Art Basel Awards has unveiled its 2026 medalists, recognising 33 artists, curators, institutions and cultural figures whose practices are actively reshaping the global art ecosystem.
Now in its second year and presented in partnership with BOSS, the awards position themselves as the first initiative to acknowledge the full breadth of contemporary art production—spanning not only artists, but also the networks of support, storytelling and infrastructure that sustain the field.
Rather than isolating singular achievements, the programme identifies long-term influence. The result is a cross-generational and cross-disciplinary cohort that reflects how art today operates across expanded terrains—moving fluidly between visual art, film, performance, architecture, publishing and beyond.
The 2026 medalists are drawn from across a wide geographic spectrum, including the United States, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Cuba, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. Many of those recognised engage directly with urgent global questions—from postcolonial histories and migration to climate justice and urban transformation—underscoring a shift toward practices rooted in both local context and global dialogue.
Fifteen artists are honoured across Emerging, Established and Icon categories, while eighteen further medalists span Cross-Disciplinary Creator, Museum and Institution, Media and Storyteller, Patron, Allies and Curator. Together, they map a contemporary art world in which influence is increasingly distributed and collaborative.
Among the artists recognised are Emerging figures such as Farah Al Qasimi and Precious Okoyomon; Established names including Arthur Jafa and Julie Mehretu; and Icon artists such as Barbara Kruger and Jenny Holzer. The wider list extends to influential curators, institutions and cultural platforms, reflecting a broader understanding of how artistic ecosystems function today.
Medalists will be celebrated during Art Basel in Switzerland this June, before Gold Awardees are selected later in the year and announced at Art Basel Miami Beach. In a move that rethinks traditional prize structures, the artist awards include over $250,000 in flexible financial support, alongside commissions, partnerships and global visibility.
On the launch of the second cycle, Vincenzo de Bellis said:
“With the second edition of the Art Basel Awards, we begin to see the initiative take shape in practice – from new commissions to long-term support and deeper engagement with our growing community of medalists. Building on last year’s momentum, it is especially rewarding to see how these connections evolve into tangible outcomes across the field.
Through this initiative, Art Basel reaffirms its role as a global platform for the advancement, discovery, and production of art – not only recognizing excellence but actively creating the conditions for it to grow. We are deeply grateful to our jury, nominators, and the many experts whose insight and commitment make this process both rigorous and collaborative. It is this community-driven approach that defines the Awards, reflecting the breadth and complexity of today’s cultural landscape.”
He added:
“This year’s cohort spans geographies, disciplines, and generations, reflecting a truly interconnected art world. The Awards are designed to capture a broad cross-section of the ecosystem, grounded in the belief that meaningful progress depends on exchange across disciplines and perspectives. From emerging voices to established figures, the 2026 cohort represents those advancing some of the most compelling and forward-looking ideas in the industry today, setting the foundation for future generations and expanding what the art world can become.”
With its emphasis on networks over individuals and ecosystems over hierarchies, the Art Basel Awards continue to position themselves less as a prize, and more as an evolving infrastructure—one designed to support how art is made, shared and sustained in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.
Full list of Art Basel Awards 2026 medalists:
The Emerging Artist medalists are Aziza Kadyri, Carla Gueye, Diego Marcon, Farah Al Qasimi, Precious Okoyomon and Tiffany Sia.
The Established Artist category includes Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Arthur Jafa, Julie Mehretu, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Rirkrit Tiravanija and Theaster Gates.
Recognised as Icon Artists are Barbara Kruger, Howardena Pindell and Jenny Holzer.
The Cross-Disciplinary Creator medalists are Kulapat Yantrasast, Laurie Anderson and Sumayya Vally.
In the Museum and Institution category, the honours go to Diriyah Biennale Foundation, SAVVY Contemporary and The Brick.
The Media and Storyteller medalists are Anton Vidokle, Hilton Als and Siddhartha Mitter.
Recognised in the Patron category are Mercedes Vilardell, Pamela J. Joyner and Teiger Foundation.
The Allies category includes Independent Curators International, New Curators and the Studio Museum in Harlem’s Artist-in-Residence Program.
Finally, the Curator medalists are Azu Nwagbogu, Diana Campbell and Stuart Comer.
About the Art Basel Awards
Launched by Art Basel in 2025, the Art Basel Awards are the first global honours dedicated to recognising excellence across the contemporary art world. Each year, an international jury awards medals to individuals and organisations whose practices and contributions are shaping the future of art.
Medalists are selected according to four key pillars: vision and innovation, skill and execution, engagement, and broader impact. The awards provide both immediate and flexible support, including honorariums, alongside access to global networks, philanthropic initiatives, tailored partnerships, and high-profile commissions designed to expand the reach of each recipient’s work.
Recognition extends beyond the moment of award. Through year-round campaigns and initiatives, including the Art Basel Awards Summit—an annual thought leadership conference held in Basel—the programme brings together leading voices from across the global art world and adjacent creative industries. artbaselawards.com
MORE: @artbasel
