"By the end of 2025, 43 percent of dealers expected sales to improve within the next year, up 10 percent from the previous year, while 38 percent expected stability; only 19 percent anticipated a decline."
"According to the report, global art sales increased by 4 percent year-on-year, to an estimated $59.6 billion. That was an improvement after two years of decline but still well behind the 2022 market peak of $65.1 billion."
"Outfits at the lower end of the market, with turnover under $500,000, saw double-digit increases in average sales values, while firms at the very top of the market-with turnover above $10 million-grew by 3 percent. The mid-market struggled, however."
"The average number of buyers per dealer fell to 57 in 2025, the lowest since 2021. The sharpest decline was among the smallest dealers. Those turning over less than $250,000 reported a 40 percent drop, to 29 buyers on average, the lowest level since 2021."
The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report reveals mixed signals for the art market heading into 2026. While dealer confidence improved significantly, with 43 percent expecting sales growth and 38 percent anticipating stability, the actual recovery remains uneven. Global art sales increased 4 percent year-on-year to $59.6 billion, still substantially below the 2022 peak of $65.1 billion. The recovery is highly fragmented: lower-end dealers saw double-digit sales increases, top-tier dealers grew 3 percent, but mid-market dealers experienced flat sales. Notably, the average number of buyers per dealer fell to 57 in 2025, the lowest since 2021, with smallest dealers experiencing a 40 percent drop in buyer numbers. Dealers continue facing rising operational costs, shifting buyer habits, and geopolitical pressures.
Read at Artnet News
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