Fall 2026 is stacked for the art world. Five continents’ worth of art fairs, a run of blockbuster museum openings, two major auction weeks, and more than a dozen gallery weekends are all packed into 16 weeks.
The season opens in South Korea, with Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL’s milestone 25th edition in early September and closes with Art Basel Miami Beach and its satellite fairs in early December. In between there are plenty of other highlights including the Whitney Museum of American Art’s long-awaited Roy Lichtenstein survey, the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Frieze’s launch into the Middle East with Frieze Abu Dhabi.
Below is a month-by-month breakdown of the fairs, museum shows, and other happenings worth planning around.
September 2026
Art fairs in September 2026
Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL (Sep. 2–6), COEX, Seoul: Frieze Seoul enters its fifth edition alongside its partner fair Kiaf SEOUL, which marks its 25th anniversary this year under the theme “Coexistence.” Together the two fairs bring more than 300 galleries to Seoul, with Kiaf alone hosting 175 exhibitors from 18 countries and territories. A slate of citywide “Neighborhood Nights” of gallery openings and festivities runs throughout the week.
Sydney Contemporary (Sep. 2–6), Carriageworks, Sydney: Australia’s largest contemporary art fair celebrates its 10th edition this year, bringing roughly 100 galleries and more than 500 artists to Sydney.
Tokyo Gendai (Sep. 10–13), Pacifico Yokohama: Now in its fourth edition, this international contemporary fair splits its program across established-gallery, emerging-artist, and works-on-paper sections. It’s quickly become a key stop on Asia’s expanding fair circuit.
The Armory Show (Sep. 24–27), Javits Center, New York: The 32nd edition of New York’s flagship fair brings together around 230 galleries and introduces new Caribbean Focus, Performance, and After Hours programming this year.
Independent 20th Century (Sep. 24–27), Sotheby’s at The Breuer, New York: This edition marks the fair’s first at Sotheby’s new home on Madison Avenue. It’s the biggest edition of the fair yet, with 56 exhibitors and more than 130 artists spanning modern and post-war work.
Three museum shows opening in September 2026 to watch
The Bayeux Tapestry, British Museum, London: Opening September 10th and running through July 2027, this is the first time the nearly 1,000-year-old, 70-meter tapestry has left France. It depicts the events leading up to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, and tickets through the end of the year had already sold out following record demand.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles: The museum founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson opens to the public September 22nd (member previews begin September 5th) in Exposition Park. Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects, it houses more than 40,000 works centered on illustration and narrative storytelling. The building is more than a decade in the making.
Maurizio Cattelan, “NIGHT,” Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin: Running September 10th through March 2027, this is Cattelan’s first major solo exhibition in Germany, staged as he receives the 2026 Preis der Nationalgalerie. Curated by Lisa Botti with director Klaus Biesenbach, it will feature signature works like Him (2001) and La Nona Ora (1999)—a sculpture of the pope stricken by a meteorite—along with new commissions.
Other art world happenings to know in September 2026
- Berlin Art Week (Sep. 9–13): the 15th edition activates more than 100 museums, galleries, and project spaces across the German capital.
- Madrid Apertura Gallery Weekend (Sep. 10–13): the Spanish capital’s 17th annual season-opening weekend will feature roughly 60 member galleries.
- Warsaw Gallery Weekend (Sep. 18–20): the 16th edition of Warsaw’s citywide gallery weekend featuring around 60 exhibitors and over 130 artists.
- Barcelona Gallery Weekend (Sep. 17–20): the 12th edition, organized by Art Barcelona, will span 25 galleries across the city’s neighborhoods.
- RendeVous – Brussels Art Week (Sep. 10–13): Four days of exhibitions and events at over 95 venues.
- curated by Vienna (opening weekend Sep. 11–13, running through Oct. 17): the 17th edition of the Austrian capital’s gallery festival in which curators are invited to mount shows at galleries across the city. This year’s theme is “LOVE.”
- Prague Art Week (Sep. 24–27): the fifth edition, spanning roughly 100 events across 40 institutions, most with free admission.
October 2026
Art fairs in October 2026
Atlanta Art Fair (Oct. 1–4), Pullman Yards: The fair’s third edition, and first at the Pullman Yards venue, brings more than 70 galleries from as far afield as South Korea, Spain, and Uganda.
Art Jakarta (Oct. 2–4), JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta: Featuring more than 70 galleries with a spotlight on Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art, Art Jakarta is also complemented by a curated program of events this year.
Untitled Art, Houston (Oct. 1–4), George R. Brown Convention Center: The second edition of Untitled Art’s foray into Texas features 95 galleries.
London Art Week
The British capital comes alive in the fall, anchored by a clutch of art fairs:
- Frieze London and Frieze Masters (Oct. 14–18), The Regent’s Park: The flagship pair, running side by side as they do every year, with leading contemporary art at Frieze London and historical/20th-century at Frieze Masters. The free outdoor Frieze Sculpture program runs concurrently in the park from mid-September through early November.
