Over the past 28 years, Art Paris has become a key moment in the cultural calendar. This April, the fair returns to the Grand Palais, offering an ambitious programme that supports the French scene, whilst fostering dialogue with artists and galleries from around the world. The 2026 edition welcomes 165 galleries from 20 countries, with 60% made up of French institutions, reflecting the fair’s ability to remain both regional and cosmopolitan. This year’s edition offers audiences the chance to witness the breadth of contemporary talent, encounter established masters and discover new voices on the scene.
Each year, the fair invites guest curators to tackle the themes and ideas that are defining our current moment. This year, that honour goes to Alexia Fabre, executive director of the Centre Pompidou Francilien in Massy, and Loïc Le Gall, director of the Passerelle Centre d’Art Contemporain in Brest. The former takes on the topic of Reparation, bringing together 20 international artists selected from participating galleries. She describes: “Reparation is a broad term: its meaning shifts across artists, cultures and temporalities. By making connections between the past, present and future, reparation evokes notions such as care, kindness and time spent preserving objects, ideas, people and stories. It seeks to put together fragments, to mend wounds – both physical and symbolic.” Those featured include Shilpa Gupta, presented by Galleria Continua, whose sculptures often navigate issues of identity, boundaries and personal agency. Elsewhere, A2Z Art Gallery’s presentation of Nge Lay includes work that reflects the artist’s concern about gender issues and the lack of freedom in her home country of Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the French language comes to the fore in Loïc Le Gall’s section, entitled Babel. Here, 21 artists explore “the richness and, at times, the enigmas of systems of signs and linguistic structures in French contemporary art.” It’s a fascinating approach, transforming something written and verbal into visual art, bringing a new perspective to linguistics. Renowned sculptor Tania Mouraud is on display by Galerie Claire Gastaud. Her work turns language into visual matter, confronting audiences with our perceptual limits. Pieces such as City Performance and Mots-Mêlés render text illegible, forcing viewers to engage with the physical form of the words, rather than just the meaning. Perhaps the most notable inclusion is Turner Prize-winning artist Laure Prouvost, whose practice centres on the subversion, mistranslation and reconstruction of language. She uses English, French and invented, often poetic, “childlike” lexicons to create multimedia installations that challenge the restrictive nature of traditional communication.
Art Paris 2026 brings audiences new themes, exhibitions and prizes, broadening the fair’s appeal for collectors, curators and visitors alike. Promises brings together 25 galleries that have existed for 10 years or less, providing a unique platform for flourishing creatives. Almost half are from outside of France, with countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Singapore and the USA. There’s also a selection of prizes to be handed out, including The BNP Paribas Banque Privée Prize, the Her Art Prize and Le FRENCH DESIGN prize, reaffirming Art Paris’ reputation as an influential platform for contemporary art. The expansive selection at this year’s event is a testament to the creative energy of the French art scene and the vibrant international dialogue it continues to foster.
Art Paris 2026 is at Grand Palais, Paris from 9 – 12 April: artparis.com
Words: Emma Jacob
Image Credits:
1. Sarfo Emmanuel Annor, Paralleled Paths, 2024. Photography, 66 x 100 cm. The Bridge Gallery.
2. Romain Laprade, Music Hall, Phoenix, 2024. Photography, 60 x 45 cm. Yvon Lambert.
3. Romain Laprade, Station Service, Colorado, 2024. Photography, 60 x 45 cm. Yvon Lambert.
4. Andrea Torres Balaguer, Lotus, 2022. Photography. 100 x 90cm. in camera.
5. Andrea Torres Balaguer, Swan, 2025. Photography. 140 x 110cm. in camera.
