The Aspen Art Fair will return to the historic Hotel Jerome from July 29 through August 1, 2026, for its third edition, this time under the direction of Kelly Cornell, who will continue in her role as the head of the Dallas Art Fair.
From her perspective, the pairing works because of the similarities she sees between the two fairs. She noted that both have strong communities, engaged collectors, and a commitment to quality. Both also occupy a space where there is room to grow thoughtfully, without trying to become something else entirely, Cornell noted.
She confirmed that the two fairs remain entirely separate businesses. “Dallas is independently owned and so is Aspen,” she said, making clear that this is shared leadership, not a merger.
In Dallas, she said, “the galleries are the VIPs.” They are the reason collectors and institutions show up, and her priority is to make sure dealers feel supported and celebrated. That approach will shape how she steps into Aspen.
For cofounder Bob Chase, of Heron gallery, the fair’s identity remains inseparable from its setting. The 2026 edition will be slightly reconfigured, in part because some larger galleries want more space, but he has no interest in expanding beyond what the venue can comfortably hold.
“There’s a limitation to where we stage it that I really like because it forces this intimacy,” Chase said, describing that constraint as the fair’s “secret sauce.”
He framed it in terms that anyone who knows Aspen will understand. “They aren’t making more of it,” he said of the town itself. That fixed footprint, that sense of something contained and rare, is part of what makes Aspen distinct. The fair, he continued, tries to mirror that ethos. He has made a long-term commitment to the Jerome, underscoring that the hotel is not just a backdrop but part of the fair’s identity.
Several galleries have already confirmed for 2026, including Albertz Benda, Anat Ebgi, Friedman Benda, Hexton, Perrotin, Ryan Lee, Secci, and Southern Guild, with more to be announced.
The fair’s leadership team has also expanded. Christine Mack, founder of the Mack Art Foundation, has joined the board alongside Chase; John Sughrue, founder of Brook Partners; and Jeremy Buonamici, vice president and chief operating officer of Brook Partners.
