Art Karlsruhe 2026 : Aperçu des temps forts
La foire d'art « art Karlsruhe. Foire internationale d'art classique, moderne et contemporain » sera un événement majeur, réunissant collectionneurs, chercheurs, amateurs, conservateurs de musée et artistes, ainsi que 180 galeristes venus de 18 pays. Elle retracera 125 ans d'histoire de l'art.
Du 5 au 8 février 2026 – art Karlsruhe (Deutsch, English, Italiano, Français)
Karlsruhe. La foire d'art « art Karlsruhe » offre un panorama de la diversité du marché de l'art actuel. Le dialogue entre histoire et présent est au cœur des préoccupations des commissaires de la foire. L'exposition présente des œuvres d'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner à Mary-Audrey Ramirez, et de Joan Miró aux installations interactives d'intelligence artificielle. À art karlsruhe, 125 ans d'histoire de l'art se rejoignent : « Notre paysage artistique est résolument axé sur la qualité. Le noyau dur de galeries prestigieuses, présentes depuis de nombreuses années, est de plus en plus complété par de nouveaux venus et des exposants fidèles. Par ailleurs, l'intérêt des galeries internationales croît significativement », déclare Kristian Jarmuschek, président du conseil consultatif d'art karlsruhe. « Pour moi, c'est le meilleur signe : le salon fonctionne – pour les galeries, pour les visiteurs et pour le marché. »
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| Example photo: The booth of Galerie Jeanne from Munich at art Karlsruhe 2025, here featuring works by Andy Warhol and Alex Katz – the open, spacious hall invites visitors to stroll around – Galerie Jeanne is exhibiting this year in Hall 1 / Booth B 24 – Press photo: Helga Waess – Courtesy: Galerie Jeanne, gallery owner Jacqueline Hoffman, Munich |
The official opening of art karlsruhe will be the art:opening
February 5th at 2:30 pm in Hall 3
The art:opening will be celebrated with
- State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, Arne Braun,
- Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup,
- CEO Britta Wirtz
and the art karlsruhe management team
- Olga Blaß
- and Kristian Jarmuschek
An absolute highlight of the art:opening
will be the presentation of the art karlsruhe Prize
- especially for the recipient -
The highlight of the event is the presentation of the art karlsruhe Prize, awarded by the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Karlsruhe to the artist and the gallery.
The €15,000 prize recognizes the most compelling one:artist show and honors the artistic achievements of the individual artist as well as the commitment of the presenting gallery. The selected artwork will be acquired by the Karlsruhe Art Museum for the art karlsruhe collection.
Every one:artist show at the fair is automatically nominated for the art karlsruhe Prize.
Sculptures define the fair's character
Sculpture has been a defining element of art karlsruhe from the very beginning, and it will remain the fair's signature medium in 2026. In Halls 1, 2, and 4, 18 spacious sculpture areas invite visitors to discover works in a wide variety of materials and forms of expression.
The mianki gallery presents Katharina Schnitzler's project FABRIC: IN THE WIND in its sculpture area (Hall 1 / H1/C15). The artist works with historical fabrics such as Honan silk, velvet, and linen, exposing them to nature. Sun, wind, and earth leave their mark on the textiles, giving them patina, scars, and a new beauty. Seven to nine large-format fabric works hang in the sculpture area, moving in the breeze.
A nearly contrasting impression is created in the sculpture area by Elisa Manig (Galerie Jarmuschek + Partner, Berlin; Hall 2 / H2/F04): Shakles consists of two strands, each approximately five meters long, made of bent and folded black steel elements with a burnished surface. The elements are threaded onto heavy-duty straps, hang parallel from the ceiling, each weighing around 40 kilograms, and terminate on a mound of gravel and rubble.
The sculpture areas are complemented by selected sculpture spots in the exhibition circuits, presented by, among others, KORNFELD (Berlin), ASPN (Leipzig) and Claeys (Freiburg).
With the prestigious Loth Sculpture Prize, endowed with €20,000 and sponsored by L Bank,
art karlsruhe 2026 once again recognizes an outstanding sculptural presentation, underscoring its commitment to giving three-dimensional art not only space, but also public exposure and relevance.
