GCDN Annual Convening – Doha 2026

NEW MEMBERS LUNCH 13:00 - 15:00

REGISTRATIONS 17:30 - 18:00

WELCOME RECEPTION 18:00 - 21:00

HOSTED DINNER 19:30 - 22:30

REFRESHMENTS AND REGISTRATIONS 08:00 - 09:00

FILM SCREENING TBC 09:00 - 09:30

FROM THE PRESENT TO THE FUTURE: QATAR’S CULTURAL TRAJECTORY 09:30 - 10:30

BREAK & BREAKOUT 10:30 - 11:00

[B/OUT] ONLY CONNECT: HOW DIGITAL IS SHAPING MISSION 11:00 - 12:00

[B/OUT] PRACTICE, POLICY, POWER: WOMEN LEADING CULTURE IN THE GU... 11:00 - 12:00

[B/OUT] BLOWING HOT AND COLD: PUBLIC CULTURE IN EXTREME CLIMATES 11:00 - 12:00

[B/OUT] FROM FRANCHISES TO FRAMEWORKS 11:00 - 12:00

BREAK 12:00 - 12:30

[WORKSHOP] ADVANCING MUSEUM AND HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS IN SMALL STATES: FROM LOCAL CUSTODIANS TO... 12:30 - 14:00

[WORKSHOP] FROM PARTY TO LIFE: RETHINKING NIGHTTIME IN CULTURAL DISTRICTS 12:30 - 14:00

[WORKSHOP] CULTURAL VITALITY: MEASURING WHAT MATTERS 12:30 - 14:00

[WORKSHOP] WORKSHOPPING THE DOHA DESIGN DISTRICT 12:30 - 14:00

[WORKSHOP] FROM MEANS TO AN END: HOW TO BUILD A BRIEF 12:30 - 14:00

LUNCH 14:00 - 15:30

VISIT OR CULTURAL ACTIVITY TBC 15:30 - 17:00

VISIT OR CULTURAL ACTIVITY TBC 15:30 - 17:00

VISIT OR CULTURAL ACTIVITY TBC 15:30 - 17:00

VISIT OR CULTURAL ACTIVITY TBC 15:30 - 17:00

VISIT OR CULTURAL ACTIVITY TBC 15:30 - 17:00

CLOSING RECEPTION 19:00 - 20:30

REFRESHMENTS AND REGISTRATIONS 08:00 - 09:00

KEYNOTE: LORD NORMAN FOSTER 09:00 - 09:30

FROM THE PRESENT TO THE FUTURE: FOSTERING CULTURAL LEGACY 09:30 - 10:30

GROUP PICTURE 10:30 - 11:00

BREAK & BREAKOUT 11:00 - 11:30

PLACEMAKING BEYOND THE WESTERN PLAYBOOK 11:30 - 12:30

FOR-PROFIT CULTURE IN DISTRICT-MAKING 11:30 - 12:30

MEGA-EVENTS AND THE SPECTACLE OF CULTURE 11:30 - 12:30

LOOKING TO THE PAST TO DESIGN THE FUTURE 11:30 - 12:30

BREAK 12:30 - 13:00

FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO ECOSYSTEMS 13:00 - 14:00

BEYOND FOLKLORE: HERITAGE AS CONTEMPORARY STRATEGY 13:00 - 14:00

GOVERNANCE IS ALL 13:00 - 14:00

LUNCH 14:00 - 15:30

[WORKSHOP] CULTURAL VITALITY: MEASURING WHAT MATTERS 15:30 - 17:00

[WORKSHOP] ADVANCING MUSEUM AND HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS IN SMALL STATES: FROM LOCAL CUSTODIANS TO... 15:30 - 17:00

[WORKSHOP] FROM MEANS TO AN END: HOW TO BUILD A BRIEF 15:30 - 17:00

[WORKSHOP] FROM PARTY TO LIFE: RETHINKING NIGHTTIME IN CULTURAL DISTRICTS 15:30 - 17:00

[WORKSHOP] WORKSHOPPING THE DOHA DESIGN DISTRICT 15:30 - 17:00

BREAK 17:00 - 17:30

NAVIGATING THE NOISE: THE URGENCY OF CONNECTIONS 17:30 - 18:30

CLOSING REMARKS & 2027 ANNOUCEME... 18:30 - 19:00

ADVISORY BOARD MEETING & LUNCHEON 11:00 - 14:00

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES & TOURS TBC 10:30 - 19:30