Art Central Announces 2026 Edition, New Curators, and Artist Feature as It Enters Its Second Decade in Hong Kong
- Gen de Art
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Art Central, together with Lead Partner UOB, has announced details of its eleventh edition, taking place from 25 to 29 March 2026, with a VIP Preview on 24 March. Marking the Fair’s second decade in Hong Kong, the 2026 edition will be held once again at the iconic Central Harbourfront, reinforcing Art Central’s position as a cornerstone of the city’s annual Art Month.
The Fair will be led by curators Enoch Cheng and Zoie Yung, and will introduce Central Stage, a new feature platform highlighting artists who have recently received institutional recognition.
Firmly rooted in Hong Kong’s arts ecosystem while engaging audiences worldwide, Art Central continues its mission to present dynamic contemporary artworks and curated programmes from pioneering local and regional galleries, alongside mid-career and established artists from across Asia and beyond. This year, 20% of presentations will feature Hong Kong–based artists and galleries, while 75% will represent the broader Asia-Pacific region, underscoring the Fair’s role as a vital platform for encountering the region’s artistic diversity and creative vitality.
Corey Andrew Barr, Fair Director of Art Central, shared that the Fair is entering its next chapter with renewed purpose. He described Art Central as a platform where new artistic voices meet an evolving global conversation, noting that Central Stage will spotlight artists at defining moments in their practices. By bringing institutional recognition and gallery presentation together, the initiative aims to spark new encounters between Hong Kong, Asia, and the international art scene. Barr emphasised the Fair’s commitment to strengthening bonds between artists, galleries, and audiences, empowering collectors and visitors to support the art community while advancing contemporary discourse from Hong Kong to the world.
From left to right: Exhibition view_SIDE CORE, big letters small things, 2024. Paints. From 8th Yokohama Triennale, Japan. Courtesy of the artist and wamono art
Exhibition view_SIDE CORE, time gate, 2022. From 'Ripple Across the Water', Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. Courtesy of the artist and wamono art
SIDE CORE. Photo by Shin Hamada. Courtesy of the artists and wamono art
Central Stage
Debuting in 2026, Central Stage will feature artists who have recently participated in, or are currently involved in, major institutional exhibitions, biennials, and landmark curatorial projects of international significance. The platform will present six special artist showcases, with the first announced participant being SIDE CORE, a Tokyo-based art collective founded in 2012 by Sakie Takasu, Tohru Matsushita, and Taishi Nishihiro, with Kazunori Harimoto as video director.
Known for public installations and spatial interventions informed by street culture, SIDE CORE examines how messages circulate within urban and communal spaces. Following presentations at the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art and the 8th Yokohama Triennale, the collective is currently the subject of a major exhibition at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, running through March 2026. Additional Central Stage artists will be announced in the lead-up to the Fair.
Curatorial Appointments
For the 2026 edition, Art Central welcomes back Europe-based curator and artist Enoch Cheng, who will oversee the Fair’s curated gallery programmes. Zoie Yung, a Hong Kong–based independent curator, has been appointed to lead the Fair’s curated creative programmes, marking her debut with Art Central.
Zoie Yung noted that Art Central embraces both the responsibility and privilege of reflecting the most urgent and ambitious art from and about Hong Kong. Through installations, moving images, and performances, the Fair aims to captivate audiences from diverse backgrounds and ignite conversations that shape contemporary discourse from an Asian perspective.
Enoch Cheng highlighted that Art Central’s curated gallery programmes deepen the visitor experience by showcasing artists who are shaping new visual languages, while connecting the Asian art community with international collectors and opportunities. He expressed enthusiasm for seeing these projects come to life in the upcoming edition.
Discover Art. Make It Yours.
The Fair’s ethos, “Discover Art. Make It Yours.”, reflects Art Central’s role as a site of encounter and agency. Rooted in Hong Kong’s East-meets-West heritage, the Fair encourages audiences not only to discover new artistic voices, but to engage with contemporary art in ways that are personal, emotional, and meaningful.
Further announcements regarding participating artists, galleries, creative programming, partnerships, and curatorial projects will follow.
Practical Information
Dates and Opening Hours
Tuesday, 24 March: VIP Preview (by invitation)
Wednesday, 25 March: 12pm–5pm; Night Central 5pm–9pm
Thursday, 26 March: 12pm–7pm
Friday, 27 March: 12pm–7pm
Saturday, 28 March: 11am–7pm
Sunday, 29 March: 11am–5pm
Venue Central Harbourfront Hong Kong, 9 Lung Wo Road