The thirtieth edition of miart 2026 marks a significant milestone in the history of the international fair dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The event, organized by Fiera Milano and directed by Nicola Ricciardi, will take place from April 17 to 19, 2026, with a VIP preview on April 16, in a new venue: the south wing of the Allianz MiCo, one of Europe's leading convention centers overlooking the CityLife district.
To celebrate this symbolic anniversary, the fair adopts the title New Directions, a tribute to the album released in 1963 by jazz musician John Coltrane on the centenary of his birth. The musical reference is no coincidence: the entire curatorial approach of the 2026 edition draws inspiration from the improvisation and dialogue typical of jazz, interpreted as a metaphor for contemporary artistic experimentation.
A new space for a changing fair
The move to the South Wing of the Allianz MiCo represents one of the most visible novelties of miart 2026The new three-level layout promises a more compact and dynamic exhibition experience, fostering interaction between galleries, artworks, and the public. The space, designed as a sort of "architectural score," aims to accommodate diverse artistic languages, balancing recognizability and experimentation.
A total of 160 galleries from 24 countries will be present, confirming the event's growing role in the European art fair circuit. The exhibition will span over a century of artistic history: from the masters of the early 20th century to the most contemporary, including post-World War II and collectible design.
International galleries and new protagonists
The 2026 edition also stands out for the presence of important galleries participating for the first time or returning after several years. These include Alfonso Artiaco from Naples, Bortolami from New York, DIE GALERIE from Frankfurt, Lyles & King from New York, Nino Mier Gallery with locations in New York and Brussels, Soft Opening from London, Trautwein Herleth from Berlin, and Kate Werble Gallery from New York.
Alongside the new exhibitors, many established artists have confirmed their participation, including APALAZZOGALLERY of Brescia, Ben Brown Fine Arts with offices in London, Hong Kong, and New York, Buchholz between Berlin and Cologne, Cardi Gallery between Milan and London, Sadie Coles HQ in London, Galleria Continua with international offices, Monica De Cardenas between Milan and Zuoz, Galerie Lelong in Paris, Mai 36 Galerie in Zurich, MASSIMODECARLO, Mazzoleni, Francesca Minini, Lia Rumma, Richard Saltoun, Tornabuoni Arte, and many others.
This combination of returning artists and newcomers strengthens the fair's curatorial profile and its appeal to collectors and industry professionals.
The sections of the fair
The exhibition itinerary of miart 2026 It is divided into three main sections, designed to offer a broad and detailed reading of the international art scene.
The Established section, with 111 galleries, represents the heart of the event. It hosts exhibitions by established artists, with works ranging from modern art to contemporary production.
Within this section, the new meta-section, Established Anthology, is born, involving 20 galleries with curatorial projects designed to explore the relationship between past and future. The works reflect on themes such as memory, the cyclical nature of time, transformation, and dystopian visions of tomorrow, creating a dialogue between modernist languages and current artistic practices.
The Emergent section, curated by Attilia Fattori Franchini, continues to focus on new generations of artists. With 29 galleries from around the world, it is a space dedicated to experimentation and the discovery of emerging talent. Among the galleries present are Amanita from New York and Rome, COMMUNE from Vienna, Crome Yellow M & C from Johannesburg, Ehrlich Steinberg from Los Angeles, Alice Folker Gallery from Copenhagen, Gaa between New York and Cologne, MERKUR from Istanbul, Satine from Venice, South Parade from London, and TBA from Warsaw.
The special project dedicated to art cinema
Among the new features of the 2026 edition is Movements, a special project dedicated to the language of moving images. The initiative is a collaboration with the St. Moritz Art Film Festival and is based on the theme: If Music, at the heart of the fifth edition of the festival.
Curated by Stefano Rabolli Pansera, artistic director of SMAFF, the program will feature films by artists represented by galleries participating in the fair. The aim is to create a direct dialogue between the gallery world and experimental film research.
In this context, music becomes a structural element of the visual work: not simply a sound accompaniment, but a device capable of generating rhythm, vibration, and new narrative dimensions.
Partnerships and Awards
As in previous editions, miart 2026 It also develops thanks to a network of institutional and private collaborations. The Intesa Sanpaolo Group has confirmed its role as main partner, supporting the event by presenting a selection of works from the Luigi and Peppino Agrati collection, now part of the bank's artistic heritage, in its lounge area.
Among the initiatives supporting artistic production, the Fondazione Fiera Milano Acquisition Fund stands out, a €100.000 fund dedicated to the acquisition of new works for the foundation's collection.
Numerous prizes were also awarded during the fair, from the Herno Prize for best exhibition stand to the LCA Studio Legale Prize for the Emergent section, the Orbital Cultura – Nexi Group Award for photography, and the Matteo Visconti di Modrone Prize, which offers a selected artist the opportunity to create a work at the historic Fonderia Artistica Battaglia.
Also returning are the Rotary Club Milano Brera Award, aimed at the acquisition of a work for the Museo del Novecento, and the Massimo Giorgetti Prize, designed to support young artists at the beginning of their careers.
Milan Art Week and the dialogue with the city
Alongside the fair, the city will also host a new edition of Milan Art Week, scheduled for April 13th to 19th. Coordinated by the City of Milan and organized by Arte Totale ETS, the event will involve museums, foundations, and cultural institutions with exhibitions, installations, meetings, and performances.
Among the highlights is the monographic exhibition dedicated to Australian artist Marco Fusinato at the PAC – Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, curated by Diego Sileo. The exhibition will present some of the artist's most recent works, including the performance Disasters, already a protagonist at the 2022 Venice Biennale.
A fair between memory and experimentation
With miart 2026Milan celebrates not only an anniversary but also an evolutionary step for the event. The event confirms its vocation for connecting different eras, languages, and artistic generations, in a context that invites galleries, artists, and the public to engage with new perspectives.
Like a jazz composition, where each instrument contributes to a collective balance, the fair aims to build a dialogue between tradition and innovation, reaffirming its roots while paving the way for new paths for contemporary art.
Emergent and Portal: at miart 2025 experimental visions also in the two curated sections
