There is no rest for the tired. In July, the mass effects of Basel in the art world continue, but many art galleries have to pack it all up again and make their way to one or more of the international or specialist art fairs held in July, or perhaps some of the smaller summer art events that gracefully toe the line between fair and festival. If you’re not already exhausted from June’s art fairs (and May’s art fairs, April’s art fairs, etc.), next month’s calendar offers a lighter load.
Linguistically, there are fine arts festivals that generate millions of dollars a year (Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival comes to mind) and smaller fairs that sometimes don’t, and in any given month, new art fairs appear and old ones are subject to delays and cancellations. There aren’t a lot of new entries on this year’s July art fair calendar, but you’ll likely notice some notable omissions. Side note: The Hamptons, for a time, had three or four major art fairs every summer — which worked for a post-Covid period because people were congregating again and the wealthy collectors who had been displaced to the East End had not yet moved to the city. Unfortunately, the only constant is change. With that in mind, here’s what’s happening this month:
Contemporary Riga 2026
July 2-5
Contemporary Riga In Latvia, it promises an impressive selection of artworks brought by 35 galleries from the Baltics, the Nordic countries, the USA, Japan and beyond. Founded by Kim? Center for Contemporary Art—yes, the punctuation is a little confusing—backed by NADA Co-Chair and Misako & Rosen Director Jeffrey Rosen, Riga Contemporary’s mission is twofold: to elevate the region’s art scene while bringing renowned galleries from around the world to Latvia. The fair is keeping booth fees modest to attract exhibitors and perhaps transform the traditional art fair into a more community-oriented and collaborative experience. Besides exhibitions and presentations, there will be a program of talks and performances involving artists, representatives of international galleries, art consultants, art collectors from the Baltic region and other creative industry professionals.
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 2026
July 10-12
Now in its 64th year, Canada’s largest and longest-running contemporary art event returns this year to Nathan Phillips Square. Tawaf The gallery began in the parking lot of the Four Seasons Motor Hotel in 1961, when philanthropists Murray and Marvell Koffler launched the gallery in partnership with former National Museum of Canada director Alan Jarvis and gallerist extraordinaire Jack Pollock (whose roster included David Hockney and Willem de Kooning) to highlight Canadian talent. In the past, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair—more of a festival than an exhibition—has featured artists such as Barbara Astman, David Blackwood, Harlan House, Joan Todd, and Jennifer Steed at various stages of their careers. Rain or shine, it’s a good time.
Art Santa Fe 2026
July 9-11
Art Santa Fea boutique art gallery in New Mexico held during Santa Fe Art Week, was founded in 2000 by gallery owner Charlotte Jackson. She sold the gallery to former gallery owner Eric Smith, now CEO of Redwood Media Group and producer of art shows such as Art Miami, in 2018. The gallery, which showcases prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, giclée, lithographs, and glasswares, is held annually at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center and is known for its exceptional display and well-curated selection of fine art, decorative arts, and design. The twenty-sixth edition will feature works from more than eighty-five galleries and independent artists – those looking for a bargain can head straight to the Discoveries collection, which offers pieces priced at $3,000 or less.
Hamptons Fine Arts Show 2026
July 9-12
When culturally attuned New Yorkers migrate en masse to the East End of Long Island, it can only mean one thing: ‘Tis art collecting season in the East. The Hamptons’ only international art fair and one of the country’s largest summer fairs, the Hamptons Fine Arts Fair, or HFAF, is held in a 70,000-square-foot complex on the Southampton Fairgrounds. Minutes from Southampton city center – and its chic shops, trendy restaurants, art galleries and museums – 19th Edition Hamptons Fine Arts Gallery It brings 120 exhibitors and galleries from around the world to Long Island. Collectors and art lovers can explore diverse works by rising contemporary art stars (look for local artists) and pieces by names known around the world, such as Picasso and Warhol. In addition to the usual booths, the Hamptons Fine Arts Fair has many events and social gatherings taking place over the busy weekend, including the always interesting Hamptons Artists Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Cairns Aboriginal Art Exhibition 2026
July 9-12
the Cairns Indigenous Art Gallery CIAF was established in 2009 as part of the Queensland Government’s Indigenous Arts Support Program, but became an independent entity in 2013, transitioning to a not-for-profit corporation governed by a skills-based board with significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation. Held annually in northern Australia, CIAF is known for its commitment to cultural exchange and provides a platform for Indigenous artists to present their artwork, fashion, performance works and music to an audience of national and international collectors, curators and the art-loving public. This year’s theme, Reclaiming and Renewing, “speaks of returning home, to memory, and to stories passed down through generations. It is an act of resistance and rebirth through reclaiming space through expressions of language, cultural identity, and spiritual connection.”
