January

There's no such thing as the January blues in Qatar. The first month of the year welcomes the Spring Festival, where both Souq Waqif and the beachside Souq Al Wakrah see street performers, food stalls, carnival rides take centre stage across 15 days of festivities. For something a little different, the Qatar Kite Festival sees colourful kites flying above the Museum of Islamic Art, vibrantly speckling the Doha skyline, while the Qatar Camel Festival celebrates the cultural significance of these animals across the Gulf.

February

An unsung foodie paradise, Qatar serves up authentic, cultural dishes from around the world. February hosts the Qatar International Food Festival, where you can sample them all. Hosting over 100 restaurants, from celebrity chefs to tried and true local falafel and kebab joints, there is something for every palate. Don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime Dinner in the Sky experience, where you can enjoy a meal with citywide views of Doha. As night falls, head over to Lusail Boulevard for the dazzling Luminous Festival, with acrobats, fireworks, and live music lighting up the city.

March

March often coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, offering a deep dive into the cultural practices of Qatar’s people. It’s a time of prayer, generosity, and reflection. Halfway through the fasting period is the Garangao festival, where children dressed in traditional clothing go door-to-door collecting sweets, nuts, and toys to celebrate reaching the midpoint of Ramadan. Even if you're not fasting, indulge in the lavish iftar and suhoor tents, featuring an array of Qatari and international delicacies. Finish with an ice-cold glass of Vimto, a Ramadan staple.

March doesn't stop there. The Doha Cultural Festival showcases Qatar's unique culture through traditional musical and dance performances, while the Qatar Marine Festival celebrates the country's rich seafaring heritage in Katara Cultural Village, where visitors can learn about its pearling history, dhow-building methods and more.

April

As the weather warms, April also marks the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr. In Doha, this is celebrated with the Al Sikka Eid Festival, where musical and theatrical performances take over Sikkat Wadi, the longest pedestrian street in Msheireb Downtown.

The two-month-long Mahaseel Festival culminates in April and champions Qatar's agriculture, where stalls set up in Katara Cultural Village sell fresh produce from dates to honey and more. To delve deeper into Qatar's organic agriculture, pay a visit to Heenat Salma, an eco-farm by the Caravane Earth Foundation, where traditional Qatari agriculture blends with modern sustainability. Immerse yourself in local culture through organic farming, sadu weaving (a revered Bedouin craft), and pottery workshops led by artisans.

May

One of the oldest and largest international book fairs in the region, Doha International Book Fair is one for the literary lovers. Publishing houses, authors and readers alike flock to the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) each year to peruse literature from all over the region. With an impressive range of international titles, the fair also hosts engaging workshops, panel discussions, and seminars. Easily accessible via the city's metro, it’s a unique way to dive into Qatar’s literary and cultural landscape.

June

With the weather getting warmer, fewer festivals take place outside. Instead, late June marks the beginning of turtle nesting season at Fuwairit Beach, where the beaches are closed to ensure the safe release of critically endangered hawksbill turtles. With government approval, visitors may have the rare opportunity to witness these hatchlings make their first journey to the sea. These conservation efforts offer a rare glimpse into Qatar’s wildlife protection initiatives and are a reminder of the country’s dedication to environmental sustainability. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see this magical moment unfold.

July

July is when Qatar embraces its peak summer heat, yet there's still plenty going on. The month welcomes the Local Fresh Dates Festival in Souq Waqif, where local farmers present their finest dates, from the soft, sweet sukkari to the iconic medjool. Visitors can explore stalls, sample different varieties, and learn about the cultural significance of dates in Qatari life. July also coincides with the Mango Festival, offering unique mango dishes like kebabs, dumplings, ice cream and even mango pizza.

August

August is the month of SkillFest, a vibrant cultural event dedicated to showcasing traditional Qatari handicrafts. Spanning across four venues (Place Vendôme, Mall of Qatar, Msheireb Galleria, and West Walk), the festival offers free workshops where visitors can learn artisanal crafts such as bakhoor (incense) making, palm weaving and Arabic calligraphy.

It’s a hands-on opportunity to experience the rich heritage and creative traditions of Qatar directly from the artisans passing down the craft. Engage with the local culture, learn about intangible heritage, and take a piece of history with you.

September

September celebrates falconry, one of Qatar’s most revered traditions. The Katara Cultural Village hosts the annual S’hail Festival, where visitors can marvel at some of the rarest pedigrees of birds of prey and explore specialised hunting equipment. This festival offers a glimpse into one of the region’s oldest cultural sports, with captivating falconry displays, live auctions, and exhibitions. Complete the experience with a visit to the Falcon hospital at Souq Waqif, where men send their falcons to be taken care of during the off-season.

October

Every year, October welcomes the return of the camel racing season, where visitors can watch weekly races at the Al Shahaniya Racetrack. It's only there where you'll realise quite how seriously Qataris take this sport and even when there isn't a race on, you can still go to the track at any time to watch the camels being trained.

November

November sees Doha Film Institute’s annual Ajyal Festival take centre stage. The eight-day-long festival spotlights the country’s best independent films, from animations and features to documentaries. What sets Ajyal apart is its young jury, aged 8-25, who select the films that will be featured in the festival each year.

Later on in November, the Qatar International Art Festival in Katara Cultural Village is a creative showcase for artists from all around the world. More than 200 artists take part in the festival, where you can watch live painting demonstrations, take part in workshops and wander exhibitions.

Make sure you keep an eye out also for the Heenat Salma Winter Bazaar, where the work of local artisans and craftspeople is championed in the rural surroundings of Heenat Salma's sustainable farm.

December

December is a festive month in Qatar, but not for the reasons you might expect. The undoubted highlight is the country's National Day on the 18th December, commemorating Qatar’s nationhood since it was unified in 1878. The day features a spectacular parade along Doha's with vibrant displays of culture, tradition and history, culminating in a colourful firework display. Elsewhere, the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival commemorates Qatar's maritime heritage with art exhibitions and many boats of varying sizes on display. There's even a chance for you to head on a boat trip yourself. It's also wise to look up in December, with the Qatar Balloon Festival filling the Doha skyline with hot-air balloons at sunrise for a spectacular display.