Results of this year's Art Basel fair
Basel is Art! Organizers and exhibitors report a high-turnover fair: Art Basel 2026 concluded with excellent sales—the fair drew 90,000 art enthusiasts!
Art Basel in Basel took place from June 18 to 21, 2026, at Messe Basel (ENGLISH, ITALIANO, FRANÇAIS, DEUTSCH, NEDERLANDS)
Basel. Art Basel 2026 concluded on Sunday following a highly successful fair week. A total of 90,000 art enthusiasts visited the major fair, where 290 galleries from 43 countries presented Modern and postwar masterpieces, historical rediscoveries, contemporary positions, and emerging young artistic voices. Feedback was excellent across the board, with strong sales recorded in all market segments and sectors of the fair. This year, Art Basel welcomed an international audience from 103 countries. International collectors, curators, museum directors, and artists from around the globe strolled through the fair, finding works that caught their eye. Over 270 museums and foundations were represented in Basel. This underscores the enduring significance of the fair, which has long established itself as a central meeting point for the international art world. Art Basel in Basel took place from June 18 to 21, 2026, at Messe Basel, with preview days held on June 16 and 17. The next edition will take place in Basel from June 17 to 20, 2027.
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| SZ - Zeppelin - Foto: Helga Waess - Pressearchiv Kunst-Kultur-Blog |
Throughout the art fair week, galleries reported strong sales across all market segments
– ranging from significant works of Classical Modernism and post-war art to contemporary and emerging artistic positions.
- Notable sales included Pablo Picasso’s *Le peintre et son modèle dans un paysage* (1963), sold by Hauser & Wirth at an asking price of USD 35 million; Gerhard Richter’s *Abstraktes Bild (940-7)* (2015) for USD 20 million; and Louise Bourgeois’ *Les Fleurs* (2009) for USD 2.5 million.
- Within the fair’s first hour, Gagosian placed Willem de Kooning’s *No title* (1984) in a private collection in Asia for a high seven-figure sum.
- Coinciding with the current Helen Frankenthaler retrospective at the Kunstmuseum Basel, both Thaddaeus Ropac and Yares Art recorded significant sales of the artist’s work.
- Other reported sales included works by Pierre Soulages, Lynne Drexler, and Doris Salcedo.
Maike Cruse, Director of Art Basel in Basel, emphasized to the press:
‘Art Basel 2026 impressively demonstrated the extraordinary depth and diversity that characterize Basel. From Unlimited and Parcours—as well as the introduction of Basel Exclusive and the European debut of Zero 10—to major public projects across the city, galleries brought outstanding works to Basel and presented them to a highly engaged international audience of collectors, curators, institutions, and art enthusiasts.’ ‘The quality of the presentations, the conversations in the exhibition halls, and the energy throughout the city made this edition a powerful expression of what Basel stands for.’
Exhibitors highlighted the energy, quality, and international reach of this year’s Art Basel—expressing great satisfaction
Christl Novakovic, Head of UBS Global Wealth Management EMEA and Chair of the UBS Art Board, said:
‘This year’s Art Basel in Basel has once again impressively demonstrated its enduring significance. Our international community of collectors turned out in force, placing increasing value on experiencing art in person on-site. The introduction of Basel Exclusive further enhanced this experience. Through a public activation at Aeschenvorstadt 1—a Parcours location—UBS extended its presence beyond the fair itself, driven by the conviction that exceptional art should be accessible and that it fosters connections, discovery, and cultural exchange.’
The fair was accompanied by a public program and projects throughout the city
At the heart of the city-wide program was Parcours, curated by Stefanie Hessler, Director of the Swiss Institute in New York. Titled "Conviviality," the Parcours sector featured 21 site-specific installations, sculptures, interventions, and performances spread across the city of Basel, engaging artistic practices in a dialogue with their social, architectural, and urban environments.
Two major new commissions also extended the fair beyond the exhibition halls:
The Gold Awardees of the Art Basel Awards 2025, Nairy Baghramian and Ibrahim Mahama, presented new works in public spaces:
- Baghramian’s *Modèle vivant (S’empilant)* (2026) at Messeplatz
- and Mahama’s immersive installation *The God of Small Things* (2026) at Münsterplatz.
These two works symbolically linked Basel’s historic center with Parcours and the fairgrounds.
About the major art fair "Art Basel"
Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today organizes the most significant art fairs for modern and contemporary art in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, Paris, and Qatar. Each fair is shaped by its host city and region, making it unique. This is reflected in the list of participating galleries, the artworks on display, and the accompanying program, which is developed for each edition in collaboration with local institutions.
Art Basel’s activities have expanded beyond the art fairs themselves through new digital platforms—such as Zero 10 and the Art Basel app—and new initiatives like the *Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report*, the Art Basel Shop, and the Art Basel Awards.
Website: artbasel.com
Upcoming Art Basel fairs
- Paris, October 23–25, 2026
- Miami Beach, December 4–6, 2026
- Qatar, date for the 2027 edition to be announced
- Hong Kong, March 27–29, 2026
- Basel, June 18–21, 2026
