The 18th edition of India Art Fair will take place at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, from 4 – 7 February 2027
India Art Fair 2026 cemented its position as the preeminent platform driving one of the most dynamic art markets in the world, during a moment of global focus on South Asia. Now in its 17th year, and led in partnership with BMW India, India Art Fair took place at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi, from 5 to 8 February 2026, and activated the regional scene for a week of robust sales, dynamic programming, and vital cultural conversations. Now an essential stop on the global art route, the international collector and curatorial community attended in force to witness and discover the creativity and plurality of the subcontinent’s cultural landscape.
135 exhibitors, 94 galleries from around the world and 24 major art institutions
India Art Fair 2026 brought together a record 135 exhibitors, including 94 galleries from around the world and 24 major art institutions, an expanded design section, and extensive programming throughout the week. The fair followed a year of activations, major institutional partnerships, and cultural initiatives across South Asia, notably the launch of IAF EDI+IONS, a transformative addition to India Art Fair’s annual programme that extends its impact across the subcontinent, which had its inaugural showcase in Hyderabad in November 2025.
Jaya Asokan, Fair Director, India Art Fair
Jaya Asokan, Fair Director, India Art Fair comments: “With this edition, India Art Fair has entered a decisive new chapter. The eyes of the global art world are on South Asia, and India Art Fair 2026 met that moment; record exhibitor numbers, ambitious programming, and four days of palpable energy. India Art Fair allows visitors to experience the full breadth of South Asia’s contemporary art landscape in one place. Curators from major institutions walked the halls, collectors deepened their commitments to the region, and galleries reported exceptional engagement across every price point. Over the years we’ve been proud to build the essential gateway between South Asia and the international art world; our 2026 edition shows that that exchange now flows powerfully in both directions.”
Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India
Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India said: “BMW Group India’s decade-long partnership with India Art Fair reflects our unwavering belief that culture, creativity, and innovation are inseparable pillars of progress. Through ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission and our presence at this vibrant platform, we celebrate the power of artistic expression to shape a sustainable and inclusive future. The BMW Concept Speedtop, showcased this year, symbolises our commitment to pushing boundaries, where design, technology, and craftsmanship converge to inspire new horizons. Together with India Art Fair, we are proud to nurture a dynamic ecosystem where art and innovation fuel transformation, not just for the automotive world, but for society at large.”
International curators
International curators, institutions and artists at the fair included Dr. Amin Jaffer (Senior Curator, The Al Thani Collection), Manuel Rabaté (Incoming Director and CEO, KNMA), Sir Tristram Hunt (Director, Victoria and Albert Museum), Meneesha Kellay (Senior Curator, Victoria and Albert Museum), Dr. Alexandra Munroe (Senior Curator, Guggenheim Museum), Sam Bardaouil (Director, Hamburg Banhoff), Till Fellrath (Director, Hamburg Banhoff), Gary Tinterow (Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), Rachel Du (Principal Gifts Officer, Los Angeles County Museum of Art), Ingrid Moe (Head of International, MUNCH Museum), Victoria Lin (Director at TarraWarra Museum of Art), Emily Hannam (Curator, South Asia, Victoria and Albert Museum), Vivian Li (Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art at Dallas Museum of Art), Gowri Sharma (President of the board or Trustees, Dallas Museum Of Art), Aimee Froom (Curator, Arts of the Islamic World, Museum of Fine Arts), Dr. Yu Jin Seng (Senior Curator and Director, National Gallery Singapore), Amreen Bashir (CEO, Mubarak Ali Foundation) and Tanveer Bashir (COO, Mubarak Ali Foundation), Ai Weiwei (Artist), Ibrahim Mahama (Artist) and Umar Rashid (Artist).
Sir Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum said: “India Art Fair has brilliantly surfaced the energy, confidence, and ambitious diversity of contemporary South Asian art. The range of artists, galleries, and institutions represented speaks to a coming era of Indian art and design, whilst the talks programme reflected a critical and engaged intellectual and curatorial agenda. I look forward to returning.”
