Central Harbourfront Event Space | Art Central Hong Kong 2026

Description

Art Central and its leading partner UOB officially announce that the 11th edition will take place from 25 - 29 March 2026, with an exclusive VIP Preview on 24 March. The fair will be co-curated by Tang Tin-wan and Yung Maanki, and will present a brand new Central Stage theme, focusing on artists who have emerged in leading international cultural institution exhibitions in recent years.

As a highlight of Hong Kong Art Month, Art Central remains committed to its roots in Hong Kong's art ecosystem while keeping an eye on the global scene. The fair will once again take place at the iconic Central Harbourfront, showcasing a range of cutting-edge contemporary art and curatorial projects presented by local and regional galleries, bringing together renowned and mid-career artists from Asia and beyond to showcase diverse artistic creations.

The fair will feature about 20% of artists and galleries from Hong Kong, and about 75% from the Asia-Pacific region, providing a critical platform for collectors and art enthusiasts to encounter and collect artworks that showcase the extraordinary creativity and diversity of the region.

With a new mission for the future, Art Central Director Corey Andrew Barr said, 'As Art Central embarks on a new chapter, we hold fast to our clear vision and a sense of urgency to create a unique platform for exploration and dialogue within the art world. The new Central Stage theme further deepens this vision by focusing on artists at critical moments in their careers, bringing together institutional recognition and professional gallery presentations to forge connections between Hong Kong, Asia and the international art world, sparking new possibilities for exchange. We are dedicated to highlighting the close connections between artists, galleries and audiences, fostering a deep sense of cultural resonance and belonging, allowing collectors and visitors to not only fully support the artistic community but also to propel contemporary artistic discourse from Hong Kong to the world.'

Central Stage

Central Stage will make its debut in 2026, aiming to showcase artists who have recently, currently, or are about to participate in world-renowned exhibitions, biennales, and other large-scale curatorial projects with international stature. Six specially selected participating artists will be presented at Central Stage, one of whom is as follows:

SIDE CORE is an art collective founded in Tokyo in 2012 by Sakae Takusu, Toru Matsushita, and Taishi Nishihiro, with Kazuyoshi Harimoto as video director. The collective's creations focus on public art installations and spatial interventions, delving into the dissemination and flow of information in urban and community spaces through the lens of street culture's history and aesthetics. In addition to their previous presentations at the Contemporary Art Centre in Hong Kong and the 8th Yokohama Triennale, their collective artistic concept is now the theme of a large-scale exhibition at the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, on view until March 2026. 

Curator Appointments

Art Central is pleased to announce the appointment of curators for 2026. Tang Tin-wan, a Europe-based curator and artist, will return as the curator for the gallery sector, while Yung Maanki, a Hong Kong-based exhibition consultant and independent curator, will curate the art programme, marking her first involvement with Art Central.
 
Curator Yung Maanki states, 'As one of the world's leading art capitals, Hong Kong holds a responsibility and duty to showcase artistic creations from and about Hong Kong in a reflective and forward-thinking manner. The fair will present a range of installations, moving image works, and performance projects by a diverse group of promising Asian and local artists, offering a unique Asian perspective and attracting audiences from all backgrounds to engage in in-depth conversations that shape contemporary discourses.'

Curator Tang Tin-wan states, 'The gallery sector of Art Central not only deepens the experience of viewers through a group of artists who are challenging boundaries and creating new visual languages, but also brings attention to the Asian art community on an international level, creating opportunities for them to connect with enthusiasts and collectors from around the world. It is delightful to see how these sectors transform Art Central into a distinctive platform for exploration, and I look forward to witnessing its allure and power at this edition.'

Discover Art. Make It Yours.

'Discover Art. Make It Yours.' represents the core spirit of Art Central in fostering artistic exchange and advancement, and its commitment to uncovering new voices in Asian contemporary art and inspiring ideas. It empowers viewers, collectors, and institutions to actively establish their position within contemporary art culture. Rooted in Hong Kong, a place where East meets West, Art Central aims to provide a melting pot of artistic experimentation and styles, allowing people from diverse backgrounds not only to find their desired pieces but also to integrate art into their lives conceptually, emotionally, and materially.

Details of Art Central 2026 programmes, including artists, exhibiting galleries, art projects, partners, and curatorial projects, will be announced at a later date.