Ann Arbor Art Fair 2026
July 16-18
Art lovers looking for a relaxed fair experience with plenty of local flavor should make time for this Ann Arbor Art GalleryWhich is one of the largest and most prestigious art judging events in the country. Founded in 1960, it is also one of the oldest companies. For the sake of correctness, we should point out that the Ann Arbor Art Fair is actually three distinct events — the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (also known as the “Origin”), the Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair, and the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair — making it, for lack of a better description, a “distributed fair.” Together, the events that make up the Ann Arbor Art Fair span 30 cities and attract nearly 500,000 visitors annually, there to see fine arts and contemporary crafts brought by nearly 1,000 artists. There are also performances, hands-on art activities and street food, and the overall atmosphere is very much like a huge party. In fact, many Ann Arbor locals have expressed anger at the exhibit because of the crowding it causes — there have been protests in the past under the slogan “It’s not art, it’s not fair.”
Arte Art Fair Konstanz 2026
July 17-19
About 60 galleries will participate in this year’s exhibition Arte Art Gallery Konstanzis located in an exhibition space of 1,800 square meters in Konstanz, Germany. Also known as ARTe Kunstsalon, it is one of many ARTe art fairs taking place across Germany this year. What unites them? Since the first exhibition in 2015 at the Sindelfingen Trade Fair Centre, ARTe exhibitions have focused on open, airy spaces and the deliberate blending of contemporary and classic artworks. In Konstanz, most of the works on display are by exhibitors based in Germany and other EU countries. One attraction is the art historians who guide visitors through the exhibition, presenting the works in their historical contexts.
Seattle Art Fair 2026
July 23-26
Seattle Art Galleryfounded in 2015 by the late art collector and philanthropist Paul G. Allen to celebrate the region’s vibrant arts community, has become an essential part of the Pacific Northwest’s cultural calendar. Held at the Lumen Field Event Center, the fair showcases a variety of modern and contemporary art presented by approximately 90 local and foreign galleries. It is worth noting that Seattle’s arts scene has been greatly influenced by Allen, who founded the Seattle Museum of Popular Culture and whose foundation continues to distribute millions in arts grants in Washington. “In Seattle, people know who you are, and it’s a real community, and you can make really good use of it,” Nato Thompson, former artistic director of the Seattle Art Gallery, said in a 2019 conversation with the Observer. “I find that intimacy very exciting and something I gain from being involved in it.”
Intersect Aspen Art + Design 2026
July 28 – August 1
Aspen Junctionfounded in 2010, is a cornerstone of Aspen’s peak art season and summer cultural calendar. Taking place once again at the Aspen Ice Garden, this year’s edition features the largest lineup yet, with artwork submitted by more than 39 local, national and international galleries, and a robust program of artist-focused talks, tours and panel discussions. Known for its intimate atmosphere that facilitates direct interaction between collectors, galleries, and artists, Intersect Aspen also collaborates with local cultural non-profits such as Anderson Ranch Arts Center and Aspen Film to present a range of cultural and community initiatives outside of the gallery. “It’s not just about acquiring art, it’s about becoming part of a deeper cultural dialogue that defines the city of Aspen,” Tim von Gall, CEO of Intersect Art + Design, said in a statement.
Aspen Art Fair 2026
July 29 – August 1
Aspen always has hordes of visitors hoping to escape the heat and humidity of summer Aspen Art Gallerys third edition will attract thousands of collectors and enthusiasts looking to purchase some art while beating the heat. National and international art dealers and artists will gather at the historic Jerome Hotel during Aspen Art Week, with a lineup that includes Coloradan art galleries; Galleries from New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States; and art spaces as far-flung as Roncini in London, the Italian gallery SECCI and Galerie Gmorzynska in Zurich. Program highlights include a guided tour of the Aspen Art Museum featuring highlights from the ArtCrush auction, a home tour of Ernesto and Cecilia Puma’s personal art collection, a panel on evolving roles in art and film, and an agave tasting.
100% Designed by Africa 2026
July 30 – August 2
“Celebrating the pulse of African design” 100% Africa design It has become one of the continent’s leading international design shows, offering a selection of contemporary decorative arts, technology, product designs and furnishings (an interesting mix, to say the least). To keep pace with the ever-changing world of art, the event at the Sandton Convention Center in South Africa takes a “virtual” approach – blending digital storytelling with tangible objects and even entire exhibition spaces. Prepare to be surprised by what you see.
More at art fairs, biennales and biennials
