A new invitation-only art fair is set to launch during Frieze London this October, bringing 15 international galleries together inside The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair.
Taking place from 15th–18th October 2026, London Invitational will occupy an entire floor of the former US Embassy, now The Chancery Rosewood hotel, offering a more intimate alternative to the larger fairs that dominate Frieze Week.
Founded by British-born, Dallas-based dealer James Cope and co-directed in London by art consultant Jessica Nowitzki, the fair builds on the success of Dallas Invitational, first launched alongside the Dallas Art Fair in 2023. The London edition brings the concept to one of the busiest weeks in the international art calendar.
Fifteen galleries from the UK, Europe and the United States will participate by invitation only, with exhibitors including Lomex, Vardaxoglou, Broadway and Gathering.
Rather than competing on size, London Invitational is positioning itself around curation and conversation. Exhibitors have been selected for the strength of their programmes, presenting contemporary artists ranging from emerging to mid-career practices.
The hotel format also offers a practical alternative to conventional art fairs. Galleries will install exhibitions within guest suites while staying on site, reducing shipping, handling and participation costs at a time when many dealers are reassessing the economics of international fairs. The organisers say the format also encourages longer conversations between galleries, collectors and institutions in a more relaxed setting.
“The Dallas edition began as my own response to conversations with galleries, collectors and curators who were looking for a slower, more relationship-driven environment than traditional art fairs allow,” said James Cope, Co-Founder and Director of London Invitational.
“In Dallas, the hotel format quickly proved successful – creating space for more meaningful engagement with the work and the people behind it. With its growth there, and with the support and partnership of my longtime friend Jessica Nowitzki, we’ve been able to expand that vision to London.”
Jessica Nowitzki added:
“Amid a challenging market and rising participation costs at major fairs, galleries are actively seeking alternative models. London Invitational prioritises quality over scale through an invitation-only structure, which allows for a more considered level of presentation and curation. Our aim is to offer something distinct from the existing satellite fair landscape during Frieze Week.”
Staged within one of London’s newest luxury hotels overlooking Grosvenor Square, the fair joins a growing ecosystem of boutique events that sit alongside Frieze London and Frieze Masters. By limiting participation to just fifteen galleries, London Invitational is betting that intimacy, carefully curated presentations and lower operating costs can offer an appealing alternative to the scale of traditional art fairs.
London Invitational, 15th–18th October 2026,
The Chancery Rosewood
