About
How Art Basel became the preeminent global platform for art
Basel 1970: An international art fair is born
Founded in Basel, Switzerland, by local gallerists Trudl Bruckner, Balz Hilt, and Ernst Beyeler, Art Basel was launched in 1970 as a bold experiment—one conceived by gallerists, for the benefit of galleries, artists and collectors. From the outset, it combined commercial rigor with curatorial ambition, bringing together 90 leading galleries and 30 publishers from 10 countries, and showcasing artists from across Europe and beyond.
The inaugural edition welcomed over 16,000 visitors and introduced thematic exhibitions and forward-looking thematic sectors such as New Trends, establishing Art Basel early on as a site for discovery, experimentation, and international exchange.
1980s
Expanded formats and growing international reach
During the 1980s, Art Basel consolidated its position as a major international meeting point for the contemporary art world. New sectors including Art Forum, Film & Video, and Perspective broadened the fair’s scope, reflecting an expanding understanding of contemporary artistic practice across media.
In 1989, Art Basel celebrated the 150th anniversary of photography as a critical artistic medium, with 16 galleries presenting curated presentations and thematic exhibitions that contributed to its growing recognition within the art fair context globally.
1990s
Raising standards and strengthening the ecosystem
Early in the decade, Art Basel introduced a more rigorous and structured gallery selection process, reinforcing quality, transparency, and curatorial coherence. This approach – with an independent selection committee at its heart – set new benchmarks for art fairs internationally and helped define the professional standards that continue to shape the sector today.
The 90s also saw Art Basel deepen its engagement with social responsibility. In 1991, the fair opened with Art Against AIDS, a benefit initiative responding to a global medical crisis and mobilising the art community in support of urgent public health efforts.
In 1996, the Statementssector – dedicated to emerging artists – was introduced and in 1999, the Baloise Art Prize was established, providing long-term support to artists presented in the sector.
Long-term partnerships began to play a growing role in supporting the fair’s development. Swiss Bank Corporation became a principal partner in 1994. Later merging into UBS and now our global lead partner, they sit within a broad and diverse international roster of partnerships across geographies and sectors. Together, these relationships help drive sustained investment in quality, infrastructure, and programming across our platform.
2000s
International expansion and new scales of ambition
In 2002, Art Basel launched Art Basel Miami Beach, marking its first edition outside Switzerland. The fair created a vital transatlantic platform connecting North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean, and signalled a new phase of international expansion.
Back in Basel, the early 2000s saw the introduction of Unlimited, a sector dedicated to monumental, large-scale works that exceed the limits of the traditional booth. Presented at institutional scale, Unlimited fundamentally expanded what an art fair could accommodate and remains one of Art Basel’s most defining innovations (reflected in the curated format of our inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar).
During this period, Art Basel also strengthened its role as a site for critical exchange through the expansion of its talks program – now known as Conversations – and through large-scale curated projects presented on Messeplatz under the banner Public, foregrounding ambitious works in the civic realm.
2010s
Establishing a global network – and bridging East and West
The 2010s marked a decade of further expansion. The launch of Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013 extended Art Basel’s presence into Asia, creating a platform that reflects the region’s artistic production, market dynamics, and institutional landscapes, while fostering dialogue across continents.
In 2017, Art Basel and UBS commissioned the first Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, authored by Clare McAndrew. Now a long-standing annual publication, the report has become a widely referenced industry benchmark, offering macro-level insights into the global art market.
2020s
New cities, new models
In 2022, Art Basel launched its Paris edition at the Grand Palais Éphémère, two years later graduating to the monumental restored Grand Palais – opening a significant new chapter in the fair’s European presence. The Paris fair is accompanied by an extensive public program across the city and its institutions and collaborates with the city’s broader creative industries – cementing Art Basel as a cultural and civic powerhouse.
In 2025, Art Basel introduced the Art Basel Awards, recognising excellence and impact across the global art ecosystem. Presented in partnership with BOSS, the 36 inaugural medalists were honoured in Basel, with the final cohort of Gold Awardees announced in Miami Beach. The 2025 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach also hosted the first edition of Zero 10, Art Basel’s new global initiative dedicated to art of the digital era. Uniting artists and innovators in this burgeoning discipline with global art market infrastructure, Zero 10 will roll out across future Art Basel fairs – next at Art Basel Hong Kong in March 2026.
In 2025, Art Basel announced the launch of a new fair in Qatar, opening in February 2026. Presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+, and with Visit Qatar as lead parter, this newest Art Basel fair is embedded within the country’s burgeoning cultural infrastructure – and is committed to catalyse the market and ecosystem across the wider MENASA region.
Today
Building on a five-decade legacy
Today, Art Basel operates as the preeminent global marketplace for art, bringing international fairs, year-round initiatives, research, awards, and partnerships onto a single powerful platform.
Grounded in history but focused on innovation, Art Basel builds on more than five decades of trust, rigor, and ambition – remaining committed to excellence, integrity, and the continual evolution of the global art ecosystem.