MADRID.- Organised by IFEMA MADRID, ARCO, the International Contemporary Art Fair, celebrates its 44th edition from 5 to 9 of March. With an exceptional selection of work from national and international galleries, the fair kickstarts a far-reaching dialogue based on innovative ideas from the world’s art scene. It will thus be an encounter that goes beyond the merely commercial, encouraging discovery, reflection and artistic research.
What’s on at ARCOmadrid 2025
A total of 214 galleries from 36 countries will convert Madrid into the international capital of contemporary art. On this occasion, 178 galleries make up the General Programme, in addition to the curated sections: Wametisé: Ideas for an Amazofuturism, with 15 galleries; Opening. New galleries, with 18, and Profiles | Latin American Art, with 10 galleries.
71 galleries are representing Spain this year, constituting 33% of the offer. The international segment accounts for more than 67% via 143 galleries: Of these, 32% are from Latin America, with 46 galleries from 11 countries taking part, with a significant presence from Brazil and Argentina. As such, ARCOmadrid continues to project its unique position as a Latin American focal point in Europe.
The strength of the Spanish scene, as well as its richness and plurality, will be widely reflected in the General Programme thanks to the participation of galleries such as 1 Mira Madrid, Alarcón Criado, ATM, Elba Benítez, Elvira González, CarrerasMugica, Luis Adelantado Valencia, Nordés, ProjecteSD, Sabrina Amrani and T20, which are among the exhibtors from different parts of the country. These are joined by international galleries, such as carlier | gebauer and Mai 36, which have recently also opened premises in Spain.
Among the international galleries participating in the General Programme, ARCO celebrates the incorporation of Massimo Minini and Francesca Minini, Casas Riegner, depéndance, Gomide&Co, Plan B, Luciana Brito, Bernier/Eliades, Raquel Arnaud, Sylvia Kouvali and Waddington Custot. The fair will also enjoy the presence of long-time supporter ssuch as Thaddaeus Ropac, Jocelyn Wolff, Chantal Crousel, Ruth Benzacar, Peter Kilchmann, Perrotin, neugerriemschneider, Esther Schipper and Thomas Schulte. Returning galleries include Capitain Petzel, Max Hetzler and Mendes Wood Dm, as well as Nicolai Wallner, Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel and Kalfayan Galleries.
In parallel to the General Programme, ARCOmadrid will have three curated sections. The Amazon will be a central project for 2025: At its heart is the programme Wametisé: Ideas for an Amazofuturism, curated by Denilson Baniwa and María Wills, in collaboration with the Institute for Postnatural Studies, and will reflect on new modes of creation that represent hybrid existences between human, vegetal, physical and metaphysical bodies. Taking part are 23 artists, including Carlos Jacanamijoy represented by Almine Rech (who returns to the fair after last participating in 1999), and ARCOmadrid newcomers Naine Terena and Coletivo Mahku represented by Carmo Johnson Projects, and Dhiani Pa’saro, Duhigó and Paulo Desana by Manaus Amazônia. Other creators include Claudia Andujar represented by Vermelho, Carlos Motta by Mor Charpentier, Chonon Bensho and Brus Rubio by Livia Benavides, and Mapa Teatro by Rolf Art, galleries that will also have a space in the General Programme.
Opening. New galleries will, once again, be a space at ARCOmadrid for discovering innovative works of art. The selection by Cristina Anglada and Anissa Touati represents the commitment of young national and international galleries and will enjoy the participation of 18 galleries, including Artbeat, Blue Velvet, Eins Gallery, Fermay and Remota, who are returning to the programme, as well as newcomers such as Callirrhoë, El Chico, Brigitte Mulholland and Reservoir.
Profiles | Latin American art will continue to strengthen the historical ties that link ARCOmadrid and Latin American art. José Esparza Chong Cuy, curator of the section, is conducting research focused on presenting a single artist per gallery. The section will be made up of 10 artists, including Bárbara Sánchez Kane represented by Kurimanzutto, Dan Lie by Barbara Wien, Chaveli Sifre by Embajada, Mariela Scafati by Isla Flotante, and Jota Mombaça by Martins&Montero, as well as Ofelia Rodriguez by Instituto de Visión, and Rember Yahuarcani by Crisis, two galleries that are also participating in the section Wametisé: Ideas for an Amazofuturism.
Added to this are the 31 Artist Projects, presented by 33 galleries, including Etel Adnan represented by Lelong, Katinka Bock by Meyer Riegger, Rocio Garcia by El Apartmento, Karlos Gil by Francisco Fino, Jonathan Hammer by F2 Galería, Pablo Helguera by Espacio Mínimo, Hessie by Marc Domènech, Luz Lizarazo by Casa Riegner, Manuel M. Romero by Artnueve, Ana Mendieta by Prats Nogueras Blanchard, Toni Schmale by Krinzinger, and Julia Spínola by Ehrhardt Flórez.
