Qatar’s Years of Culture (YoC) initiative is showcasing a diverse summer programme of international exhibitions across Mexico, Chile, and China, highlighting the country’s expanding cultural partnerships and its emphasis on fostering lasting intercultural dialogue. Spanning three continents, the series of exhibitions presents distinct aspects of Qatar’s heritage and contemporary cultural expressions while strengthening long-term connections with partner countries.

In Mexico City, the programme leveraged the shared history of hosting the FIFA World Cup to create a cultural dialogue through football. Four years after Qatar became the first Arab nation to host the tournament, Mexico again welcomed the event as a co-host, providing an opportune moment for two exhibitions centered on the sport. At the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum in partnership with Museo Jumex, “Pieces of Glory: Iconic Moments in Football History” traced over a century of football history by displaying objects linked to legendary players such as Pelé and Diego Maradona. Meanwhile, at the Centro de Cultura Digital, “Towards Glory: The Legacy of Qatar 2022” revisited the football tournament in Qatar through multimedia installations, archival materials, photographs, personal testimonies, and memorabilia, underscoring the event’s role in introducing millions globally to Qatar and the broader Arab region.

In Santiago, Chile, the exhibitions reflect ongoing cultural engagements that extend beyond the formal conclusion of the Qatar-Argentina-Chile 2025 Year of Culture. The exhibition “Our Ghosts, Your Ghosts: Promising Visions for a Radical Cinema,” held at the Centro Cultural La Moneda, presented films and video works from artists and filmmakers across the Arab world, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The works explored themes of memory, displacement, identity, and belonging, drawing from collections including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and the forthcoming Art Mill Museum, along with contributions from the Doha Film Institute. The programme emphasizes the enduring nature of cultural exchange by demonstrating how partnerships continue to evolve after their designated year, fostering deeper understanding and collaboration.

Meanwhile, in Beijing at the National Museum of China, the exhibition “Nomadic Life Reimagined” (also referred to as “On the Move: Reframing Nomadic Pastoralism in Qatar”) was presented through a collaboration between the National Museum of Qatar and its Chinese counterpart. The exhibition offers insights into Qatar’s Bedouin and semi-nomadic heritage from the 18th century up to the oil discovery era, focusing on the skills, traditions, and knowledge that shaped survival in a desert environment. Featuring objects, photographs, films, and oral histories, the project explores tent-making, Al Sadu weaving, animal husbandry, and desert navigation practices. Initially launched during the Qatar-Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) Year of Culture in 2022 and shown subsequently in Mongolia, it now reaches new audiences in China.

Adviser to the Years of Culture initiative for Latin America, Mohammed Jassim al-Kuwari, emphasized that the initiative is grounded in the idea that meaningful and enduring relationships are built over time through mutual understanding. He noted that the programme’s impact is measured not only by activities during the partner year but by the opportunities for ongoing dialogue and collaboration that follow. This summer’s exhibitions illustrate this evolving approach to cultural diplomacy, where each project serves as a starting point for sustained international engagement rather than a temporary event.