Frieze Seoul will return to COEX in Gangnam from 2nd–5th September 2026, bringing together more than 125 galleries from 30 countries, unveiling two new curated sections and announcing Seoul-based collective Yagwang as the recipient of the 2026 Frieze Seoul Artist Award.
Now in its fifth edition, the fair continues to deepen its ties to the region, with more than 70% of participating galleries based across Asia-Pacific and over 50 exhibitors operating permanent spaces in Seoul. Organised in partnership with Kiaf SEOUL, Frieze Seoul 2026 reflects the growing international influence of Korea’s contemporary art scene while maintaining a strong connection to the city’s artists, galleries and institutions.
The 2026 edition introduces a significant expansion of its curated programme with the launch of Material Practice and Spotlight, alongside the return of Focus, creating three dedicated sections that explore contemporary art through different regional and historical lenses.
Patrick Lee, Director of Frieze Seoul, said:
“From the outset, Frieze Seoul has been rooted in the belief that Seoul is not simply a host city for an international art fair, but sits at the center of a country defining the future of contemporary art in Asia. This year’s fair reflects that conviction, looking outward while remaining closely connected to the artists, galleries and cultural heritage that make Seoul, and Korea’s wider cultural landscape, so compelling.”
The fair’s main Galleries section will feature over 85 leading international exhibitors, including Hauser & Wirth, Pace Gallery, White Cube, David Zwirner, Sprüth Magers, Thaddaeus Ropac, Lehmann Maupin, Lisson Gallery, Gladstone Gallery and Tina Kim Gallery.
A strong regional presence remains central to the fair, with participating galleries from Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Singapore. Korean galleries including Kukje Gallery, PKM Gallery, Arario Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Hakgojae Gallery and Johyun Gallery will be joined by a substantial contingent of Japanese galleries including Taka Ishii Gallery, Tomio Koyama Gallery, Nanzuka, Scai The Bathhouse and Take Ninagawa.
New Curated Sections
A major addition for 2026 is Material Practice, curated by Hyeyoung Cho. The section focuses on the intersection of contemporary art, craft and design, exploring how material traditions continue to shape contemporary artistic production. Participating organisations and galleries include the Arumjigi Foundation, Admira Gallery, Art Space 3 and Waterfall Art & Gallery.
Frieze Seoul will also introduce Spotlight, Frieze’s long-running section dedicated to solo presentations of 20th-century artists. Curated by Wonseok Koh, the section will highlight overlooked figures and alternative art histories beyond dominant Western narratives. Featured artists include Nobuo Sekine, Etsuko Nakatsuji, Hoon Kwak and Youngsoo Han.
Meanwhile, Focus returns for its fourth edition under the guidance of curator Seolhui Lee. For the first time the section expands beyond Asia, bringing together sixteen young galleries from across Asia, Europe and the Americas. Artists featured include Gabriel Massan, Bekhbaatar Enkhtur, Johanna Seidel, Reeha Lim and Seungean Cha, with presentations exploring identity, transformation and speculative futures.
Frieze Week Takes Over Seoul
Beyond the fair itself, Frieze Seoul will once again activate the city through an extensive programme of exhibitions and events.
Highlights during Frieze Week include exhibitions by Koo Jeong A at Leeum Museum of Art, Do Ho Suh at MMCA Seoul, Lee Bae at Museum SAN, Sol LeWitt at Amorepacific Museum of Art and Es Devlin at FUTURA Seoul.
The popular Neighborhood Nights programme also returns, bringing late openings, performances and special projects to four of Seoul’s most vibrant cultural districts. Euljiro, Hannam, Cheongdam and Samcheong will each host dedicated evenings celebrating the galleries, artists and institutions that contribute to Seoul’s dynamic cultural ecosystem.
Kristell Chadé, Executive Director of Fairs at Frieze, said:
“Frieze Seoul has quickly become a major moment in the international art calendar, reflecting both the strength of Seoul’s artistic communities and the centrality of the Asia-Pacific region to contemporary culture. The 2026 edition builds on that position, bringing together leading galleries, new curated sections and an expanded view of the region’s role in contemporary art today.”
As international attention increasingly turns toward Asia, Frieze Seoul continues to position itself not simply as an art fair, but as a platform connecting global audiences with the artists, histories and institutions shaping the future of contemporary art across the region.
Alongside its expanded fair programme, Frieze has announced that Seoul-based collective Yagwang has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Frieze Seoul Artist Award, supported by Bvlgari for the fourth consecutive year.
Now in its fourth year, the award has become one of the fair’s most significant platforms for supporting ambitious new work by Korea-based artists, with previous recipients going on to gain major institutional recognition.
Formed by Terri Kim and In Jeon, Yagwang works across sculpture, video, installation and performance. Their practice explores themes of gender, the body and labour, while examining how these intersect with subcultures, queerness and identity. The collective’s new commission will be unveiled during Frieze Seoul and presented throughout the fair at COEX.
Patrick Lee, Director of Frieze Seoul, said:
“The Frieze Seoul Artist Award has become a cornerstone of the fair, and its recipients have gone on to significant institutional recognition. Yagwang is a collective I have admired for some time, from their Frieze LIVE performances last year to this ambitious new commission for the fair. Their work tackles gender, human rights and labor with rigor and ambition, and we are proud to present it to a global audience.”
The award further reflects Frieze Seoul’s commitment to championing artists working in Korea while connecting local practices with the international art world.
Frieze Seoul 2026, 2nd–5th September, COEX
