Art Basel, the world’s biggest art fair, has announced its decision to postpone this year’s edition due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Usually held in June, the fair has been delayed until Autumn with plans to take place between 17–20 September at Messe Basel. The decision comes in the wake of Art Basel Hong Kong’s cancellation, which the group confirmed just six weeks before the fair was due to take place in March.
Global Director of Art Basel Marc Spiegler has said in a statement: ‘We thank our galleries for the support and understanding of our highly complex decision to postpone the fair. We hope that the situation improves swiftly, and we will work closely with our exhibitors to deliver a successful fair in September. At the same time, we are aware of how dynamic the COVID-19 situation is and will continue to monitor the developments closely. The health and safety of our exhibitors, partners, guests, and teams remains our main priority, and we will adapt all our planning to the developing situation.’
This month, Art Basel launched its new Online Viewing Rooms as a digital platform from which to support galleries that were planning to participate in the Hong Kong edition of the fair.
Liste, the dates of which normally coincide with Art Basel’s June opening, has also confirmed its postponement to 16–20 September. A statement from the fair’s organisers reads: ‘Postponing the fair enables Liste to uphold its high standards of bringing together the world’s most exceptional galleries from a younger generation, of giving galleries located beyond art metropolises an international platform, and of having galleries present their programmes abroad for the first time.’
The June Art Fair, which takes place in Basel, has announced new dates due. The annual art fair now in its second year, will take place in autumn between 14–20 September to coincide with the new dates for Art Basel. It will be held at Riehenstrasse 90B, close to Art Basel’s location at Messeplatz.
Updated 31 March 2020
