Endeavor has announced the sale of Frieze, the leading art fair and media brand, to a new company founded by Ari Emanuel, Endeavor's former chief executive. The deal, reportedly valued at nearly $200 million, includes all seven Frieze art fairs, the magazine Frieze, and its gallery sharing initiative No.9 Cork Street in London. Emanuel, who co-founded Endeavor, created an as-yet-unnamed global events company backed by investors including Apollo Global Management and Redbird Capital Partners. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, and Frieze's leadership, including CEO Simon Fox, will remain in place.
This sale matters because it marks a significant shift in the ownership structure of one of the most influential contemporary art fair networks, which has been a cornerstone of the global art market for over two decades. Bringing Frieze under Emanuel's new events platform signals potential for further expansion and integration with other large-scale cultural and sports events, while maintaining continuity in leadership. The deal also reflects ongoing consolidation and investment in the art fair sector by major financial players, underscoring the growing intersection of art, entertainment, and private equity.