Art Basel Paris (24-26 October) is introducing a new early preview slot called Avant Première on Tuesday 21 October from 3pm to 7pm, allowing participating galleries to invite up to six guests for an intimate viewing before the First Choice VIP opening on Wednesday 22 October. The change aligns the Paris fair’s schedule more closely with Art Basel’s flagship event in Switzerland, where First Choice VIPs enter on Tuesday. Galleries can nominate clients regardless of their VIP status, aiming to create a focused business engagement for their closest collectors.
The move addresses a growing challenge for art fairs: declining attendance by core collectors, who spend the most, while casual attendance rises. A 2024 Art Basel and UBS survey found that VIPs attended an average of five fairs per year, down from eight in 2019, citing overcrowding and the frustration of finding key works already sold before the fair opens. By offering an exclusive early slot, Art Basel hopes to retain high-spending clients and preserve the fair’s commercial vitality.