# Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL 2026 art fairs open at COEX

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/frieze-seoul-art-fair-development
> Updated: 2026-09-10T02:31:24.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 7.

Shinsegae Group has entered a five-year agreement to serve as the official headline partner for Frieze Seoul through 2030. The fair, held at COEX in Gangnam alongside the 25th anniversary of Kiaf SEOUL, has become a significant hub for the Asian art market. While the broader Korean art market has experienced a contraction for four consecutive years, the 2026 edition of the fairs opened on September 2 at the COEX convention center with high attendance during the VIP preview day. Kiaf reported visitor numbers comparable to the previous year. Frieze Seoul 2026 features 133 galleries from 30 countries, showcasing works by artists such as Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois, and Gerhard Richter, as well as prominent Korean artists Park Seo-bo and Do Ho Suh. High-value sales on the first day included an Adrian Ghenie work sold for 1.1 million euros and an Antony Gormley piece for 750,000 pounds. Kiaf SEOUL, organized by the Korea Art Fair Association, includes 175 galleries from 18 countries under the theme ‘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; Frieze Seoul will relocate to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in 2027 due to venue renovations, while Kiaf is expected to remain at COEX. Supporting these events, the ‘2026 Korea Art Festival’ is running throughout September, a nationwide initiative including four biennales and 96 participating museums. The festival’s ‘Art Travel’ program, which offers guided tours of museums, biennales, and artist studios, has seen high demand, with all 13 travel courses across five regions selling out within nine days of registration. The festival also includes experiential workshops in Dangjin and Wanju that integrate art and technology.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Korea Art Festival 2026 features nationwide Art Travel programs

The 2026 Korea Art Festival’s ‘Art Travel’ program is seeing high popularity, offering free guided tours of museums and artist studios across five regions in South Korea.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/korea-art-festival-2026-features-nationwide-art-travel-programs

### 2026-09-02: Kiaf and Frieze Seoul 2026 art fairs open at COEX

Kiaf SEOUL 2026 and Frieze Seoul 2026 opened at COEX, drawing significant crowds and high-value sales despite market concerns. The fairs will move to separate venues starting next year.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kiaf-and-frieze-seoul-2026-art-fairs-open-at-coex

### 2026-08-31: Seoul hosts major art and design fairs including Frieze and Design Miami

Seoul's art scene sees a major surge with the Frieze Seoul, KIAF, and Design Miami fairs, alongside prominent museum exhibitions across the city.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/seoul-hosts-major-art-and-design-fairs-including-frieze-and-design-miami

### 2026-08-31: Korea Art Festival launches nationwide through September

The 2026 Korea Art Festival kicks off this September, featuring 96 museums, four biennales, and major art fairs like Kiaf and Frieze Seoul, alongside various ticket discounts and travel programs.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/korea-art-festival-launches-nationwide-through-september

### 2026-08-26: Seoul hosts Frieze Seoul and Kiaf art fairs

Seoul hosts Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL this September, featuring over 300 galleries globally and citywide art programming, including collaborations between BMW Korea and artist Lee Kang-so.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/frieze-seoul-2026-attracts-bmw-korea-and-shinsegae-group

### 2026-08-18: Frieze Seoul strengthens Asia's position in the global art market

Frieze Seoul has elevated the city's global art profile, though the broader Korean art market faces a four-year contraction despite high museum attendance and favorable tax policies.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/frieze-seoul-strengthens-asias-position-in-the-global-art-market

### 2026-08-03: Shinsegae Group becomes headline partner of Frieze Seoul 2026 for five‑year deal

Shinsegae Group will be the headline partner of Frieze Seoul 2026, a five‑year deal through 2030, featuring a public Shinsegae lounge and aiming to boost Korean art’s global standing.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shinsegae-group-becomes-headline-partner-of-frieze-seoul-2026-for-fiveyear-deal

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Cite as: Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL 2026 art fairs open at COEX. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/frieze-seoul-art-fair-development