Qatar-Canada 2026 Year of Culture kicks off in Toronto and Ottawa

The Qatar-Canada 2026 Year of Culture kicked off at recent events in Toronto at the Aga Khan Museum and in Ottawa at the Qatari Embassy. recently. In

For five decades, Canada and Qatar have maintained positive and growing bilateral relations, in fact, over 10,000 Canadians make Qatar home. And the Qatar-Canada 2026 Year of Culture is part of Qatar’s global cultural diplomacy program that said Qatar’s new Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari said is: “designed to foster long-term collaboration through the arts, sport, education and people-to-people exchange.”

In Toronto, participants gathered at the Aga Khan Museum for a lunch briefing featuring Canadian cultural and sport leaders, including Canada Basketball’s CEO Michael Bartlett, and executive vice-president and general manager, Rowan Barrett. Also speaking were His Excellency Mohammed Al Kuwari, former Qatari Ambassador to Mexico and Years of Culture advisor, as well as Fahad Al Obaidly, director of the Design Doha Biennial. The event was moderated by Eleanor McMahon, former Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

In Ottawa, guests included Yasir Naqvi, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade as well as His Excellency Ambassador Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, and His Excellency Mohammed Al Kuwari.

Yasir Naqvi said at the event: “I echo Prime Minister Mark Carney’s message that the Canada-Qatar partnership has immense potential and opportunities to deepen the diplomatic, security, development, cultural and economic ties between our countries.”

The Qatar-Canada 2026 Year of Culture will include a year-long program of initiatives spanning visual arts, design, cuisine and education, with activities taking place in both countries and involving leading institutions, artists and community partners.