12th Barcelona Symposium

Talking Galleries, the think tank for galleries, is proud to announce the 12th edition of the Barcelona Symposium, taking place on October 5 and 6, 2026, at the MACBA Auditorium in Barcelona, Spain.

Purchase your tickets here.

Established in Barcelona in 2011, Talking Galleries was created as a platform through which art professionals could exchange knowledge, experiences and perspectives on the challenges facing the gallery sector. Its Barcelona Symposium has since developed into an international meeting point for gallerists and other art professionals, combining practical insight into the realities of running a gallery with a broader reflection on the cultural, economic and technological changes affecting the field.

For its 2026 edition, the programme brings together different generations and perspectives to consider some of the questions currently shaping the profession. Discussions will address the ongoing relevance and evolving role of art galleries, new generations of collectors, developments in the digital art field and the changing landscape of the online art market, as well as the increasingly close relationship between art, luxury and power.

An important part of the Symposium remains the opportunity to hear directly from gallerists about the experiences and decisions that have shaped their careers. This year, Victor Gisler (Mai 36 Galerie), Massimo De Carlo (MASSIMODECARLO), Jennifert Chert (ChertLüdde) and Jocelyn Wolff (Galerie Jocelyn Wolff) will take part in conversations reflecting on their trajectories and on what it means to build and develop a gallery programme over time.

The 2026 programme will also feature Ignasi Aballí (artist), Georgina Adam (journalist and author), Montse Badia (art historian), Carolina Ciuti (independent curator / exibart.es), Natasha Degen (Sotheby’s Institute of Art), Michael Elmgreen (Elmgreen & Dragset), Alexander Forbes (Artsy / Artnet), Marc Francés (collector), Carles Guerra (curator and researcher), Llucià Homs (Talking Galleries), Phin Jennings (writer and researcher), Samuel Leuenberger (curator / SALTS), Mischa Lustin (Galerina), Pedro Maisterra (Maisterra), Divya Pande (Victoria Miró), Rosario Peiró (Museu Picasso Barcelona), Tom Seymour (The Art Journal), and Pau Waelder (Niio.art).

On the afternoon of Tuesday, October 6, the Symposium will also feature a special screening of the documentary Warhol–Vijande, revisiting Andy Warhol’s 1983 visit to Madrid and his relationship with the influential Spanish gallerist Fernando Vijande.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this gathering. Secure your spot and purchase your tickets here.

The full programme of the Barcelona Symposium 2026 is available here.

About Talking Galleries
Talking Galleries is a Spanish non-profit think tank founded in Barcelona in 2011, dedicated to generating knowledge and fostering debate about art galleries and the global art market. In addition to its annual Barcelona Symposium, the organisation has presented international programmes in New York, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, London and Berlin. Its activities also include educational and publishing initiatives, with recordings of past events and other resources made freely available to the public.

For further information, please contact: talking@talkinggalleries.com.