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Artprice Releases its 33rd Annual Contemporary Art Market Report for 2026: Record Transactions, Price Trends, the Balance of Market Power, and Artists from the Global South

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  • Artprice published its 33rd annual Contemporary Art Market Report covering the period from July 2025 to June 2026.
  • Global fine art auction sales increased by 41% during the reporting period, driven primarily by modern & postwar works rather than contemporary art.
  • Contemporary art sales value rose modestly by 6% while sales volume grew by 9%, setting a new record for lots sold for the sixth consecutive year.
  • The segment of artists under 40 contracted by 26.6%, widening the gap between ultra-contemporary art & the rest of the market.
  • The entire $100 million increase in global contemporary art auction sales was recorded in the United States.
  • Two Basquiat paintings significantly boosted U.S. high-end sales, though American artists accounted for half of all million-dollar results globally.
  • China's auction sales fell by 18% despite retaining around 40 million-dollar results in Hong Kong & Beijing.
  • France posted 22% growth in sales value & an 18% increase in transactions, ranking third worldwide by volume.
  • The United Kingdom remained stable as the third-largest market, while the Middle East saw sales drop by 28% due to geopolitical instability.
  • The report analyzes price formation drivers including long-term adjustments, rising fees, & geopolitical factors affecting the global market.
  • Thierry Ehrmann released a new book titled "Dialogue Between a Thinker and AI," which was assessed by nine major AI engines.
  • The report methodology covers public auction sales of fine art & NFTs for artists born after 1945, excluding antiques & furniture.
  • Artprice data spans 64 countries, 558 cities, & 1,055 auction houses with a database containing over 30 million indices & 181 million images.