Qatar launches Winter Sports Program for Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture

Year of Culture 2026

As part of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture partnership, Qatar Winter Sports Committee (QWSC) will continue their very encouraging QWSP winter sports development efforts by rolling out a year round programme. It is a key milestone in terms of expanding winter sports participation and technical excellence within the state of Qatar.

The year-round programme is designed to ensure the sustainability of winter sports in Qatar over the longer term. It spans a number of disciplines: ice hockey, curling, skating, and short track — placing an emphasis on grassroots participation, youth development, coach training and competition. The initiative represents Qatar's strategic intentions to further strengthen winter sports within its sporting fabric for years to come.

The year of culture was designed to build on Canada’s internationally recognized leadership in winter sports by creating avenues for sharing in coaching, athlete development and programme design under the auspices of the newly formed 2026 Year of Culture. By integrating sport with community engagement, the initiative further establishes the role of sport as a catalyst for cultural exchange and legacy.

His Excellency Mohammed bin Jassim Al Kuwari, Years of Culture Advisor on Latin America and former Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Mexico, added: "This programme embodies the true spirit at the heart of Years of Culture– forging lifelong bonds and friendships through unique and shared experience that unites people and communities. Our collaboration with the Qatar Winter Sports Committee that cultivates pathways for knowledge-sharing and collaboration, all whilst committing to long-term support of Qatar's vision for sport development and cultural engagement."

Qatar Winter Sports Committee (QWSC) General Secretary Mr Hassan Hissam Al-Hebabi said: "Our vision is to establish a sustainable winter sports ecosystem in Qatar, developing talent from grassroots through to high-performance competition. TT: The Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture year-round programme we created is a huge step in widening the access to winter sports, to show the next generation of athletes and families how fun everything that is considered winter sport can be.

Starting April 2026 Qatar Winter Sports Committee and Years of Culture will host a monthly calendar of regular events across venues around Doha. Monthly events are free community events designed to attract athletes, families and the public alike, and will feature:

• Amateur exhibition ice hockey matches between local Canadian and Qatari teams

• Local Canadian and Qatari amateur teams exhibition curling matches

• Family open houses introducing curling

• Open Houses for Families Introduce Hockey

• Open houses bring family around speed skating

Hosting the first series of events, The Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena will hold an exhibition curling match and open house for guests on Thursday April 30, 2026 as well as family experience sessions supporting an exhibition hockey game.

Full details and exact timings will be announced via the Years of Culture website and social media channels.