Art Basel Hong Kong will return for its 2026 edition from March 27–29 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with preview days on March 25–26. Bringing together 240 galleries from 41 countries and territories, the fair continues to strengthen its position as a premier platform for the Asia-Pacific art market. Notably, over half of the participating galleries maintain locations in the region, including 29 from Hong Kong.

Among the fair’s new initiatives is “Echoes,” a sector dedicated to focused presentations of recent works created within the past five years. Comprising ten curated booths, each spotlighting up to three artists, the sector offers a more intimate viewing experience within the broader fair structure. Early highlights include an immersive installation by Polish artist Natalia Załuska at Double Q Gallery (Hong Kong) and works by Tiffany Chung and Miler Lagos at Max Estrella (Madrid). 32 of the participating galleries will make their debut at the fair, including Sydney’s The Commercial and Tokyo’s A Lighthouse called Kanata, along with other newcomers from South Korea, Mainland China, and Southeast Asia.

For the first time, the “Encounters” section will be curated by a team of four Asia-based curators led by Mami Kataoka (Director, Mori Art Museum), alongside Isabella Tam (M+, Hong Kong), Alia Swastika (Jakarta), and Hirokazu Tokuyama (Mori Art Museum). This collaborative approach replaces the traditional single-curator model, bringing diverse regional perspectives to the large-scale installations and performances throughout the fair.

Beyond the convention center, the fair’s public programming continues to expand. Media artist Ellen Pau will curate the “Film Program,” the first artist to undertake the role. Venus Lau, director of Museum MACAN Jakarta, will direct a segment of the “Conversations” series. Additionally, Art Basel and M+ will once again co-commission a work for the M+ Facade, featuring Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander’s animated piece, 3 to 12 Nautical Miles (2026), which explores historical and contemporary trade networks.

Louis Lu is an associate editor at ArtAsiaPacific.