EXPO CHICAGO 2026

EXPO CHICAGO 2026
Apr 9, 2026 – Apr 12, 2026

Chicago's historic Navy Pier
Festival Hall | 600 E Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Expo Chicago 2026, on view April 9–12 at Navy Pier, returns to Festival Hall for its 13th edition, reaffirming the city’s place within the global contemporary art calendar. Since its launch in 2012, EXPO CHICAGO has drawn on Chicago’s longstanding cultural vitality while building bridges between international galleries and the Midwest’s dynamic arts community. Now operating under the umbrella of Frieze, the fair continues to expand its reach while maintaining a distinct regional character.

The 2026 edition introduces a strengthened partnership with the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center. In the Galleries sector, a special presentation titled Embodiment, curated by Dr. Louise Bernard, reflects on the architecture and artistic commissions of the Center ahead of its anticipated opening. The section underscores how civic space, design, and artistic practice can converge to shape public memory and shared values.

Focus, curated by Katie A. Pfohl of the Detroit Institute of Arts, centers on emerging galleries twelve years old or younger. Titled Gathering of Waters, the presentation draws conceptual energy from the Mississippi River Basin, linking questions of landscape and migration with adaptive traditions of craft and care. Artists from across African, Latin American, and Caribbean diasporas enter into conversation with regional practices, emphasizing movement—of people, ideas, and materials—as a generative force in contemporary art.

Profile, organized by Essence Harden, foregrounds solo booths and tightly conceived projects by established galleries, encouraging sustained engagement with rigorous artistic practices. The fair also continues its collaboration with the Galleries Association of Korea, reinforcing cultural exchange between Chicago and Seoul. Through its Curatorial Exchange program, developed with international consulates and cultural agencies, Expo Chicago fosters dialogue among curators and institutions worldwide. In uniting global perspectives with Chicago’s architectural grandeur and intellectual depth, the 2026 edition affirms the fair’s commitment to thoughtful growth and enduring cultural exchange.


AAP Magazine Travels 2026
 

expand_circle_rightAll Photography Fairs

There are no fairs currently on view. Check back soon or explore our upcoming fairs.

Win a Solo Exhibition in November
 

expand_circle_rightPhotography Events Ending Soon

From photography exhibitions and photo festivals to art fairs and gallery shows, these events are closing soon and still worth a visit. Whether you're an avid collector, a photography enthusiast, or simply looking for cultural inspiration, find the best photography events near you before they end.