What to watch out for in 2026

Get ready for a blockbuster year. 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic periods in recent memory, defined by a perfect storm of major recurring exhibitions and a commercial circuit that is firing on all cylinders. It is a true Biennale Year, where the heavyweights—Venice, Sydney, and the Whitney—all return to the stage, promising a relentless calendar of intellectual and aesthetic discovery.

But the real story of 2026 is the energy radiating from Asia. The region is no longer just a market destination; it is driving the global conversation. From the high-stakes auction floors of Hong Kong to the hyper-contemporary halls of Seoul and the rapid rise of Singapore, the Asian circuit has matured into an essential, non-negotiable itinerary for the serious collector.

Whether you are navigating the South East Asian competitors Hong Kong and Singapore, or the Grand Palais in Paris, this is your roadmap for an unmissable year.

Asian anchors (major fairs)

Q1: The South East Asia Summit

The definitive week for the Asian market. Galleries bring their best blue-chip material here, and the logistics demand is at its peak.

• Art SG (Singapore)

  • Dates: 23–25 January 2026

  • Venue: Marina Bay Sands.

  • Logistics Partner: Eythos (Official Shipper).

  • The gateway to Southeast Asia and the year's opening act.

• Art Basel Hong Kong

  • Dates: 27–29 March 2026 (VIP Preview: 25–26 March)

  • Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), Wan Chai

  • Logistics Partner: Eythos (Official Shipper)

  • Key Focus: Keep an eye on the new "Echoes" sector (replacing Insights) and the Encounters sector, now curated by a pan-Asian "super-group" led by Mami Kataoka.

• Art Central

  • Dates: 25–29 March 2026

  • Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space

  • The Vibe: Edgy, ambitious, and situated right on the harbour. This is the place for large-scale installations and discovering the next wave of talent before they graduate to the convention centre.

Q3: Powerhouse Seoul

Seoul Art Week has matured into a critical stop for the global elite, seamlessly blending Western blue-chips with the depth of the Korean market.

• Frieze Seoul

  • Dates: 2–5 September 2026

  • Venue: COEX, Gangnam (Halls C & D)

  • Logistics partner: Eythos (Official Shipper 2024 & 2025)

  • Key Focus: The Frieze Masters section remains the unique selling point here, bringing rare antiquities and Old Masters to an Asian audience hungry for historical context.

  
  

• Kiaf SEOUL

  • Dates: 2–6 September 2026

  • Venue: COEX, Gangnam (Halls A & B)

  • Logistics Partner: Eythos (Official Shipper 2024 & 2025)

  • The Vibe: The longest-running diverse showcase of Korean galleries. The synergy here is key—visitors flow freely between Frieze and Kiaf, making it a massive single-site logistics operation.

The Western Giants (Art Basel & Frieze Expansion)

The global circuit in 2026 offers a relentless schedule of "tentpole" moments in the West.

• Frieze Los Angeles: 26 February – 1 March 2026

  • Venue: Santa Monica Airport.

  • Note: The first major stop of the year for the Western market, often attracting heavy Hollywood crossover.

• Frieze New York: 13–17 May 2026

  • Venue: The Shed, Manhattan.

  • Note: Perfectly timed to capture the collectors travelling to Europe for the Venice Biennale opening later that month.

• Frieze London & Frieze Masters: Mid-October 2026 (Likely 14–18 Oct)

  • Venue: Regent’s Park.

  • Note: The quintessential autumn event. Frieze Masters continues to be the intellectual heavyweight of the pair.

• Art Basel Paris: 23–25 October 2026

  • Venue: Grand Palais.

  • Note: Following its rebrand from Paris+, this fair has successfully shifted the European art centre of gravity from London to Paris in late October.

• Art Basel Miami Beach: 5–7 December 2026

  • Venue: Miami Beach Convention Center.

  • Note: The grand finale of the global calendar, known as much for its social scene as for the massive volume of sales.

Middle East Highlights

• Art Dubai: 17-19 April 2026

  • Venue: Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre

  • Note: Well established with over 100 galleries attending. The must-see fair in the region.

• Frieze Abu Dhabi: November 2026

  • Venue Manarat Al Saadiyat, located in the Saadiyat Cultural District

  • Note: For the inaugural Frieze in the Middle East, they will likely want to make a statement against more established Art Dubai, making it this year's hot ticket.

Global Must-Sees (Biennials & Major Events)

• Whitney Biennial (New York): Opens March 2026

  • Focus: The "state of the union" for American contemporary art.

• Biennale of Sydney: 14 March – 14 June 2026

  • Focus: Strong Asia-Pacific and indigenous dialogues.

• Venice Biennale (61st International Art Exhibition): 9 May – 22 November 2026

  • Significance: The "Olympics of the Art World." 2026 is an Art year (2025 is Architecture).

• Manifesta 16 (Ruhr Area, Germany): 21 June – 4 October 2026

  • Focus: The nomadic biennial takes over the industrial Ruhr region.

Auction Cycles (East Asia)

• Hong Kong Spring Sales: Late May / Early June 2026

  • Key Players: Christie's (at The Henderson), Sotheby's, Phillips.

• Hong Kong Autumn Sales: Late November / Early December 2026