BRUSSELS.- For its 42nd edition, taking place from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 April 2026, Art Brussels continues its evolution by adopting a more concentrated format, designed to foster a higher- quality and more immersive visitor experience. For more than five decades, the fair has established itself as one of Europe’s key contemporary art events, renowned for its distinctive balance between established artists, ambitious curatorial projects, and emerging artistic scenes.

The 2026 edition will bring together 139 galleries from 26 countries, presented within a fully redesigned layout aimed at offering a clearer and more engaging visitor journey. The strong presence of returning exhibitors, representing 65% of the participating galleries, reflects the fair’s solid international network and helps sustain a dynamic dialogue between galleries, collectors, and audiences.

Staying true to its identity, Art Brussels presents a programme that brings into dialogue leading figures of modern and contemporary art alongside a new generation of artists, with the continued support of its main partner, Delen Private Bank.

The fair is structured around five distinct sections, each offering a specific perspective on contemporary artistic production. The Prime section brings together 83 leading galleries presenting modern and contemporary masters alongside established international artists, creating a demanding and cross-generational panorama. With Solo, 26 monographic presentations invite visitors to engage deeply with individual artistic practices, offering a level of focus that is not always available in the context of an art fair.

Rooted in the history of the fair, the ’68 Forward section highlights 11 galleries exploring the diversity of artistic movements that have shaped contemporary art since 1968, the founding year of Art Brussels. Meanwhile, Discovery continues its role as a platform for emerging international talent, supporting 38 galleries through single-artist presentations or curated dialogues between under-recognised artists, offering fresh perspectives for European collectors.

The 2026 edition also introduces a new section, Horizons. Selected by Devrim Bayar, senior curator at Kanal-Centre Pompidou, seven monumental artworks will be brought together in an exhibition conceived as a scenographic parcours. Designed as a space for experimentation and reflection within the fair, it underlines Art Brussels’ commitment to ambitious artistic production presented under museum-quality conditions.

The fair’s international dimension is further reflected in the geographic diversity of its participants. Among the exhibiting galleries, 29% are based in Belgium — with 52% based in Brussels — while France represents 17% of participants, followed by Germany (7%), Spain (6%), the Netherlands and Portugal (5% each), Austria, Italy, and Sweden (4% each), as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland (3% each). The fair also welcomes galleries from South Africa and other regions worldwide, confirming its international reach while maintaining a strong European focus.

“Reducing Art Brussels to 138 galleries is the result of our committees’ selection process and reflects our commitment to privileging quality over quantity. Bringing all gallery booths together in one hall allows us to offer a more focused, meaningful experience for collectors and visitors. Our free guided tours, our rich Talk programme and our Art Advisory Desk, which provides tailored matchmaking between curious potential buyers and gallerists, are there to support visitors on this journey.

We know that galleries are more selective about where they participate and that collectors are more conscious about how often and how far they travel. In this context, Belgium’s strong collector base and its proximity to Paris, Amsterdam and Köln are a real strength for Art Brussels. Sixty-five percent of the galleries are returning, and key galleries remain on board. A special artistic project, entitled Not Everything is For Sale in the Stibbe lounge, dedicated to 15 experienced local key figures, once again underlines the importance and influence of these players.

The engaging gallery line-up, the new Horizons section (an area for large-scale works and reflection,) the charity project with KickCancer, the impressive site-specific work by Natasja Mabesoone at the entrance, and the leading prizes that recognise the work of galleries and artists all contribute to an enriching and immersive experience.
Together, they make the fair an attractive platform to (re)discover art and build connections with artists, collectors, curators and gallerists. — Nele Verhaeren, Managing Director Art Brussels & Art Antwerp