Observer has published its updated 2025 May Art Fair Calendar, highlighting a packed schedule of art fairs in New York and around the world. Key fairs include CONDUCTOR 2026 (April 29–May 3), a Brooklyn-based fair focused on artists of the global majority; the Aotearoa Art Fair 2026 (April 30–May 3) in New Zealand; the Clio Art Fair 2026 (May 7–10 and 14–17), known as an "anti-fair" for unrepresented artists; and PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai 2026 (May 7–10), a leading platform for contemporary photography in China. The article notes that May is one of the busiest months in the spring art calendar, with many fairs concentrated in New York City during "Frieze Week."
This calendar matters because it reflects the increasingly global and year-round nature of the art fair circuit, with dealers from formerly less-active regions now participating actively. The inclusion of CONDUCTOR, which debuted last year as a fair for the global majority, signals a meaningful shift toward greater diversity and representation in the art market. The article also underscores how New York City has become a hub for art tourism, with collectors and curators staying for multiple fairs and events beyond the flagship Frieze fair.