In this season of generosity, Art Basel has quietly introduced something resembling altruism.
According to some first- and second-time exhibitors at Art Basel Paris, the fair has been offering discounts on booth fees to new exhibitors — 20% for “freshmen” and 10% for “second-years.” Shortly after Labor Day, the gallery received an email notification.
Multiple dealers confirmed receipt of the email, and while it’s unclear exactly when the policy began, one New York gallerist said the practice has been in place since Art Basel Miami Beach 2021. Vincenzo de Bellis, chief artistic officer and global director of the show, confirmed that such plans are already in place.
“Our step-up model offers lower fees to galleries participating in our major areas for the first or second time,” de Bellis told art news in an email. “This is an important measure to encourage new exhibitors and support them in building their presence within Art Basel’s global network.”
De Bellis continued: “We are excited to further strengthen this approach with a significant 5% increase in discounts at each level through 2026, reaching 25% for first-year exhibitors and 15% for second-year galleries. This reflects our long-term commitment to nurturing and sustaining a healthy, vibrant ecosystem where new voices can continue to thrive alongside the most established players.”
Discounts are offered at every edition of Art Basel in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Miami Beach, with the new edition launching in Qatar next year.
The offers feel like rare moments of financial mercy in a fair tour that is showing signs of strain. A report released earlier this year by First Tuesday, a London-based art sales intelligence company, found that 46% of galleries surveyed said they spent about $40,000 to attend an art fair, with nearly a fifth spending between $66,000 and $133,000. Unsurprisingly, more than 80% of respondents cited participation costs as their biggest headache. “The current model feels unsustainable,” said one gallerist.
Global art sales fell 12% last year to $57.5 billion, according to April data Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Reportmarking the second straight year of contraction and the slowest pace of growth since the pandemic. Still, the show remains crucial but costly for dealers, who now must contend with higher shipping costs, slower buying and newly reimposed tariffs by the Trump administration.
Against this backdrop, Art Basel’s discounts might seem like a selfish attempt to retain fresh blood at the show. But it could also be seen as a recognition of how fragile the pipeline has become. In an industry where even the smallest gesture can feel revolutionary, a 20% discount on booth fees might be read as radical compassion.
