Art Busan 2026 Restructures Fair with Design and Curation Focus

ART BUSAN 2026, celebrating its 15th anniversary, is redefining the art fair model by integrating collectible design and curated spatial experiences. Held at BEXCO in Busan from May 21 to 24, the fair brings together over 110 galleries from 18 countries. Two new segments, DEFINE and LIGHTHAUS, aim to foster long-term collecting over speculative buying. DEFINE introduces furniture, craft, and functional objects from participants including Karimoku, Fritz Hansen, Galerie Philia, and Kengo Kuma. LIGHTHAUS features a 'booth-in-booth' structure with galleries like Whitestone Gallery, PS CENTER, and OKNP × Ginza Tsutaya Books. Notable presentations include Kukje Gallery's solo booth of Julian Opie, Leeahn Gallery's 'collector house' format, and Wooson Gallery's showcase of Yukimasa Ida. The fair positions itself as a platform connecting art, design, architecture, and daily life, aiming for a more sustainable Korean art market.