- 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (Oct. 15–18), Somerset House: The leading fair dedicated to contemporary African and diasporic art.
- PAD London (Oct. 13–18), Berkeley Square: The suave design-and-20th-century-fine-art fair returns to Mayfair.
- London Invitational (Oct. 15–18), the Chancery Rosewood: Based on a floor of one of London’s glitziest hotels, a tight roster of galleries have been corralled by the founders of the Dallas Invitational.
- Fair Play (Oct. 15–18), One Marylebone: New fair where selected artists receive free exhibition stands in exchange for commissions on sales.
Paris Art Week
Just after London Art Week, the French capital plays host to a bevy of art world activity. The slate of key fairs is as follows:
- Art Basel Paris (Oct. 21–25), Grand Palais: The fifth edition is the first staged under new director Karim Crippa, with 211 exhibitors from 41 countries taking part. Expect the typical Art Basel fare of blue-chip works and heavyweight artists.
- Paris Internationale (Oct. 21–25), location TBD: The trendy emerging art-focused fair is running for an extended period this year.
- Asia Now (Oct. 20–24), Monnaie de Paris: Its 12th edition, dedicated to contemporary Asian art.
- AKAA (Also Known As Africa) (Oct. 23–25), Carreau du Temple: Focused on African and diasporic contemporary art and design.
- Post-Fair (Oct. 19–24), Rue du Temple: The Paris edition of the February Los Angeles fair of the same name, this fair presents 34 solo and duo artist presentations.
Artissima (Oct. 2–Nov. 1), OVAL Lingotto Fiere, Turin: Now in its 33rd edition, this fair, known for spotlighting experimental and cutting-edge practices, brings roughly 180 galleries from 35 countries.
London and Paris October auctions: what to know
Both tentpole auction weeks land alongside their respective fairs. London’s evening sales group around Frieze week (Oct. 14–18), while Paris’s take place around Art Basel Paris (Oct. 21–25). The 2025 London sales at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips were up roughly 131% year over year, so expectations will be on livelier auctions compared to seasons past.
Full October 2026 lots and estates aren’t yet public at the time of writing, but Christie’s has announced that a leading lot of their London 20/21 evening sale will be Piet Mondrian’s Composition III (1920), which carries an estimate of £20 million–£30 million ($27.3 million–$40.9 million).
Last year’s comparable weeks set a strong precedent, with Christie’s October 2025 London evening sale hitting £106.9 million ($145.7 million), its best Frieze Week result in seven-plus years. In Paris, Sotheby’s and Christie’s combined sales totaled €182 million ($212.3 million), including all-time French auction records for Surrealist art.
Five museum shows opening in October 2026 to watch
Roy Lichtenstein, “Like New,” Whitney Museum of American Art, New York: Opening October 11th (member previews Oct. 8 to 10), this survey of the post-war icon features more than 130 works spanning the 1940s through the 1990s. It’s co-curated by Meg Onli and guest curator artist Alex Da Corte. All eight works from Lichtenstein’s 1962 debut at Leo Castelli’s gallery will be reunited for the first time.
Mariko Mori, “All That Shines,” Mori Art Museum, Tokyo: Opening October 31st and running through March 2027, this retrospective gathers 80 works across three decades of Mori’s practice, tracing her fusion of art, science, and metaphysics through installation, sculpture, video, and performance.
“Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Running October 4th through January 2027, this is the first major New York presentation devoted to either artist in more than 20 years and the first at the Met for either. It features 120-plus works drawn from more than 80 lenders across 12 thematic chapters.
“The ’90s: Art and Fashion,” Tate Britain, London::Running October 8th through February 2027 and curated by former British Vogue editor in chief Edward Enninful, this show brings together more than 100 works—including photography, painting, film, sculpture, and fashion—from nearly 70 artists.
Salman Toor, “Someone Like You,” The Courtauld, London: Running October 2nd through January 2027, this is Toor’s first solo exhibition in Europe. It will feature 19 paintings made since 2019 alongside a selection of drawings.
Other art world happenings to know in October 2026
Rome Art Week (Oct. 19–25): The nonprofit, artist- and gallery-organized citywide festival now draws over 700 participating artists, who open their studios directly to visitors, alongside galleries, foundations, museums, and academies hosting exhibitions, talks, and performances. Everything is free.
November 2026
Art fairs in November 2026
Art Cologne (Nov. 5–8), Koelnmesse, Cologne: Founded in 1967 and widely regarded as the world’s oldest modern art fair, this 59th edition remains a bellwether for the German and Central European market, blending blue-chip 20th- and 21st-century galleries with emerging positions.
Art X Lagos (Nov. 5–8), the Federal Palace: West Africa’s first international art fair (launched in 2016) remains a leading spot for contemporary African and diaspora art, drawing galleries and collectors from across the continent and beyond.
