Doha Food Festivals & Dining Events: October 2026

October 2026 brings several food-focused events and seasonal dining experiences to Doha, including Food Qatar 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from 12 to 14 October and the return of Oktoberfest at InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa across four nights on 22, 23, 29 and 30 October.

Whether you work in Qatar's food and hospitality industry or simply want an excuse to eat somewhere different this month, here's what is currently confirmed.

What's on the food calendar in Doha this October

Food Qatar 2026

Dates: 12–14 October 2026

Time: 11am–9pm daily

Location: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC)

Access: Free; visitor registration available online

Best for: F&B, hospitality, retail and food-industry professionals

Oktoberfest at InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa

Dates: 22, 23, 29 & 30 October 2026

Time: Doors open at 7pm

Location: Wiesn Tent, InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa

Price: QAR 285 per person

Access: 18+ only

October also overlaps with several smaller Oktoberfest-themed restaurant and hotel promotions across Doha, so there are additional options beyond these two headline events.

Food Qatar 2026 at DECC

Food Qatar 2026 takes place from Monday, 12 October to Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in West Bay.

The official opening hours are:

11am–9pm daily

The exhibition brings together food manufacturers, producers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers, hospitality buyers, restaurants, cafés and other F&B professionals.

This is important: Food Qatar is a business and trade exhibition rather than a public food festival.

Expect to find:

• Food and beverage products
• Ingredients
• Food-processing technologies
• Packaging solutions
• Equipment and machinery
• Suppliers and distributors
• B2B networking opportunities
• Hospitality and HoReCa solutions

The official visitor profile focuses on buyers, suppliers, distributors, importers, retailers, hospitality professionals and industry decision-makers.

How to register

Visitor registration is currently open through the official Food Qatar website.

Current Qatar Living event information also lists free access for the exhibition.

If you're attending for business, register before you go so you can access your visitor credentials and make use of the exhibition's networking tools.

Food Qatar also runs alongside Hospitality Qatar 2026, which takes place at DECC on the same dates and focuses on the hospitality, food, beverage and tourism sectors.

Getting to Food Qatar at DECC

DECC is located in West Bay and is easily accessible by Metro, taxi and car.

By Metro

The DECC Metro Station on the Doha Metro Red Line provides convenient access to the exhibition centre.

By car

DECC has underground parking with capacity for approximately 2,800 vehicles, according to the event's venue information.

Because Food Qatar runs on weekdays and finishes at 9pm, allow additional time around West Bay's busier commuting periods.

I would avoid quoting a fixed taxi fare such as QAR 20–35 because the price depends heavily on where in Doha you're travelling from.

Oktoberfest at InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa

Doha's long-running Oktoberfest celebration returns to the Wiesn Tent at InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa for its 14th edition.

But unlike the original draft, it does not run every day from 22 to 30 October.

The confirmed event nights are:

• Thursday, 22 October
• Friday, 23 October
• Thursday, 29 October
• Friday, 30 October

Doors open at 7pm, with the event running into the night.

What to expect

The event includes:

• Bavarian-style buffet
• German-inspired dishes
• Live entertainment
• Sweet Chili Oktoberfest Band
• Traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere
• Beverages available at the venue

The current ticket price is:

QAR 285 per person

The ticket includes entrance, buffet and live entertainment. Food-and-beverage top-up credit is handled separately.

Important: this is an 18+ event

Oktoberfest at InterContinental Doha is strictly for guests aged 18 and above.

Guests must present a valid QID or passport for scanning at entry.

The official ticket listing also states that smart-casual dress is required, with Bavarian-inspired clothing encouraged.

So this event should not be described as a family-friendly food festival.

Other Oktoberfest dining offers in Doha

InterContinental isn't the only venue running Oktoberfest-inspired dining.

Current September–October 2026 promotions include options at other hotels and restaurants around Doha, although dates and formats vary.

For example, current listings include:

• The Mezze House at Centara West Bay — Oktoberfest menu running from 19 September to 4 October.
• Shehrazad Lounge at Radisson Blu Doha — Oktoberfest food from 19 September to 4 October.
• Other restaurants and hotels are running German-inspired menus and themed promotions through parts of October.

This means I would change the opening from “October brings two confirmed food events” to something like:

“October brings several food events and seasonal dining experiences to Doha, with Food Qatar and InterContinental Doha's Oktoberfest among the month's headline events.”

That's more accurate.

What about Qatar International Food Festival?

The Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) should be removed from the October event list.

The 2026 edition already took place from:

14–24 January 2026

at the 974 Stadium Precinct. Qatar Tourism reported that the 15th edition featured local and international restaurants, live cooking showcases, family activities and entertainment.

Visit Qatar's current QIFF page now says to “stay tuned for dates for the next edition.” No new 2026 October edition has been announced.

If you want to mention QIFF at all, use:

“Looking ahead, Visit Qatar has not yet announced dates for the next Qatar International Food Festival.”

Do not position it as an October 2026 possibility.

Where else to eat outdoors this October

October is when temperatures in Qatar begin easing from the peak summer months, making outdoor dining increasingly practical, particularly later in the evening.

Several areas are worth considering.

The Pearl-Qatar

Porto Arabia, Medina Centrale and Qanat Quartier offer a large concentration of restaurants and cafés, including waterfront and outdoor seating.

Lusail

Lusail Marina, Lusail Boulevard and nearby districts have an expanding mix of cafés and restaurants, making them useful destinations for an evening out.

Souq Waqif

For a more traditional setting, Souq Waqif combines Qatari, Arabic and international restaurants with cafés, street-side seating and late-evening activity.

Msheireb Downtown Doha

Barahat Msheireb and the surrounding streets offer a more contemporary dining environment, with restaurants and cafés within easy walking distance of Msheireb Metro Station.

I would remove the QAR 60–120 “typical main-course” figure unless the article is based on a specific restaurant sample. Prices differ too widely across The Pearl and Lusail for that to be a useful neighbourhood-wide benchmark.

Tips for attending Doha food events in October

• Register for Food Qatar in advance if you're attending the trade exhibition.
• Use the Metro for DECC to avoid West Bay parking and traffic where possible.
• Book Oktoberfest ahead — there are only four confirmed nights.
• Bring valid ID to Oktoberfest — entry is strictly 18+ and ID is required.
• Check exactly what your ticket includes before paying.
• Confirm event timings shortly before attending, as organisers can update schedules.

For more October events, check the latest listings on Qatar Living before making plans.

FAQs

When is Food Qatar 2026?

Food Qatar 2026 takes place from 12 to 14 October 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in West Bay.

It is open daily from 11am to 9pm.

Is Food Qatar open to everyone?

Food Qatar is primarily a trade exhibition for food, beverage, hospitality, retail and supply-chain professionals.

Current visitor registration is open online, and Qatar Living lists access as free.

When is Oktoberfest at InterContinental Doha in 2026?

The event takes place on 22, 23, 29 and 30 October 2026.

It does not run continuously from 22 to 30 October.

How much are Oktoberfest tickets?

Tickets are currently QAR 285 per person, including entrance, the Bavarian buffet and live entertainment.

Is Oktoberfest family-friendly?

No.

The InterContinental Doha Oktoberfest is strictly 18+, and guests must show a valid QID or passport.

Is QIFF happening in October 2026?

No October edition has been announced.

The 2026 Qatar International Food Festival already took place from 14 to 24 January 2026 at the 974 Stadium Precinct. Visit Qatar currently says dates for the next edition will be announced later.

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