Dr. Alexandra Munroe, Senior Curator At Large, Global Arts, Guggenheim Museum and Foundation said: “India Art Fair is not only a tremendous opportunity to see the top galleries from the region presenting outstanding work from the region, but it is also an opportunity for stupendous collaborative events. I’ve been thrilled to work on one of them – Jitish Kallat’s solo show Conjectures On A Paper Sky at Bikaner House.”
Anu Menda, Managing Trustee of RMZ Foundation said: “More than a fair, India Art Fair is a barometer of where contemporary Indian art is heading – confident, layered, and globally resonant. It was especially meaningful to encounter many artists from our existing collection, discover new works by Tukral & Tagra at Carpenters, and see powerful female voices like Ashfika and Nibha Akkireddy and Nandini Bagla Chimar strongly foregrounded.”
Dynamic sales
Over the course of the fair week, galleries reported dynamic sales to both established and emerging collectors from the region and internationally. A snapshot of reported sales includes:
On day one Vadehra Art Gallery sold 80% of their booth, including works by Atul Dodiya, NS Harsha, Manjit Bawa, Anju Dodiya, and Sudhir Patwardhan. Prices spanned from USD $6000 to USD $600,000. Notable sales included acquisitions by Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and other prominent institutional collections. David Zwirner sold two sculptures by Huma Bhabha, a painting by Suzan Frecon and a photograph by Wolfgang Tillmans. Rajiv Menon Contemporary sold all but one work to a combination of domestic and international collectors. Works ranged from USD $5,000 to $35,000, with the majority between USD $10,000 and $20,000. During the fair, DAG successfully placed works each ranging between USD $55,000 to $1,300,000 USD by Radha Charan Bagchi, Sewak Ram, S. K. Bakre, Jamini Roy, Shanti Dave, Sohan Qadri, S G Thakar Singh, Meera Mukherjee, Krishen Khanna, Nandalal Bose, Madhvi Parekh and Sakti Burman. Studio SHED sold pieces ranging from USD $7200 to $27600.
James Green, Senior Director and Head of London, David Zwirner said: “Returning for the 5th time, we have delighted to see a market, and art eco-system, that is expanding and diversifying, and India Art Fair remains a critical part of that. The week has allowed us to re-connect with and sell to collectors and institutions we know, and are seeing more and more outside of India, and meet new clients and Foundations that are engaging with our artists in a very serious way.”
Prateek Raja, Co-Founder of Experimenter said: “We were very happy to return to India Art Fair with a presentation of works by 18 artists from the programme. Included in our booth were several new commissions by artists Kaveri Raina, Biraaj Dodiya, Sohrab Hura and Vikrant Bhise. We placed several works with new collectors. Over 90% of the presentation was sold. We placed significant works by several artists such as Aziz Hazara and Christopher Kulendran Thomas in museum collections in India and abroad.”
Maurizio Rigillo, Galleria Continua said: “It’s always a very good experience to be at India Art Fair. We participated in the very first three years of the fair, and have returned every year for the last four years, witnessing the fair’s amazing growth. It has been great to meet many new young collectors, and introduce international artists such as Daniel Buren to the South Asian market, alongside showing works by artists such as Ai Weiwei, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Anish Kapoor which have sold well.”
Aparajita Jain, Director at Nature Morte said: “India Art Fair, as always, is the most important moment in the year for Delhi’s art calendar. The quality of shows are incredible and it manages to draw local as well as national audiences. We sold most of our top tier works and are thrilled.”
Ashish Anand, CEO and MD, DAG said: “The strong opening day response to our booth at India Art Fair reflects the accelerating global recognition of South Asian modernism. We are seeing meaningful dialogue between international institutions, private collectors, and advisors — a sign of the market’s growing depth. India Art Fair continues to serve as a vital art platform for the region and the world, and this early momentum as well as multiple ongoing conversations about other works on display at the fair and our gallery suggest a very promising season ahead.”
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