Kiaf and Frieze Seoul 2026 art fairs open at COEX

The Kiaf SEOUL 2026 and Frieze Seoul 2026 art fairs opened simultaneously on September 2 at the COEX convention center in Seoul. Despite concerns regarding a broader economic downturn in the art market, the event saw high attendance during the VIP preview day, with Kiaf reporting visitor numbers comparable to the previous year.

Frieze Seoul features 133 galleries from 30 countries and regions, showcasing works by international artists such as Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois, and Gerhard Richter, alongside prominent Korean artists like Park Seo-bo and Do Ho Suh. Notable high-value sales on the first day included an Adrian Ghenie work sold for 1.1 million euros at Thaddaeus Ropax and an Antony Gormley piece for 750,000 pounds.

Kiaf SEOUL, organized by the Korea Art Fair Association, includes 175 galleries from 18 countries. This year’s theme is ‘Coexistence,’ featuring branding and spatial design by creative director Jung Ku-ho.

This marks the final year the two fairs will be held jointly at COEX. Due to upcoming renovations at the venue, the fairs will move to separate locations starting next year, with Frieze Seoul relocating to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and Kiaf remaining at COEX.