Art Cologne 2026

Art Cologne is the oldest art fair in the world, and its 59th edition takes place at Koelnmesse in Cologne from 5 to 8 November 2026. Around 170 to 200 galleries from Germany and abroad show modern and contemporary art, from classic modernism and post-war art to the latest work by young artists. The fair opens to the public on Thursday 5 November from 4pm, after a preview for invited guests and press.

About Art Cologne

The fair was founded in 1967 as the Kunstmarkt Köln, at a time when Cologne was one of the centres of the international art scene. It created the model that later fairs followed: galleries gathered in one hall, presenting their artists to collectors and the public over a few days. Today it is organised by Koelnmesse and remains one of the most important art fairs in the German-speaking world.

Art Cologne is known for its mix of periods. Next to galleries showing contemporary painting, sculpture, photography and installation, dealers present German Expressionism, the Bauhaus generation and post-war art, so the fair gives a broad view of a century of art.

What to Expect

• Contemporary Art: the largest sector, with leading German and international galleries
• Modern Art: classic modernism and post-war art, including works on paper and prints
• NEUMARKT: the platform for young galleries founded no more than ten years ago, showing cutting-edge work
• Collaborations: jointly curated presentations by two or more galleries
• NEW POSITIONS: a funding programme for young artists, presented with their galleries
• Talks and ARTtours: panel discussions, special exhibitions and guided tours run with ZADIK, the central archive for art market research

2026 Programme

The fair runs from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November 2026. After the preview on Thursday, public hours are 4pm to 8pm on Thursday, 11am to 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. The complete list of galleries and the hall plan are published on the official website at the end of October.

Who Is It For?

• Artists and students who want to see a wide range of modern and contemporary art in one place
• Collectors, from first-time buyers to established collectors
• Printmakers and illustrators, with many works on paper in the Modern Art sector
• Curators and art historians
• Anyone in the Rhineland interested in art

Tickets

Tickets are sold through the official Art Cologne ticket shop; listings give day tickets from around €25 to €39, depending on the ticket type. Check the official shop for current prices, reduced tickets and guided tours before you go.

Tips for Artists and Students

For young artists, NEUMARKT is the place to start. The galleries there are under ten years old and are often still building their programmes, so they show the work that may define the next generation. Notice how they present a single artist in a small booth, and how prices compare with the established galleries in the Contemporary sector.

The Modern Art sector is a lesson in art history you can walk through. Seeing Expressionist prints, Bauhaus works on paper and post-war paintings in the same hall helps you understand where much of today's art comes from. Many galleries there also deal in prints and drawings at prices that are lower than people expect.

The ARTtours are a good option if you visit the fair for the first time: guides take small groups through the halls and explain the market, the galleries and the highlights.

Planning Your Visit

Download the hall plan when it is published at the end of October and mark the galleries you want to see; the fair is large, and it is easy to spend a whole day in one sector. Start with NEUMARKT and the Collaborations presentations if you are interested in new work, then move on to the Modern Art galleries. Friday is a good day for a calm visit, while Saturday is the busiest. Many visitors combine the fair with the exhibitions at Museum Ludwig and the city's commercial galleries, some of which hold openings during the fair week.

Things to Know

• Getting there: Koelnmesse is across the Rhine from the cathedral; Köln Messe/Deutz station is a few minutes' walk away, with direct trains across Germany.
• Plan your route: the gallery list and hall plan are published shortly before the fair.
• Museums: Museum Ludwig and other Cologne museums are a short walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge.
• Weekdays: Friday is usually calmer than the weekend.
• Weather: early November in Cologne is cold and wet; there is a cloakroom.

Attend Art Cologne 2026

Planning a visit?

Visit Art Cologne

The gallery list, opening hours, hall plan and tickets are on the official Art Cologne website.

Looking for more to see? Browse all events, festivals and exhibitions on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 19, 2026