The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in Marrakech saw a significant contraction in 2026, with participation dropping by over 25 percent to just 22 galleries. This decline coincides with the recent arrival of Art Basel in Doha, which is intensifying competition for galleries and collectors' attention across the MENASA region, forcing dealers to make strategic choices about which fairs to support.
The shift highlights growing pressures on the nascent African art market ecosystem. While auction sales for works by African artists grew globally in 2025, total auction sales on the African continent have been declining for a decade, indicating that the market is increasingly moving offshore. Key regional players are now focused on international expansion and education to build sustainable value for African artists in a consolidating global landscape.