From established biennales to niche art fairs, there are plenty of art events to fill the calendar of any collector. But there’s only so much time (and money) to spend in pursuit of the best artwork—so here is a shortlist of the vital stops to travel to, aside from the globally dominant Art Basel, which has fairs in Hong Kong, Paris, Basel and Miami.
These art events are not merely showcases of hand-picked galleries and artwork; They’re also choice settings to meet emerging artists and like-minded collectors, as well as influential dealers and curators. Moreover, these events are a portal to the creative scenes of the destinations they’re held in. So apart from a new acquisition, you’ll hopefully be bringing home amazing cultural experiences—now that’s priceless.
Art SG
After a successful debut in 2023, the second edition of Art SG returned to one of Singapore’s most iconic destinations, Marina Bay Sands. Positioning itself as Southeast Asia’s most influential art fair, the recently concluded event welcomed 45,000 visitors who scoped out 114 leading art galleries from 33 countries. The Art Newspaper wrote that “exhibitor numbers decreased by 29% since 2023, but many galleries are reporting a better turnout,” demonstrating the draw of this dynamic Asian art fair. Mark your calendar for next year: The fair has announced the dates as January 17-19, 2025.
January 19-21, 2024; artsg.com
Malta Art Biennale
Apart from being a major “set-jetting” travel destination thanks to films like Gladiator 2, another great reason to visit Malta in 2024 is its first-ever biennale running from March to May. The Malta Art Biennale transforms historic venues in its capital city Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as stages for artistic expression. You’ll also find exhibitions outdoors in the coastal cities of Birgu, Bormla and Isla as well as its sister island, Gozo. Organized by MUŻA (the Malta National-Community Art Museum) in partnership Arts Council Malta, the springtime biennale coincides with the island’s rich “festa” season, which features ornate religious ceremonies, fireworks displays and more.
TEFAF Maastricht
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The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) describes themselves as the “world’s preeminent organization for fine art, antiques and design,” presenting over 7,000 years of art history to its devoted audience of collectors. One of the two fairs they produce, TEFAF Maastricht, in the Netherlands features over 280 prestigious dealers from 22 countries offering Old Master paintings, Haute Joaillerie and 20th-century design pieces—all carefully vetted for quality, authenticity and condition. It’s the fair to attend if you’re in search of a rare masterpiece.
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March 9-14, 2024; tefaf.com
Venice Biennale
Everyone makes time for the Venice Biennale, perhaps the most anticipated event for artists, gallerists, collectors, curators and art enthusiasts of all stripes. Marking its 60th edition in 2024, the event begins on April 20 (pre-opening days are April 17 to 19) and closes at the end of November. This edition marks a milestone as it’s curated by Adriano Pedrosa, the first Latin American to lead the event. “I am honored and humbled by this prestigious appointment, especially as the first Latin American to curate the International Art Exhibition, and in fact the first one based in the Southern Hemisphere,” says Pedrosa.
April 20-November 24, 2024; labiennale.org/en/art/2024
The Armory Show
An integral part of the New York art scene since it launched in 1994, The Armory Show at the Javits Center features select international contemporary and modern art galleries, thoughtful programming and public art presentations that has made it a must-stop in the global art circuit. This year, it celebrates its 30th anniversary and they’ve just announced a blockbuster list of curators for three sections: Eugenie Tsai will curate the Platform section; Robyn Farrell will curate the Focus section; and Lauren Cornell will chair the seventh annual Curatorial Leadership Summit (CLS).
September 6-8, 2024; thearmoryshow.com
Frieze London
For over two decades, Frieze London has transformed The Regent’s Park into a hotbed of art and culture bringing together the world’s most respected contemporary art galleries and living artists in one thriving event that also includes Frieze Masters and Frieze Sculptures. The brand has notable international outposts including the five-year-old Frieze Los Angeles running from February 29 to March 3 at Santa Monica Airport; the respected Frieze New York held at The Shed from May 1-5; and the well-received Frieze Seoul running from September 4-7 at COEX. Their permanent exhibition space, No. 9 Cork Street in Mayfair, was also introduced in October 2021.
October 9-13, 2024; frieze.com
Art Cologne
This particular one has a solid claim to fame: Art Cologne in Germany is widely accepted as the first art fair in the world, and is still going strong after it was established in 1967. The 2023 edition welcomed 45,000 visitors from 68 countries who came to see exhibitions by 170 galleries, including Impressionist paintings, collectable design and a trove of multimedia work. It’s always a success for the participating galleries: in 2023, a work by Anselm Kiefer was sold by Thaddaeus Ropac for 1.2 million euros, topping the list of sales.
November 7-10, 2024; artcologne.com
West Bund Art & Design
One of the two main art fairs at Shanghai Art Week, West Bund Art & Design is fresh from its 10th anniversary celebrations in late 2023, which came at the perfect time as China opened its borders to the world. The last edition welcomed established galleries like Hauser & Wirth and Pace Gallery, and was graced by the presence of well-known collectors and dealers including K11 founder Adrian Cheng, Swiss collector Uli Sigg and art dealer Pearl Lam, as reported by ArtNet. At this year’s edition, expect to find local and international galleries showing coveted modern artwork as well as a trove of fringe events happening across Shanghai.
November 8-10, 2024; westbundshanghai.com
