighted the initiative’s role in strengthening international relationships through cultural collaboration.
“Now completing its fifteenth edition, Years of Culture continues to expand the bonds of friendship between Qatar and countries around the world through meaningful cultural exchange while supporting our nation’s creative industries and social and economic development,” she said.
“Building on the foundation of impactful partnerships that we have established, we look forward to a new chapter that brings Qatar into dialogue with countries across the Mediterranean and Europe, connected by histories of exchange, creativity, and diplomacy.”
Launched in 2012, Years of Culture aims to build lasting relationships between Qatar and other countries through art, heritage, food, music, sport, education and economic cooperation.
The initiative seeks to promote dialogue, strengthen international ties and encourage mutual understanding through cultural collaboration.
The upcoming programmes will build on the dual-partner model introduced in recent years, which brought together Qatar with Argentina and Chile in 2025, followed by Canada and Mexico in 2026.
In 2027, Qatar’s partnerships with Egypt and Greece will explore the country’s cultural connections with both nations, whose historical legacies continue to influence contemporary creative industries.
The programme will include exchanges in literature, art, design, music and heritage, beginning with Qatar’s participation as Guest of Honour at the Cairo International Book Fair in January 2027.
The 2028 partnership with Italy will focus on longstanding cultural ties in archaeology, fashion, design and heritage preservation.
It will also coincide with the opening of Qatar’s permanent national pavilion in the historic Giardini della Biennale in Venice.
Designed by architect Lina Ghotmeh, the pavilion will be the first new permanent pavilion built in the Giardini in 30 years and only the third in 50 years.
In 2029, Qatar will partner with the Netherlands and Switzerland, with the initiative highlighting both countries’ contributions to innovation, diplomacy, design, humanitarianism and sustainability.
Portugal and Spain will follow in 2030, continuing the initiative’s tradition of cultural exchanges with FIFA World Cup host nations.
Throughout each Year of Culture, Qatar works with cultural institutions, embassies, artists and educators to organise exhibitions, festivals, trade fairs, artist residencies, academic exchanges and public events in Qatar and its partner countries.
Programmes often begin ahead of the official partnership year and continue beyond it, helping establish long-term institutional relationships, professional networks and connections between communities.
Further information is available on the official Years of Culture website.