Art News. Vasari Codex

trending_up market schedule Dec 29, 2025 visibility 30 link 5 artists, 8 galleries

Fair behemoths bet on Gulf plus new, bigger venues for Independent—a quick look at art fairs in 2026

Art Basel and Frieze are both launching new fairs in the Arabian Gulf in 2026: Art Basel Qatar in Doha (5-7 February) and Frieze Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi (17-22 November). Art Basel Qatar will feature 87 galleries with solo artist presentations on the theme 'Becoming,' curated by artistic director Wael Shawky, with major dealers like Gagosian and David Zwirner participating. Frieze Abu Dhabi takes over the existing Abu Dhabi Art fair, with Dyala Nusseibeh remaining as director and Deutsche Bank as sponsor. Meanwhile, Independent's two New York fairs are moving to larger venues: the contemporary edition to Pier 36 on the East River in May, and Independent 20th Century to Sotheby's Breuer building in September. Art Cologne is also reviving its Mallorca edition at the Palau de Congressos in Palma.

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trending_up market schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 18 link 9 artists, 7 galleries

The Art Market Year in Review

The art market experienced a turbulent 2025, beginning with a 12% decline in sales from 2024, following a 3% drop in 2023, as reported by the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report. Major auction houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips saw average sales fall 6% in the first half of the year. However, the market rebounded by autumn, with strong sales at London and Paris art fairs and a 15% year-on-year increase in auction sales at the three main houses by December, according to Pi-eX. Key events included Sotheby’s failed sale of Alberto Giacometti’s *Grand tête mince* in May, followed by a record-breaking $236 million sale of Gustav Klimt’s *Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer* in November, and a $31.4 million record for François-Xavier Lalanne’s *Hippopotame Bar*.

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trending_up market schedule Oct 10, 2025 visibility 24 link 2 artists, 2 galleries

Frieze to launch Abu Dhabi edition in November 2026

Frieze has announced it will launch an Abu Dhabi edition in November 2026, marking its first fair in the Middle East and its eighth global event. The fair will take over the existing Abu Dhabi Art fair through a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), and will be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District. Dyala Nusseibeh will remain as director. The announcement comes as Frieze's rival Art Basel prepares to launch its own Middle East fair in Doha, Qatar, in February 2025, and follows the recent acquisition of Frieze by Hollywood tycoon Ari Emanuel via his holding company Mari, which has financial ties to Abu Dhabi-based investors.

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