Seoul's Gallery Art Fair Returns as Largest Ever Edition, 169 Galleries
Seoul’s long-running Gallery Art Fair returns next spring, with the 2026 edition set to run April 8–12 at COEX in the capital’s Gangnam district. The Korea Gallery Association (KGA) says the event will be the largest ever, featuring 169 domestic galleries and marking its 44th edition.
This year the fair expands its spotlight on individual artists through an enlarged Solo Booth section, which will showcase 19 galleries and a broad roster of contemporary artists. The format aims to give more artists a concentrated platform and reflect Korea’s vibrant, diverse modern-art scene to domestic and international collectors.
Among the participating Solo Booth galleries are PKM Gallery, Gana Art, Gallery Miru Namoo, Hakgojae, and others. The sections include works by leading Korean and international artists, with a mix of painting, sculpture, installation and media works. Notable included artists span both established figures and rising talents.
A centerpiece of the fair is a 50th-anniversary special exhibition for the Korean Gallery Association. The show will trace the association’s history and its role in shaping Korea’s art market, drawing on archival materials such as its magazine, early fair catalogs, and previously unpublished photographs.
As part of new-artist initiatives, the fair will run the Zoom-In Edition program for emerging artists. This seventh edition selected 10 artists from roughly 700 applications. The 10 finalists include Kim Su-yeon, Park Si-wol, Song Da-seul, Yoon In-seon, Lee Soo-ji, Lee Shin-a, Lee Jin-i, Jeong Mi-jeong, Jeong Jin, and Ha Seong-uk, with coordinated support from participating galleries and curators.
The event also features artist talks and curator-led programs to deepen visitors’ understanding of the art market. Highlights include sessions on art authentication and market trends, designed to help first-time collectors and general audiences engage with contemporary Korean art.
Corporate support for the fair includes Welcom Savings Bank as a lead partner, with KB Financial Group continuing as the Zoom-In program partner. The KB Group will award two “KB Star” prizes—one for painting and one for sculpture—selected from the Zoom-In participants. Tickets go on sale through the official site: general admission is 20,000 won, with a 15,000 won rate for students and art professionals.
For U.S. readers, the fair matters beyond Korea because it illustrates Korea’s maturing role in the global contemporary-art market. The expansion of solo booths signals growing opportunities for international galleries and collectors to discover Korean and Asian artists early in their careers. The event also reflects how major Asian art hubs coordinate with corporate and cultural institutions to sustain a pipeline of emerging talent, which could affect cross-border acquisitions, gallery partnerships, and investment interest among American collectors and institutions.