As every year, ArtDog Istanbul’s global art route once again invites readers to explore the changing map of contemporary art. In a year when contemporary art is preparing to rethink both its geographical and conceptual boundaries, the calendar offers an intense program ranging from large-scale fairs that shape the direction of the global art market to biennials that build strong relationships with local contexts and exhibitions with strong curatorial ambition. Events from Turkey also hold an important place in this schedule.
Contemporary Istanbul, which has left its 20th year behind and has turned Istanbul into a global meeting point for art, positions the city as one of the indispensable stops on the international art calendar with its edition to be held between September 24–27. The Mardin Biennial, whose every edition is eagerly awaited by both local and international audiences, will once again make visible the dialogue between geography and art with its 7th edition, to be held between May 15 and June 21.
Let’s take a look together at the highlights of the 2026 art map, stretching from Europe to Asia and from the Americas to the Gulf countries.
London Art Fair
January 21–25, 2026
Held every January in London, the London Art Fair brings together more than 100 galleries in its 38th edition, offering a strong panorama of modern and contemporary art. The 2026 museum partner, the National Trust, stands out with surrealist and postwar abstract works, while the Platform and Encounters sections highlight emerging artists.
Frieze Los Angeles
February 26–March 1, 2026
Opening its doors for the fourth time at Santa Monica Airport, Frieze Los Angeles, in its seventh edition, brings together the heavyweights of the global art scene under the California sun. With 95 galleries from 22 countries, the fair highlights not only leading galleries such as Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace, David Zwirner, and White Cube, but also local galleries shaping Los Angeles’s contemporary art ecosystem.
TEFAF Maastricht
March 14–19, 2026
TEFAF Maastricht continues to be one of the world’s most comprehensive fairs in the fields of art, antiques, and design, bringing together more than 260 galleries from 20 countries. Old Masters and classical archaeology form the backbone of the fair, while modern and contemporary art, photography, jewelry, and 20th-century design complete the selection. The Focus and Showcase sections make room for new discoveries through solo presentations and young galleries.
Art Basel Hong Kong
March 27–29, 2026
Bringing together the contemporary art scene of the Asia-Pacific region under one roof, Art Basel Hong Kong brings together 240 galleries from 42 countries and regions. In addition to the 182 galleries in the main Galleries section, 32 galleries are participating in the fair for the first time this year. The fair draws attention to galleries coming from different cities such as Tokyo, Sydney, Istanbul, New York, Madrid, and Paris.
Art Dubai
April 17–19, 2026
One of the Middle East’s most important global art gatherings since 2007, Art Dubai brings together around 120 modern, contemporary, and digital galleries from more than 40 countries each year. The fair stands out with its Galleries section, which focuses on galleries with a strong curatorial approach. The selection is determined by an international committee composed of founders of galleries based in Beirut, Hamburg, India, and Tunisia.
Venice Biennale
May 9–November 22, 2026
The 61st Venice Biennale will meet audiences at venues spread across the Giardini, the Arsenale, and different locations throughout the city. Titled In Minor Keys, the biennale will be realized in line with the conceptual framework of Koyo Kouoh, who was the curator and who passed away on May 10, 2025.
Frieze New York
May 13–17, 2026
Returning to The Shed for its 15th edition, Frieze New York brings together around 70 galleries. The main Galleries section makes room for solo, dual, and group presentations by galleries representing international artists. The Focus section, dedicated to young galleries founded after 2014, once again concentrates on solo presentations this year.
Mardin Biennial
May 15–June 21
With the conceptual framework defined by curator Çelenk Bafra under the title GÖKzemin, the 7th Mardin Biennial focuses on the thresholds between darkness and light, imagination and reality, and sky and ground. In this edition, the biennial expands beyond the old city for the first time in its history, spreading across Upper Mardin, Kızıltepe, the ancient city of Dara, and the Deyrulzafaran Monastery.
Art Basel
June 18–21, 2026
Art Basel stands out as the most influential fair in the international art market with its selection focused on 20th- and 21st-century art. More than 200 galleries transform Messe Basel into a temporary museum with a high-quality selection ranging from modern masters to contemporary productions.
In Brief: Standout Art Fairs in the New Year
S.E.A. Focus – January 23–25 | Singapore
BRAFA – January 25–February 1 | Brussels, Belgium
Art Genève – January 29–February 1 | Geneva, Switzerland
IDF Oman – February 2–4 | Muscat, Oman
ZONAMACO Arte Contemporáneo – February 2–8 | Mexico City, Mexico
India Art Fair – February 5–8 | New Delhi, India
Art Basel Qatar – February 5–7 | Doha, Qatar
Art Karlsruhe – February 5–8 | Karlsruhe, Germany
Art on Paper Amsterdam – February 12–15 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
Arte Genova – February 13–15 | Genoa, Italy
Investec Cape Town Art Fair – February 20–22 | Cape Town, South Africa
ARCO Madrid – March 4–8 | Madrid, Spain
Art Fair Tokyo – March 13–15 | Tokyo, Japan
SPARK Art Fair – March 20–22 | Vienna, Austria
Art Ankara – March 25–29 | Ankara, Turkey
Art Central – March 25–29 | Hong Kong, China
Art Rotterdam – March 27–29 | Rotterdam, Netherlands
Art Paris – April 9–12 | Paris, France
Kunst RAI – April 22–26 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
Discovery Art Fair Cologne – April 24–26 | Cologne, Germany
Art Brussels – April | Brussels, Belgium
Frieze New York – May 13–17 | New York, USA
Photo London – May 14–17 | London, UK
Design London – Date TBA | London, UK
Art Basel – June 18–21 | Basel, Switzerland
Frieze Seoul – September 2–5 | Seoul, South Korea
Sydney Contemporary – September 3–6 | Sydney, Australia
KIAF Seoul – September 14–17 | Seoul, South Korea
Art Rio – September 16–20 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Vienna Contemporary – September 18–20 | Vienna, Austria
Art Toronto – October 29–November 1 | Toronto, Canada
PAN Amsterdam – November 1–8 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
Art Cologne – November 4–6 | Cologne, Germany
