Qatar concludes successful participation in Fanatics Fest NYC 2026

Participation strengthens international partnerships and opens avenues for cooperation across sport, business, and tourism

Qatar Lounge welcomes more than 1,000 guests over four days

Qatar concluded its successful participation in Fanatics Fest NYC 2026, marking its second consecutive year at the event with an expanded presence, as Qatar Airways joined Visit Qatar in delivering an exclusive lounge experience, reflecting the country’s efforts to deepen global partnerships and strengthen its position as a leading destination for investment, tourism, and major events.

The festival, organised by Fanatics, a global leader in licensed sports merchandise and collectibles, ran from 16 to 19 July, bringing leading athletes and executives from around the world.

Across four days at the Javits Center in New York City, the Qatar Lounge showcased Qatar’s signature hospitality while providing an exclusive venue for networking and strategic discussions. It brought together partners, decision-makers, investors, and business leaders to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration across sport, tourism, investment, and events.

The lounge welcomed more than 1,000 guests over the course of the festival, including corporate partners, C-suite executives, athletes, celebrities, and entrepreneurs from a range of sectors. It brought them together with international organisations for discussions that opened new opportunities across sport, tourism, investment, and events, widening Qatar’s commercial partnerships and global presence.

Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office, said: “Our continued presence at Fanatics Fest NYC is part of Qatar’s broader commitment to strengthening international partnerships and engaging influential global networks. The platform enabled us to deepen cross-sector relationships, identify new opportunities for strategic cooperation, and reinforce Qatar’s standing as a globally connected destination for investment, tourism, business, and major sporting events.”

Beyond the Qatar Lounge, Qatar Airways and Visit Qatar delivered an integrated brand presence across the event, combining high-profile visibility with interactive experiences that reflected the Qatari identity and engaged audiences throughout the festival.

Highlights included the return of the Make Your Own Card activation, which generated approximately 1,200 personalised trading cards celebrating Qatar’s iconic landmarks and national identity. The Passport Activation further extended engagement, introducing thousands of visitors to Qatar’s tourism and cultural offerings as part of their festival journey.

Qatar’s presence at Fanatics Fest NYC is supported by the strategic partnership between Fanatics and the Government Communications Office, which serves as a platform for advancing collaboration across sports, entertainment, retail, and fan engagement, while leveraging global platforms to foster strategic partnerships with leading stakeholders across these sectors.

Fanatics Fest is one of the world’s leading events, bringing together sport, entertainment, and culture. It provides Qatar with a strategic platform to build new partnerships and showcase its strengths across investment, tourism, and sport, advancing its vision to become a global hub for business, innovation, and major events.