A flurry of art fair activity across Asia marked the early weeks of 2026. Art Basel's inaugural Qatar edition broke format with single-artist presentations, focusing on MENASA artists and discreet institutional buying. The India Art Fair in New Delhi reported strong sales for local and international galleries, while new fairs launched in Jakarta, Manila, and Hong Kong. Tokyo Gendai announced its return, and Art Basel's digital platform Zero 10 expanded to Hong Kong.
This activity underscores Asia's pivotal and rapidly evolving role in the global art market. The region is not just a major sales hub but also an incubator for new fair models and a critical arena for relationship-building between galleries, institutions, and collectors. The news highlights strategic moves by Western galleries to deepen ties in the region and the growing confidence and commercial power of homegrown Asian art scenes, from India to Southeast Asia.