Beijing

Last year, a massive banner that read “The Global Art Destination” dominated the halls of Gallery Weekend Beijing (GWBJ) 2024. The ambitious international theme was notably absent in this year’s edition. Now in its ninth iteration and held in tandem with the inaugural “Beijing Art Season,” GWBJ appears to have shifted away from its international outlook toward a renewed focus on the local. The change followed significant structural adjustments, including a transition from a pay-to-enter model to an invitation-only format, and coincided with broader transformations in Beijing’s art landscape, particularly the merger of the 798 and 751 districts in late 2024.