Art Basel, the world’s largest art fair, opened its 2026 edition in Basel, Switzerland, with a busy VIP preview day on Tuesday. In front of Hall 2, queues remained relatively smooth, while in previous years art aficionados had already begun to gather outside. Inside, a constant hum made it clear that the aisles would be packed as soon as the fair opened at 11 a.m.—and they were. The eager crowd rushed through the booths of 290 galleries from 43 countries, including 21 newcomers across all sectors.
“No matter the market values, engagement remains incredibly high. Artists are getting a lot of visibility and galleries are thriving,” Maike Cruse, the director of Art Basel in Basel, said at the press welcome held on Monday ahead of the opening of the Unlimited sector.
This year’s Art Basel launched the Basel Exclusive program in order to restore surprise and in-person discovery at the fair opening, withholding selected works from pre-fair previews to counter growing digital transparency and early sales. Galleries like Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian, and Sadie Coles HQ are among the 80 percent of eligible exhibitors (193 out of 240) participating with “surprise” presentations ranging from major historical works to newly completed pieces.
Novelties in Basel include the Zero 10 sector dedicated to digital and experimental practices, often including AI, immersive installations, and hybrid physical-virtual works. The point is highlighting new artistic formats rather than traditional gallery presentations.
And for those looking for a more nocturnal experience, there is Warehouse Artefacts, an immersive project by Thomas Bangalter, Julian Charrière, and Rampa, staged as a shifting, deconstructed dancefloor built around ideas of collective energy, hope, and crisis. The installation runs during the day for fair visitors, before transforming into an evening program with a rave and DJ set by Rampa and a special guest on June 20.
Below, a look at the best booths at Art Basel in Basel, which runs through June 21.
