Artprice Publishes Its 33rd Annual Report on the Contemporary Art Market for 2026
Artprice has released its 33rd annual report analyzing the global contemporary art market, highlighting a modest recovery and structural changes. Between July 2025 and June 2026, total fine art auction sales rose by 41%, driven primarily by modern and post-war works rather than contemporary pieces. The contemporary segment saw a more moderate increase of +6% in value but set new records for volume (+9%) and number of lots sold. The report notes that the ultra-contemporary sector—works from artists under 40—is still declining (-26.6%), widening its gap with other market segments. The U.S. remains dominant, accounting for most global contemporary art sales growth, partly due to high-profile Basquiat paintings. Meanwhile, China's market declined by -18%, though it maintained a significant number of million-dollar results. The report also highlights the geographic concentration and shifting dynamics in key markets like Asia while emphasizing that some price corrections are helping stabilize speculative trends.
