Update, 23 October 2026: Art Basel Paris is closing earlier than planned. According to The Art Newspaper, Artsy and Ocula, the fair closes today, Friday 23 October, at 7pm and will not reopen on Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 October. The reasons reported are the safety of visitors, exhibitors, staff and artworks ahead of demonstrations expected in Paris, after protests across France over school conditions and the cost of living. Separately, the Grand Palais states on its website that the Grand Palais and its exhibitions are closed all day on Saturday 24 October because of the demonstrations planned in Paris.
Art Basel Paris is taking place at the Grand Palais for its fifth edition, the first under director Karim Crippa. It was scheduled to run until Sunday 25 October 2026 and now closes on 23 October (see update above). According to the Grand Palais, the fair brings together 211 exhibitors from 41 countries and territories.
What is new
The Grand Palais says nearly 30 galleries are taking part for the first time, and the Emergence sector features 16 solo presentations. In an interview published by Art Basel on 21 September 2026, Crippa said Premise will host 12 booths this year, compared with nine last year. Of the sector he said: “Premise reflects a desire to broaden the margins of the art historical canon.”
Art Basel describes Crippa as previously the fair’s director of communications. This is the first edition he leads as director.
Around the fair
Per Art Basel’s official guide, Oh La La!, the two-day booth rehang, runs on 23 and 24 October, art-directed by French actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu around the theme “Myths & Legends”. Eleven public talks take place from 22 to 24 October, for the first time in the Grand Palais Auditorium, free with reservation. The public programme spans nine locations in the city, including Alice Diop’s “Geste de Consolation” at the Palais d’Iéna and three bronze sculptures by Tracey Emin on the Parvis des droits de l’Homme. The guide adds that Avenue Winston Churchill will be pedestrianised for the duration of the fair. These programme dates come from the guide published before the early closure; in the sources we reviewed, Art Basel had not detailed which events scheduled for 24 October will still take place.
Practical information
Grand Palais, 7 Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris. Originally 23–25 October 2026, 11am–7pm (Grand Palais); revised: the fair closes on Friday 23 October at 7pm and is closed on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. Previews on 21 and 22 October and a public vernissage on the evening of 22 October, per MCH Group, Art Basel’s parent company.
Editorial note: exhibitor counts differ between sources: 206 in the May announcement (ARTnews, Artlyst) and 211 in the more recent official sources (Grand Palais, Art Basel, September). This article uses the latest official figure. Preview dates also differ: MCH Group’s announcement gave 21 and 22 October, while The Art Newspaper and Artnet report that the Avant-Première opened on Tuesday 20 October.
Sources: Grand Palais — Art Basel Paris 2026 · Art Basel — official guide · Art Basel — interview with Karim Crippa · MCH Group · Artlyst · The Art Newspaper · Artsy · Ocula
This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the Honargardi editorial team.