Art Basel Paris 2026: 211 Exhibitors and New Directions Under Karim Crippa

Art Basel Paris 2026 is scheduled to take place at the Grand Palais from October 23 to 25, with Preview Days on October 21 and 22 and a public Vernissage on October 22. This fifth edition of the fair marks the first year under the direction of Karim Crippa. Crippa has articulated his focus on strengthening Art Basel Paris as a platform shaped by the city, for the city, and in dialogue with the international art and cultural community.

The fair will feature 211 exhibitors from 41 countries and territories, participating across three main sectors: Galeries, Emergence, and Premise. Nearly 30 galleries are joining the fair for the first time, reflecting the event’s ongoing appeal to new participants and its international reach. The diversity of exhibitors underscores the fair’s commitment to fostering a global conversation within the Parisian context.

A notable aspect of the 2026 edition is the inclusion of a record 12 joint booth presentations. These collaborative booths highlight a growing culture of experimentation and cross-gallery collaboration, as exhibitors develop new formats for presentation within the fair’s main sector. This approach demonstrates the willingness of galleries to innovate and work together in presenting art to the public.

The acclaimed Public Program will return for its fifth edition, organised in partnership with leading Parisian institutions. Miu Miu is the official partner of the Public Program, supporting a range of events and activities that engage both the art community and the wider public. The program is designed to foster connections between the fair and the city’s cultural landscape.

The fair’s signature rehang initiative, Oh La La!, will also return on October 23 and 24. This initiative is led by a guest collaborator from outside the art world, bringing a fresh and diverse perspective to the presentation of artworks. Oh La La! is intended to reimagine the display of art within the fair, encouraging new ways of seeing and experiencing the works on view.

Avant-Première, the invitation-only preview for galleries and their principal clients, will be held on October 20. This exclusive event offers select attendees an early opportunity to view the artworks and exhibitions before the fair opens to the general public. It is the second edition of Avant-Première, reflecting its growing importance within the fair’s calendar.

French galleries have a significant presence at Art Basel Paris 2026, with more than 60 exhibitors operating spaces in France. This strong local participation underscores the depth and continuity of the French gallery ecosystem and its central role in shaping the fair’s identity. The involvement of French galleries highlights the ongoing vitality of the Paris art scene.

According to the Art Basel & UBS Global Art Market Report 2026, sales in France reached USD 4.5 billion in 2025, representing a 9% year-on-year increase and a return above 2019 levels. France accounts for 8% of the global art market, ranking as the fourth-largest market worldwide and the largest in the European Union, representing more than half of the EU art market by value. These figures illustrate the significance of France within the global art market and the context in which Art Basel Paris operates.