French Auction Market Surges 22% in First Half of 2026
In the first half of 2026, the French auction sector experienced a resurgence, with the top ten auction houses generating €709 million in sales, marking a 22% rise from €579 million the previous year. Christie's topped the list with €224 million, reflecting a 43% increase, followed by Sotheby's at €133.5 million and Artcurial at €105 million. Millon reported a remarkable 49% growth, while Gros & Delettrez made their debut in the top ten. Giquello experienced a decline, and Tajan, Aguttes, and Hôtel Drouot did not reveal their figures. Artcurial maintained stability by delaying significant sales, and Millon's expansion contributed to its success. Notably, Monet's 'Vétheuil, effet du matin' fetched €10.2 million at Sotheby's, as online sales climbed to €450 million, a 19% increase.
Key facts
- Top ten French auction houses totaled €709 million in H1 2026, up 22% from €579 million year-on-year.
- Christie's led with €224 million (+43%), followed by Sotheby's at €133.5 million and Artcurial at €105 million.
- Millon saw a 49% increase; Gros & Delettrez entered the top ten; Giquello was the only house to decline.
- Tajan, Aguttes, and Hôtel Drouot did not publish mid-year results.
- Artcurial postponed major modern and contemporary art sales to autumn, during Art Basel Paris.
- Monet's 'Vétheuil, effet du matin' sold for €10.2 million at Sotheby's in April, the highest auction price in France this semester.
- Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne's 'La Pomme de Ben' fetched €7.5 million at Christie's in May.
- Interencheres online sales reached €450 million in H1 2026, up 19%, with fully digital sales up 51% and 132,000 new bidder accounts.
- Cécile Verdier (Christie's France) and Arnaud Cornette de Saint-Cyr (Bonhams Cornette de Saint-Cyr) commented on market resilience.
- The rebound follows a recovery in international markets since H2 2025, driven by major collections sold in New York.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Christie's
- Sotheby's
- Artcurial
- Millon
- Gros & Delettrez
- Giquello
- Tajan
- Aguttes
- Hôtel Drouot
- Bonhams Cornette de Saint-Cyr
- Interencheres
- Art Basel Paris
- Le Journal des Arts
Locations
- France
- Paris
- New York