ArtsLibris will again be present at ARCOmadrid with more than 80 publishers from 20 countries, and a number of book presentations will take place at the Arts Libris Speaker’s Corner.
Collectors and acquisitions
ARCOmadrid offers a series of initiatives to promote collecting. One of these is First Collectors by Fundación Banco Santander, the renowned free art consultancy service for first-time buyers during the Fair, which has helped more than 700 people in the past 15 years since it was set up. This is in addition to the already consolidated International Buyers’ Programme and the Special Guests’ Programme, which attract some 400 collectors and 200 professionals from around 40 countries to Madrid.
The participation of the following collectors, patrons and members of museums to ARCOmadrid have been confirmed: Amis du Centre Pompidou, Paris; ADIAF, Paris; Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid; Museo Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona; Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston; MAMCO, Geneva; Contemporary Art Center of Geneva, Geneva; S.M.A.K., Museum, Ghent; Phileas -The Austrian Office for Contemporary Art, Vienna; MALBA, Buenos Aires; The Bass Museum of Art, Miami; MALI, Lima; Saikalis Bay Foundation, Milan; MOLAA, Long Beach; Musée National de Monaco, Monaco; MACBA, Barcelona; Fundación Joan Miró, Barcelona; Guggenheim, Bilbao; Meadows Museum, Dallas; Triennale Milano, Milan.
Once again, a number of private companies, both national and international, are taking part in various initiatives in the form of acquisitions and recognition of artistic creation through the awarding of various prizes, including the Lexus Award for the Best Booth at ARCOmadrid 2025, Cervezas Alhambra Award For Emerging Art, illy SustainArt Award, ARCO/BEEP Electronic Art Award, ENATE-ARCOmadrid 2025 Award, Young Talent Award at Opening, Pilar Forcada ART Situacions Prize, MACAM Awards, Antoni Vila Casas Prize at ARCOmadrid, Artepuntoes Award, Catalina D’Anglade Award, Emerige-CPGA Prize, Rucandio Collection, Fundació Úniques and the Opening Award. Likewise, ARCOmadrid 2025 has confirmed purchases from various institutions such as the Museo Reina Sofía, the Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani de Palma, the Region of Madrid, the Andalusian Regional Government, Fundación María José Jove Art Centre, Fundación Sorigué and Maria Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation, among others.
Fundación ARCO will once again raise funds to acquire works for its collection at the CA2M Museo Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo in the Region of Madrid through its long-standing Fundación ARCO dinner, held in collaboration with Cartier. Artworks from donations from the MIA Art Collection, from Frédéric Malle and the International Council of Fundación ARCO will also be included. The dinner will also be the venue for the presentation of Fundación ARCO’s “A” Awards for Collecting, now in their 29th year, in which the following collections will be recognised: Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, Fundació Sorigué, Juan Carlos Maldonado Collection, Fernando Arriola and Yolanda Zugaza and Alex Ruas Wege.
Forum and Professional Meetings
Forum on Collecting: a meeting point for the international art community to connect and share ideas on art collecting in sessions that are open to the public. Karen and Christian Boros, Armando Martins, Adelaide Gringa, Emir Bahadir, Richard Massey, Rosina Gómez-Baeza, José Noé Suro, Ariel Jiménez, Maria Wills, Rodrigo Gutiérrez, Juan Carlos Maldonado and Catherine Petitgas will be taking part.
The Forum Wametisé: Ideas for an Amazofuturism will focus on the central theme of this edition in sessions led by the Institute for Postnatural Studies, with the participation of María Wills, Denilson Baniwa, Bárbara Santos, Rember Yahuarcani, Suely Rolnik, Uyra, Olinda Silvano, Carlos Motta, Vânia Leal, José Roca, Synnove Urgilez, Aycoobo and Susana Mejia.
For its part, the Artists Forum, organised by MAV Women in the Visual Arts, will enjoy the presence of Marina Vargas, Marta C. de la Dehesa, Santiago Eraso Beloki, Sandra Gamarra Heshiki, José Luis Pérez Pont and Fefa Vila.
The ArtsLibris Speakers’ Corner Forum will also be involved with presentations of publications, artist’s books and other initiatives linked to publishing.
In addition, the Professional Meetings, exclusively for professionals and by invitation only, will, on this occasion, focus on Meeting: An Institutional Dance directed by Martí Manen, and After… Programming in the Real World. The Meeting of European and Latin American Museums will be headed by Amanda de la Garza.
