GCDN Annual Convening – Doha 2026

Mega-events create connection at scale. For a few weeks, cities and countries run at a frenetic pace with the eyes of the world fixed upon them. Arts and culture play a big part in that, participating in many ways in crafting the spectacle with the promise of benefits for the whole ecosystem.

This session asks what it takes to make that promise real. What does it mean when spectacle becomes part of national strategy, tied to tourism ambition, cultural diplomacy, and long-term positioning? How do host cities manage the tension between opportunity and strain as visitor surges collide with everyday public life? And what is the artist’s job when a commission is asked to carry symbolism on a global stage, while operating inside tight constraints and competing agendas? In other words, what does it take to convert a temporary surge into value that still holds once the moment has passed?