Melbourne Art Fair 2026 Unveils Gallery Line-Up and new Design Salon

Melbourne Art Fair has announced the first details of its 19th edition, introducing FUTUREOBJEKT—a new design salon when the Fair returns February 19-22, 2026.

Taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the 2026 edition will bring together more than 50 of the region’s leading galleries and Indigenous-owned art centres, alongside the debut of a major new platform celebrating Australia’s collectible design scene.

In a significant expansion of the Fair’s scope, FUTUREOBJEKT will span 600 square metres, presenting works by more than 30 Australian and international designers and craftspeople. Conceived as both stage and salon, the dedicated space will showcase industrial and object design, interiors, architecture, and craft.

“Melbourne has strong design credentials and there is a new generation of designers, manufacturers, architects, and makers who have an eagerness to champion and build on this city’s design heritage,” said Peter Jopling AM KC, Chairman of Melbourne Art Foundation. “With FUTUREOBJEKT we want to create a space that supports this, champions our own design talent and heritage, provides opportunities for the market to grow, and new talent to take flight.”

At its centre, a dedicated design lounge will host a program of talks and events exploring design’s most provocative ideas. The full list of FUTUREOBJEKT exhibitors will be announced in November 2025.

Melbourne Art Fair’s unique curatorial approach encourages over 50 galleries to celebrate contemporary artists through solo exhibitions and thoughtfully curated group presentations. Leading Australian galleries returning in 2026 include 1301SW/STARKWHITE, Ames Yavuz, Nasha Gallery, Neon Parc, Niagara Galleries, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Sullivan&Strumpf, and Tolarno Galleries.

The Fair welcomes four debut participants: Grace (Auckland), Mary Cherry (Melbourne), PALAS (Sydney), and S_y_d_n_e_y_S_y_d_n_e_y_ (Sydney).

Six of Australia’s most important Indigenous arts centres will participate through the William Mora Indigenous Art Centre Program, which has created a dedicated platform for Indigenous art centres since 2022. The program, funded by the Australian Government through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program and supported by Morgans Financial Limited, amplifies First Peoples artists’ voices within contemporary art discourse.

The Fair’s program extends beyond gallery booths with several curated sections:

VIDEO will be curated by Rebecca Lamarche-Vadel, Director of Lafayette Anticipations in Paris, who has curated landmark exhibitions with artists including Martine Syms, Cyprien Gaillard, and Issy Wood. “I’m delighted to be this year’s curator of VIDEO for the Melbourne Art Fair,” said Lamarche-Vadel. “I’ve been long interested in the Oceanian and South East Asian artistic communities, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to meet more artists, galleries and institutions.”

BEYOND returns with three ambitious large-scale installations by Judith Wright (Sophie Gannon Gallery), Brenda L. Croft (Niagara Galleries), and Fiona Hall (Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery). Each presentation receives a $2,500 grant from Melbourne Art Foundation.

PROJECT ROOMS offers a non-commercial platform for boundary-pushing multidisciplinary works, presented by correspondences (Melbourne) and play_station (Wellington).

Melbourne Art Fair 2026 runs February 19-22, 2026, at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For tickets and information, visit melbourneartfair.com.au