From 6 to 9 November 2025, the 58th edition of ART COLOGNE will open its doors – the world’s oldest art fair and still one of the most important meeting points for gallerists, collectors, and art enthusiasts. Director Daniel Hug looks ahead with optimism: more young galleries, returning international exhibitors, and a strong curatorial program.
Daniel Hug, Director ART COLOGNE: “In an increasingly digital world, meeting art - and the people behind it - in person remains irreplaceable. ART COLOGNE is the perfect place for that,” says Hug. For him, an art fair is not only about selling art but about encounters - with the works, the gallerists, collectors, and curators. “That’s the foundation of a great art fair – and it always will be.”
The NEUMARKT section will see a strong increase in young galleries – proof that ART COLOGNE remains relevant for a new generation of international artists. Alongside postwar classics, new collaborations in the COLLABORATIONS sector, and special exhibitions such as Klangwelten (LBBW) or Charlotte Zander, the fair continues to be a space for exchange, inspiration, and dialogue.
This year, more galleries from Spain will participate, including Galería F2 from Madrid and Galería Fermay from Palma. The COLLABORATIONS sector will feature a Mallorcan joint booth by Galería Baró, LaBibi + Reus, and Xavier Fiol, organized by the island’s gallery association Art Palma Contemporani – a partner of the new ART COLOGNE PALMA MALLORCA, debuting in April 2026.
Sprüth Magers continues its long-standing presence at ART COLOGNE with a group presentation reflecting both its deep Rhineland roots and global reach. The focus lies on artists who emerged from the region’s vibrant scene, including the Düsseldorf School of Photography with Bernd & Hilla Becher, Thomas Ruff, and Andreas Gursky. Gursky’s new work Thyssenkrupp, Duisburg will be shown alongside a large-scale photograph by Jean-Luc Mylayne. The presentation also includes works by George Condo – who had his first solo show with Monika Sprüth in Cologne in 1984 and is currently featured at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris – as well as Louise Lawler, Gala Porras-Kim, Hyun-Sook Song, Kara Walker, and John Bock, whose works are currently on view at Haus Mödrath near Cologne.
Our friends from Berlin-based DISTANZ Verlag are also presenting an exciting selection of art books. The publisher’s program explores new currents in contemporary art, addressing themes such as gender and queer theory, collectivity, sustainability, climate change, and artificial intelligence.
In front of the South Entrance, a bronze sculpture by Stefan Strumbel, presented by Ruttkowski;68, will welcome visitors. The art associations of North Rhine-Westphalia will again host a collective stand, showcasing their annual editions.
Just a few streets away from the fairgrounds and the city’s galleries lies Maison Marsil - a boutique hotel that has, for years, hosted artists, curators, and collectors during ART COLOGNE. The heritage-listed building, with its Mediterranean courtyard and urban charm, has become a creative meeting point – a place where conversations about art often continue long into the night. During ART COLOGNE week, the Maison Marsil team looks forward to welcoming familiar faces from the international art scene – and to meeting new guests who will discover the hotel as an inspiring retreat between the fair, the galleries, and Cologne’s vibrant cultural heart.