Art Central is set to open on Wednesday as part of Hong Kong Art Month, debuting its largest edition yet in a celebration of the city’s dynamic cultural scene.

The 2026 fair brings together 117 galleries and more than 500 artists from over 50 countries and territories, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a global hub for artistic exchanges.

Speaking ahead of the opening, the fair's director, Corey Barr, highlighted the event’s deep roots in the region alongside its international reach.

“Art Central continues to reaffirm Hong Kong’s role as a global nexus for art, ideas and exchange. We are especially proud that 85 percent of our participating galleries are based in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

"These are joined by leading international exhibitors, all who continue to see Hong Kong as a vital place for connecting with collectors, institutions, curators and audiences.”

Barr noted that this year’s fair aimed to be "grounded in Hong Kong while speaking to conversations that resonate internationally", offering visitors a wide range of works from emerging artists making their debuts to established names with long-standing institutional recognition.

A major highlight is the debut of Central Stage, a new platform overseen by curator Enoch Cheng, now in his third year with the fair.

“What I find truly special about this fair is how it brings people together, building communities within communities, connecting local voices with global artists and supporting small to mid-sized galleries that keep the arts ecology dynamic,” he said.

The platform features six artists and collectives from Japan, Indonesia, Iran, the United States, Lithuania, South Africa and Finland, who are presenting performances, art installations as well as paintings, sculptures and photographic works.

According to Cheng, many of these artists are exhibiting in Hong Kong or Asia for the first time.

In addition, the fair has commissioned local new media artist Kaitlyn Hau to create a large-scale installation.

Titled "Recursive Feedback Ritual 0.01", the work continues Hau’s exploration of the emotional, perceptual and technological dimensions of digital embodiment.

Using motion-capture data channelled through a recursive feedback loop, the installation maps psychiatric symptoms as cycles of repetition and dissociation.

"In this new generation, digital tools is our native language... not some foreign language that we can't handle," Hau said. "That's why digital art is a rising medium in Hong Kong."

Art Central runs from March 25 to 29 at the Central Harbourfront.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden