India Art Fair Returns For The 17th Edition In Delhi Bringing 123 Exhibitors
One of the biggest art fairs in South Asia, India Art Fair 2026 brings 123 exhibitors, 87 galleries, and 24 major art institutions along with round the year initiatives which strengthen art ecosystem in the country in regional cultural hubs
Each February, Delhi turns into a beating heart of South Asian art with the much-awaited India Art Fair. This year the festival returns for its 17th edition, a landmark celebration of imagination and identity, taking place from February 5–8, 2026, at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds. In partnership with BMW India, the fair is happening at an unprecedented scale, bringing together 123 exhibitors, 87 galleries, and 24 major art institutions.
This year also marks a significant expansion for the fair’s cultural footprint through IAF EDI+IONS, a new initiative extending the dialogue beyond Delhi. Its debut chapter in Hyderabad which took place in early November set the tone for a more connected, all-year art ecosystem across India.
Jaya Asokan, Fair Director, India Art Fair shares, “The 17th edition of India Art Fair marks a
watershed moment for us—not just in scale, but in reach. With a record number of exhibitors and a truly
global line-up, India Art Fair continues to serve as the definitive meeting point for the international art
community in South Asia, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone to Delhi next February.”
A Galaxy of Galleries
The fair brings displays from South Asia’s renowned galleries. From Delhi’s established names like Vadehra Art Gallery, Nature Morte, and Gallery Espace, to Mumbai’s Chemould Prescott Road, Jhaveri Contemporary, and Emami Art, Gallery Art Exposure (both Kolkata), the 2026 line-up captures the pulse of India’s thriving contemporary art scene. New energy comes from debut participants such as Cultivate Art, Lakeeren Contemporary, and Subcontinent, reflecting a generational shift towards emerging voices in art-making and collecting.
The fair also continues to anchor India’s position on the global art map with international names. The global exhibitors include David Zwirner ((New York / Los Angeles / London / Paris / Hong Kong), Galleria Continua (San Gimignano / Beijing / Les Moulins / Habana / Roma / São Paulo / Paris / Dubai), Carpenters Workshop Gallery (London / Paris / New York / Los Angeles) and 1×1 Art Gallery (Dubai), Aicon, Aicon Contemporary (both New York), joined by seven new galleries like Rajiv Menon Contemporary (Los Angeles), 193 Gallery (Paris), DMINTI (New York), Gowen Contemporary (Geneva), and LAMB (London), amongst others.
The fair’s ‘Institutions’ section brings works from museums, cultural foundations, and art organisations that shape the region’s creative future.This includes heavyweights like the Museum of Art & Photography (Bengaluru), Serendipity Arts, The Gujral Foundation, and the Sabyasachi Art Foundation, while MASH brings the whimsical metal sculptures of Ann Carrington, and the Australian High Commission showcases Grace Lillian Lee, whose work bridges Indigenous craft and contemporary design.
What to Expect at India Art Fair?
The ‘Focus’ section this year is an ode to artists whose works resonate with the complexities of modern life. Expect to see Bharti Kher’s powerful meditations on myth and materiality, Jayasri Burman’s lyrical reimaginings of the divine feminine, to Ravinder Reddy’s strikingly monumental figures that merge classical grace with pop exuberance, amongst others. Further, Thandiwe Muriu from Nairobi and Khadim Ali from Kabul bring cross-cultural depth, exploring identity, belonging, and collective memory through bold visual vocabularies.
The Design section presents an expanded showcase featuring India’s most forward-thinking design studios including Ashiesh Shah, Gunjan Gupta, ROOSHADSHROFF, and Vikram Goyal, amongst others who marry artisanal craft with global design sensibilities. A standout collaboration comes from the French Institute’s residency programme and Mumbai-based design gallery Æquō, inviting designer Marie Gastini to experiment with Indian textile craft traditions through a contemporary lens.
The ‘Platform’ section will spotlight India’s living craft traditions. Expect Gondwana Art Project’s tribal cosmologies, Delhi Crafts Council reimagining of Bastar metalwork, Porgai Artisans’ Association and Gallery Ragini bringing regional storytelling through embroidery, sculpture, and hand-knotted textiles amongst others.
India Art Fair 2026, also brings outdoor installations. Notable projects include Kulpreet Singh’s ecological exploration of extinction, commissioned by Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, and Judy Chicago’s participatory quilt What If Women Ruled the World?, presented by DMINTI. Serendipity Arts revisits The Charpai Project fusing digital intervention by AI artist Goji, bridging craft and technology in poetic harmony. Viewers can also expect monumental sculptures by Paresh Maity and Deepak Kumar which stand tall as contemporary totems of imagination.
The fair also presents the fifth edition of The Future is Born of Art Commission themed “Crafting in Continuum.” The initiative invites artists to envision a world where human touch and machine precision coexist, where the handmade meets the algorithmic.
With the upcoming edition, each display is a reminder that art, at its best, is not just seen, but deeply felt and is an important conversation starter.