Collecting Art – Formats for New Approaches – "LBBW academy:square award" ceremony
A key concern remains access to art collecting. "We want to reach new collectors with clear, well-curated entry-level formats," says Olga Blaß, project manager of art karlsruhe. "Collecting art begins with curiosity. And often ends with a special feeling: the joy of having found something lasting."
... With start:block, which presents focused works for beginners,
paper:square, which is dedicated to the diversity of the medium of paper,
and academy:square, which showcases graduates of Baden-Württemberg art academies,
the fair sets concrete incentives for a new generation of collectors.
The highlight of this commitment:
the inaugural LBBW academy:square award, which recognizes the most compelling academy:square work and acquires one of the exhibited pieces for the renowned LBBW collection.
With the re:discover and re:frame formats, art karlsruhe aims to address blind spots in the art market.
Both formats provide a platform for interrupted artist biographies and artistic estates:
- Vera Mercer,
- Kevin Clarke,
- Detel Aurand,
- and Oliver Braig
are just some of the artists who will be in focus in 2026 and are worth rediscovering.
re:frame demonstrates how estate management can be actively and visibly shaped: for example, through the Schaulager Adlmannstein or the estate of the Karlsruhe artist Andreas Lau, who died in 2024.
In-depth Curated Special Exhibitions
Special exhibitions will once again be a central element of art karlsruhe in 2026:
LBBW presents "Digital Traces," showcasing perspectives on the digital present, from Isa Genzken to Avery Gia Sophie Schramm. Stefanie Patruno, Director of the Karlsruhe Art Museum, will honor the work of the internationally renowned Karlsruhe artist Rolf Behm with an exhibition she curated. The Dietmar Kohlrusch Collection will bring key works of Pop Art, including pieces by Warhol, Haring, and Lichtenstein, to Karlsruhe for the first time.
Supporting Program:
Orientation, Exchange, and Many Good Questions
Guided tours with trained art historians will take place, including tours of current trends, the curated special exhibitions, selected highlights, and a "Guide for Beginners" in art collecting.
The fair also offers several stages for expert discussions:
The ARTIMA art meeting is dedicated to current issues surrounding collecting in the present day. Guests such as Christiane Lange (Staatsgalerie Stuttgart) and Frédéric Bußmann (Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe) provide insights into how museums collect today and the challenges they face.
In his panel, Thomas Rusche describes how collecting art can make one rich and happy.
Other talks address artist marketing, artificial intelligence, and how emerging artists can access the market.
- SWR Kultur also hosts daily fair talks,
- and in the Monopol format, experts discuss positions, perspectives, and personal experiences.
Events in the City During the Fair
Art Karlsruhe extends beyond the exhibition halls. "Art Karlsruhe is more than just a marketplace for art, even though that's precisely what it is in the best sense: a place where supply and demand meet in a unique way," says Britta Wirtz, CEO of Messe Karlsruhe. "It combines a sales platform, a space for dialogue, and a place of inspiration, making the joy of buying art as tangible as the vibrant connection to the city. This year, I'm once again looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors from all over Germany and abroad to Karlsruhe, where they will experience art not only at our fair but also at fantastic events throughout the city."
Parties - Offspaces
and Gallery Night
in the city of Karlsruhe
The opening party in the Hallenbau in the foyer of the ZKM on February 5th
- brings together galleries, institutions, and art enthusiasts.
On February 6th, Kunstrauschen, the Long Night of Project Spaces, follows,
- showcasing the diversity of Karlsruhe's art scene with over 20 participating offspaces.
- In the evening, the After Art Party takes place at Nachtwerk with an international DJ lineup including Move D, André Galluzzi, and Shahrokh Dini.
On Saturday, February 7th, Gallery Night invites
- to an evening tour of Karlsruhe's galleries, with an afterglow at Hirschhof. A free shuttle will take visitors directly from the fair into the city.
February 5th–8th, 2026
art Karlsruhe
International Fair for Classical Modern and Contemporary Art
VIP Preview (invitation required) on Wednesday, February 4, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Regular Opening Hours
Thursday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location:
Karlsruhe Exhibition Center
Messeallee 1, 76287 Rheinstetten, Germany
