The Asia-Pacific art scene saw significant activity across multiple sectors. Art SG reported increased attendance and sales, while the SAM Art SG Fund acquired works for the Singapore Art Museum. JD.com announced plans for a major new museum in Shenzhen, and several appointments and award winners were named across the region. Auction houses Bonhams Hong Kong and Sotheby's Singapore posted strong sales results, with the latter setting new artist records.
The Art Newspaper's 2025 survey of the world's 100 most visited art museums reveals a strong but uneven recovery from the pandemic, with total visits reaching over 200 million. New museums in the Middle East, East Asia, and major Western cities have been major hits with the public, driving significant attendance.
Thailand is emerging as a major contemporary art destination, with a wave of new institutions, fairs, and tax incentives drawing international attention. The government-initiated Thailand Biennale opens in Phuket, while the third and final edition of the Ghost biennial just concluded in Bangkok. Collector Marisa Chearavanont recently opened Bangkok Kunsthalle and Kai Yao Art Forest, and Purat “Chang” Osathanugrah is launching Dib Bangkok, billed as the country’s first international contemporary art museum, on December 21. New York dealer Harper Levine plans to open a Bangkok outpost of his Harper’s gallery in spring, and Seoul-based Artue is planning a scaled-up art fair called Art Bangkok International for next year. In August, the Thai government approved tax deductions for purchasing artworks by national artists and higher tax breaks for artists.
Tech giants JD.com and Tencent are launching new museums in Shenzhen, appointing prominent art figures Robin Peckham and Pi Li to lead them. This move is part of a broader initiative to transform the city, a major tech hub, into a significant player in the global art scene.
The article previews eight major art-venue openings expected in 2026, including the long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, Cardiff's first contemporary art museum (AMOCA), the V&A East Museum in London, the revived Palais de Danse studio of Barbara Hepworth in St Ives, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. It also notes the uncertain status of the Museum of West African Art in Benin City amid political disputes. These projects range from vast new museums and subterranean expansions to restored artist studios, many delayed by funding, planning, or construction challenges.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened on November 4 after two decades of planning, faced immediate crowd control issues after overselling tickets. More than 27,000 tickets were sold against a daily limit of 20,000, leading to thousands of frustrated visitors being denied entry. Museum CEO Ahmed Ghoneim announced a shift to an online-only booking system and pledged to reassess policies. Controversy also erupted over claims of a ticketing quota favoring foreigners over Egyptians, which Ghoneim denied, stating the museum would ensure no group exceeds a 60-40 split seasonally.
The New York Times reports on the difficulties faced by new museums opening in the current art landscape, highlighting financial pressures, shifting audience expectations, and geopolitical tensions. The article examines several recently opened or planned institutions, including the Grand Palais in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, and the National Museum of Qatar, detailing how each has navigated issues such as rising construction costs, sustainability concerns, and debates over cultural representation.