Art Collaboration Kyoto (Nov. 7–9), Kyoto International Conference Center: Now in its sixth edition, ACK’s distinctive format pairs each Japanese gallery with an overseas counterpart in shared booths, prioritizing cultural exchange.
West Bund Art & Design and ART021 (Nov. 10–15), Shanghai: The two flagship fairs of Shanghai Art Week, these fairs are key barometers of the Chinese contemporary art market.
Paris Photo (Nov. 12–15), Grand Palais: The 29th edition coincides with the “Bicentennial of Photography” and brings together roughly 242 exhibitors—195 galleries and 47 publishers—from 38 countries, making it the world’s leading fair dedicated to the photographic medium.
Art Mumbai (Nov. 12–15), Mahalaxmi Racecourse: Now in its fourth edition, this fair has quickly become a key fixture in South Asia for modern and contemporary art, spanning historic Indian modernism through current practices.
ADAA Fair, New York (Nov. 13–16), Park Avenue Armory: The Art Dealers Association of America rebranded its long-running “The Art Show” as the “ADAA Fair” for this edition after a one-year hiatus, naming 63 exhibitors, timed to New York's marquee November auction week.
Frieze Abu Dhabi (Nov. 19–22), Manarat Al Saadiyat: This inaugural edition marks Frieze's first venture into the Middle East, with Deutsche Bank as global lead partner—one of the season’s biggest launches.
Two museum openings in November 2026 for your radar
Self-Portrait, 1952-c.
Vanessa Bell
Piano Nobile
Sophie Calle, Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin: Opening November 13th (through May 2027) as part of the museum’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, this is the French artist’s first Berlin solo show in more than 20 years, spanning six bodies of work across three decades. It includes a new work commissioned for the anniversary that will enter the museum’s permanent collection as a donation.
“Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant: Inside Bloomsbury,” Tate Britain, London: Opening November 12th (through April 2027) in partnership with Charleston, the Bloomsbury Group couple’s former Sussex home and studio, this is the first major exhibition to chart their intertwined artistic and personal relationship. It features more than 300 works and a full-size re-creation of Grant’s studio, relocated from Charleston for the show.
New York November 2026 auctions: what to know
New York’s November week remains the fall’s marquee auction moment for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, running the 20th- and 21st-century evening sales that anchor the global auction calendar. Specific 2026 headline lots and consignments haven’t been announced as of late August 2026, but Artnet News revealed last month that Sotheby’s has secured the $450 million Blaquier collection, with works by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Edgar Degas. Auction house catalogues typically go public in September and October. For scale, the equivalent sales last year were up 77% year over year for the three houses. Expect a competitive week.
Other art world happenings to know in November 2026
- Art Week Tokyo (Nov. 4–8): The fifth edition of this citywide initiative activates more than 50 museums and galleries.
- Lisbon Art Weekend (Nov. 5–8): A citywide gallery and institution weekend reflecting Lisbon’s growing profile as a Southern European art hub.
December 2026
Art fairs in December 2026: Miami Art Week
Arguably the busiest week of fairs in the U.S. art world calendar, Miami Art Week takes place hot on the heels of Thanksgiving.
Art Basel Miami Beach (Dec. 2–6), Miami Beach Convention Center: This year is expected to draw the usual mix of blue-chip galleries and major collectors that has made it the most influential fair in the Americas since its 2002 launch. Other fairs to note:
- Design Miami (Dec. 1–6), Pride Park: Now in its 22nd edition, this is a leading fair for collectible design, bringing historical and contemporary furniture, lighting, and objects from galleries worldwide.
- NADA Miami (Dec. 1–5), Ice Palace Studios: The New Art Dealers Alliance’s 24th edition brings together 135 galleries and has long served as the go-to slot for emerging and mid-career dealers.
- Untitled Art, Miami Beach (VIP preview Dec. 1, public Dec. 2–6), beachfront pavilion on Ocean Drive: In its 15th edition with 160-plus galleries, it’s known for its purpose-built beachfront tent and a curatorial approach that mixes emerging and established galleries side by side.
- Pinta Miami (Dec. 3–6), The Hangar: Marking its 20th anniversary this year, it remains the leading fair dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art.
- SCOPE Miami Beach (Dec. 1–6), Miami Beach: With more than 80 international galleries, it’s built around discovering emerging artists and has run alongside Art Basel Miami Beach since 2002.
A museum opening in December 2026 for your radar
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi: Two decades after the project was first announced in 2006, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Foundation have set an opening date of December 11, 2026, for the monumental Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Designed by the late Frank Gehry, the 800,000-plus-square-foot building—with the architect’s signature motif of cone-shaped galleries—will be the largest Guggenheim institution in the world. It will contain roughly 125,000 square feet of exhibition space across 30 galleries.
