Three Auction Houses Aim for $2.6 Billion in Spring Sales

Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips are targeting over $2.6 billion in art sales during a two-week spring auction season starting May 13, 2026. This figure is well below the $3.2 billion peak of November 2022 but 60% higher than last May’s $1.6 billion high estimate. Eleven lots are expected to exceed $50 million, compared to only two in May 2025. The season’s most valuable works include pieces by Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, sourced from estates of notable collectors such as S.I. Newhouse, Agnes Gund, Marian Goodman, and Robert Mnuchin. Betsy Bickar, head of art advisory at Citi Wealth, noted the intersection of art market and art history. Previous auctions had struggled with imperfect headliners, including an unsold Alberto Giacometti bust and novelty lots like a $6.2 million banana and a golden toilet titled “America.”