General Manager of Katara Professor Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti (centre) with other officials during the press conference to announce the launch of the Award.
Doha, Qatar: The Katara Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) announced the launch of the fourth season of the Art for Teens Award 2026, yesterday. The award is presented by Katara in collaboration with ArtCordennet and the British Council.
It was announced during a press conference yesterday by the General Manager of Katara Professor Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti; Director of the British Council in Qatar Dr. Waseem Qutub; Founder and CEO of ArtCordennet Daria Kalinina; representatives of the organising bodies; and a number of media outlets.
In his address at the conference, Al-Sulaiti affirmed that hosting the fourth season of the award stems from Katara’s vision, which believes that culture is both a message and a responsibility, and that true investment begins with providing opportunities for rising generations to express their ideas and creativity within a global cultural environment.
He pointed out that the choice of “Belonging” as the theme for this season carries profound human and cultural dimensions, inviting participants to reflect on identity, memory, culture, and society, and to express their artistic visions in a way that reinforces the values of diversity, dialogue, and understanding among peoples—values upon which Katara’s mission has been founded. He also explained that the programme is not limited to artistic competition, but offers a comprehensive cultural and educational experience that contributes to building bridges of communication and creativity among young people from around the world.
For his part, Dr. Qutub affirmed that supporting and empowering young people to express their ideas and creativity is a key focus of the British Council’s work. He noted that the partnership with Katara and the Teen Art Prize reflects a shared belief in the importance of investing in emerging creative talents. He added that this initiative provides an international platform that brings together young artists, educators, and cultural institutions, contributing to the promotion of creative learning, cultural exchange, and dialogue between communities. This opens wider horizons for young talents and gives them real opportunities to gain a presence on the global art scene.
Kalinina emphasised that the prize stems from a firm belief that creativity begins at a young age and that young people deserve genuine platforms that give them the opportunity to express their ideas and showcase their talents to the world. She pointed out that the participation of young artists from more than 60 countries in the last season confirms the initiative’s success in building a global creative community that unites diverse cultures. She added that choosing “Belonging” as this year’s theme opens the door for participants to reflect on identity, culture, memory, and community. She emphasized that the new season is not limited to artistic competition but also offers a comprehensive educational program that contributes to honing talents and preparing a new generation of artists capable of communication and creativity through art.
The award is an international platform for contemporary art targeting young artists aged 13 to 17. Participation is free for talented individuals from around the world, within a vision that seeks to support young creative energies and promote cultural dialogue through the arts.
The submission period will run from August 1 to November 1, 2026. The closing ceremony to crown the winners will be held on December 3rd, 2026, at the Katara Drama Theatre, following a comprehensive programme that includes an open international call for entries, an educational program, a special project for teenagers with disabilities, a panel discussion, and digital presentations.
