Rakajoo A link to the past, courtesy of the artist, Danysz
Art Genève 2026 brings together 81 exhibitors from January 29 to February 1, with a strong French presence (Lelong, Mennour, Semiose, Christophe Gaillard, Les Filles du Calvaire…), as well as Swiss galleries (Hauser & Wirth, Xippas, Gowen, Skopia…) and a broader European contingent, with England making a comeback (Seventeen, Waddington Custot), as highlighted by director Charlotte Diwan.
She reflects on the key highlights of this 14th edition, including the notable number of solo exhibitions, the third edition of the Sur-Mesure platform, which presents seven monumental works to be experienced for the first time within the fair’s aisles, and the expanded “Special Projects” section. Concurrently, Art Genève/Musique will take place at the Temple de la Servette, in collaboration with MAMCO, prior to the building’s forthcoming demolition, offering a unique off-site engagement with contemporary sound and performance.
In addition, Charlotte explains why Art Monte Carlo is returning to its original spring dates. She answered my questions.
What emerges from this 14th edition bringing together 81 participants ?
We are maintaining a format that has remained the same since I took over the direction three years ago, namely 81 participants (65 galleries and 16 institutions). Our focus is very much on the quality of the projects, with the most demanding possible selection based on applications. We also note that this scale makes it possible to build long-term relationships with our exhibitors and to offer sufficiently generous visibility to each gallery. It is a size that is highly appreciated not only by exhibitors, but also by the fair’s visitors and collectors. It now reflects our desire to maintain this number of exhibitors.
It should also be noted that the gallery offering is complemented by the rich “Special Projects” program, initiated by institutional and private foundations or collections, featuring activations, performances, talks, concerts, and guided tours.
Irma Blank, Radical Writings 1987 courtesy of the artist, Catherine Duret galerie
Solo shows : a strong trend ?
We are indeed seeing a growing demand for this sector, which totals 30 solo exhibitions. This section, launched three years ago, allows certain galleries to access the fair with a moderate level of risk and under more accessible conditions. It is a format particularly appreciated by young galleries, bringing together 16 proposals this year.
In addition, within the main section, 15 further solo exhibitions will be presented alongside the traditional booths.
The Art Genève–Piaget Solo Prize will be awarded to one of these exhibitions.
Petrit Halilaj & Alvaro Urbano
20th October 2020 – Pear, 2025
courtesy of the artist, MENNOUR
Could you present some of the “Special Projects”?
Among the Special Projects led by institutions, private collections, foundations, art spaces, and art schools, the following stand out:
- Fondation Antoine de Galbert, which will inaugurate an exhibition dedicated to Japanese artist Nobuko Tsuchiya, winner of the second Jean Chatelus / Cité internationale des arts residency.
- École des Arts Décoratifs – PSL (Paris) will unveil AFTER Project Room, a project bringing together 20 works by 7 young artists and designers, offering a panorama of the decorative arts.
- MAMCO celebrates 10 years of the “In Course of Acquisitions” project through a mini-retrospective of works acquired at the fair, following the principle of an empty stand that gradually fills up throughout the fair.
- The Swiss Institute New York is innovating with ESPRESSOBAR, a collaborative project combining play and performance in a hybrid space designed by Egill Sæbjörnsson, Theo Triantafyllidis, and Polina Miliou.
- Fondation Plaza presents “Plaza Crosses the Screen”, an immersive and interactive cinema powered by artificial intelligence, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the sets of their favorite films.
In addition, in terms of programming, a number of Swiss institutions are represented as usual, including the Musée d’art et d’histoire, the Centre d’art contemporain, the Centre de la photographie, and the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Leonor Fini, Portrait féminin 1939-1942
courtesy of the artist, Durazzo galerie
Art Genève Musique is relocating this year to the Temple de la Servette, in collaboration with MAMCO. How did this project come about ?
Art Genève Musique is a program that has been developed for over a decade, with the objective of exploring voice and sound within contemporary art practices. Each year, the program is curated by Augustin Maurs and Catherine Othenin-Girard. This edition provided the opportunity to conceive an off-site project and to experiment with a renewed and unprecedented format.
The Temple de la Servette is an emblematic yet largely unknown site, built in the 1970s in a brutalist architectural style in Geneva’s Servette district and currently slated for demolition.
Conceived not as an exhibition but as a series of performances, AVANT LA DÉMOLITION brings together works by Monica Bonvicini, Alicia Frankovich, Hanne Lippard, and Renato Grieco, each responding to the site’s specific architectural context and its imminent transformation.
Gabriele Beveridge, Prophetic Souls, 2024, courtesy of the artist, Seventeen gallery
Art Monte-Carlo is changing its dates: why?
This change follows requests from our exhibitors. The fair was originally held in late April, before being moved to July in the wake of the Covid pandemic. While this summer timeframe offered certain advantages, particularly by avoiding competition with other fairs and benefiting from an audience already present on the French Riviera, galleries have since expressed the wish to return to the original spring period in order to optimize attendance
and broaden the fair’s audience.
Monaco Art Week will be developed in close resonance with these new dates.
Practical Information :
Art Genève 2026
Jan. 29, Feb. 1
Opening hours :
Thursday: 12pm – 7pm
Friday: 12pm – 8pm
Saturday: 12pm – 7pm
Sunday: 12pm – 6pm
Ticketing
The ticket office is open.