Art Basel Director Calls for Single Major Italian Art Fair

Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel, argues that Italy has too many large art fairs. In an interview with Artribune, he states that three major fairs—Artissima, Miart, and ArteFiera—are excessive for the country, and even two would be too many. He proposes a rotation system among Turin, Milan, and Bologna to preserve their economic and artistic benefits. De Bellis also criticizes Italy's high VAT rates on art, urging a reduction to 5% to match France and improve competitiveness. He announces that Art Basel Qatar will launch in Doha in February 2026, expanding into the MENASA region. The first Art Basel Awards will be presented at the Basel fair in June 2025, celebrating various art world figures with a focus on future support. De Bellis describes the current art market not as contracting but as returning to a 'degree zero' after exceptional growth, with mid-size galleries facing the most pressure. He defends Art Basel's gallery relocation policies, noting that 58 galleries were moved for the 2025 Basel edition to accommodate a new section without expanding physical space.