The unanticipated disruptions of this past year serve as the graphic theme of ArtAsiaPacific’s Almanac 2026. From economic headwinds and geopolitical tensions to unnervingly rapid AI advancements, the art world has navigated a complex landscape. Yet amid this chaos, there is fertile ground for renewal. Our 14 city reports reveal how the Asia Pacific’s contemporary art ecosystem has thrived by embracing fluidity, hybridity, and bold reinvention. Our interviews feature several key figures impacting artists and their communities. Brisbane-based multidisciplinary artist Tony Albert discusses his role as artistic director of the fifth National Indigenous Art Triennial in Canberra, while Riyadh’s Abdulnasser Gharem reflects on how his Arts Tower (2025) has come to symbolize Saudi Arabia’s cultural metamorphosis. We also explore the in-roads made by emerging artist-organizers like Hong Kong’s Jeremy Ip, founder of WURE AREA. Museum leaders share their new institutional approaches—from Yukie Kamiya, chief curator at the National Art Center, Tokyo, recontextualizing Heisei-era art, to Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum executive director X Zhu-Nowell on her concept of a “resistant institution.” The Tselinny Center for Contemporary Culture’s director Jamilya Nurkalieva echoes this, detailing the establishment’s aim to empower Kazakh artists.
The Almanac chronicles how tumultuous changes have affected cities across Asia and the Pacific. From Seoul, Valentina Buzzi reports on the art scene’s questions of sustainability regarding Hallyu’s cultural momentum. Matt A. Hanson captures the internal conflicts in Istanbul’s art community, while Zian Chen explores the growing wave of populism in Taipei that is impacting both arts funding and creative practice. Bea Belen-Ferrer examines trends of self-archiving and the re-evaluation of Philippine art in Manila’s exhibitions. As Kittima Chareeprasit charts the flurry of new private art initiatives and cultural developments in Bangkok, Yvonne Wang analyzes how Singapore’s art calendar has transitioned from episodic marquee events to a steadier rhythm of both institutional and grassroots exhibition. Jennifer S. Li recounts a troubling year in Los Angeles, which began with devastating fires, followed by immigration raids and major gallery closures. Despite this, the city persists as a haven for cross-generational artists hailing from Asia.
Our Artists of the Year includes Saodat Ismailova, who probes Uzbekistan’s complex history through her mesmerizing films, as well as Singapore’s Ho Tzu Nyen, whose solo exhibitions offered a fascinating exploration on time, history, and mythmaking. We also spotlight the futuristic works of Ayoung Kim, which blend video, virtual reality, and AI to consider how technology shapes society and the gig economy. Colombian-Korean-American artist Gala Porras-Kim, known for her conservationist practice, had cross-continental shows and earned the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. The similarly active Shilpa Gupta held numerous solo exhibitions, beginning in Dubai and ending the year in Kochi. Our One to Watch in 2026 is Han Mengyun, who produced a new film during her residency in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and had further projects in China and beyond.
Across the region, we survey this year’s defining festivals—from the Sharjah Biennial to the Aichi Triennale. In our Exhibitions of the Year, we revisit landmark showcases in Melbourne, Tokyo, London, and San Francisco alongside Heman Chong’s witty critiques of bureaucracy in Singapore; Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook’s meditations on the human condition in Dubai; and Lee Bul’s breathtaking retrospective of utopia and its failures in Seoul. For Inside the Burger Collection, Harry C. H. Choi speaks with Kong Chun Hei about the influences shaping his quiet practice. Finally, we reassess the art fair and auction sectors, and highlight what’s in store for 2026, from new museums to flagship events and exhibitions.
The ArtAsiaPacific Almanac 2026 would not be possible without the generous support of Burger Collection, Ann Tranqui & Hossein Zaimi, Eiko & Keita Arisawa, 100 Tonson Art Foundation, Bangkok Art Biennale, Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, The Private Museum, Soluna Fine Art, STPI, Art Jakarta, Nicole Schoeni, and Nicola Chu. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the contributors, artists, curators, organizations that shared their time, insight, images, and knowledge so graciously throughout the year. May 2026 bring fearless experimentation, deeper solidarities, and the joyful chaos that drives art ever forward.
A digital edition of the full ArtAsiaPacific Almanac 2026 is now available for purchase on Zinio, Google Play, iTunes, and Magzter.
