January 25, 2021 

@Courtesy Art Basel

One of the most important fair in the global contemporary art calendar, Art Basel, has been postponed its June fair Due to the ongoing impact of the global pandemic and travel restrictions worldwide. The 2021 edition of Art Basel in Basel will now take place at Messe Basel from September 23–26, with preview days on September 21 and 22.

"The decision was made after extensive discussions and analysis in consultation with gallerists and collectors, as well as external experts, putting foremost the health and safety of all concerned while aiming to achieve the broadest possible international attendance for the show," Art Basel said in a statement.

With about 290 exhibitors and 90,000 visitors, Art Basel in Switzerland is the traditional centerpiece of the international art trade calendar. Organizers have not yet announced details about refunds or compensation for exhibiting galleries and ticket holders. The Global Director of Art Basel Marc Spiegler said, “We thank our galleries for the support and understanding of our highly complex decision to postpone the fair. We hope that the situation improves swiftly, and we will work closely with our exhibitors to deliver a successful fair in September."

The fair has also announced that it will continue to organize online viewing rooms this year. In March, it will present OVR: Pioneers (24-27 March), an online fair dedicated to artists who have “broken new ground aesthetically, conceptually, or socio-politically,” according to a statement. The theme for the second, from 16 to 19 June, is yet to be confirmed. In November, Art Basel also plans to present OVR: 2021, which will exclusively present artworks created this year. The fee for participating in each online fair will be a flat CHF 5,000 (around $5,600) for dealers, even if they decide to do all three.

Despite the announcement, Art Basel Hong Kong remains scheduled as an in-person fair in May. London’s Masterpiece fair, also run by Art Basel’s Swiss-based owners MCH Group, is slated as a live event for June.

Meanwhile Tefaf Maastricht, also traditionally held in March in the Netherlands, has been postponed to late May/June—Art Basel's decision throws the likelihood of that fair happening into some doubt.