ARCO Madrid to Celebrate 45 Years with 211 Galleries and a Strong Latin American Presence

The 45th edition of ARCO is just around the corner in Madrid. Scheduled to take place from March 4th to 8th, the major contemporary art event will bring together 211 galleries from 30 countries at IFEMA, transforming the Spanish capital into a global epicenter of contemporary art for five days.

In terms of numbers, 66% of the galleries participating in ARCO Madrid will be from abroad, and of those, more than 31% are Latin American, representing 11 countries with a strong presence from Brazil and Argentina. Meanwhile, 34% of the galleries are Spanish. This was announced at a press conference by Maribel López, director of ARCO Madrid, at the Reina Sofía Museum in the capital.

45 Years of ARCO: Future, Collecting, and 30 Countries in Madrid

Of the 211 galleries, 175 are part of the General Program, the core of the fair. These are complemented by three curated sections that expand the artistic narrative of this edition. The main novelty is ARCO2045: The Future, For Now, conceived as the year's thematic focus.

Curated by José Luis Blondet and Magali Arriola, this section invites reflection on the languages of tomorrow and the possible horizons of contemporary art, unfolding in two distinct spaces within the venue.

Meanwhile, Opening: New Galleries will once again function as a discovery radar, focusing on projects with less than eight years of history. The curatorial work in this case is by Rafa Barber and Anissa Touati.

The third section, Profiles | Latin American Art, reaffirms ARCOmadrid's historical connection with Latin America. Curated by José Esparza Chong Cuy, it proposes a format centered on a single artist per gallery, highlighting eleven proposals that engage with diverse social, political, and cultural contexts of the continent.

In addition, the fair will feature 38 Artist Projects presented by 41 galleries, reinforcing its commitment to individual visions and specific formats. Simultaneously, ArtsLibris will include more than 90 publishers and specialized bookstores from 20 countries, consolidating the space dedicated to contemporary publishing and artists' books.
Collecting at ARCO 2026

Promoting collecting will continue to be one of the fair's strategic pillars. Initiatives such as First Collectors by Fundación Banco Santander, the International Collectors Program, and the Special Guests Program will attract nearly 400 collectors and 200 professionals from around 40 countries.

Meanwhile, the "A" Awards for Collecting will also be presented, recognizing outstanding national and international private collections in their 30th edition.

The program will be complemented by forums and professional meetings dedicated to collecting, museums, Central America, and the role of women in the visual arts, along with book presentations and public debates. All of this will take place in a space designed by Pedro Pitarch, who envisions the fair as an ephemeral metropolis constructed from the very systems of the fairgrounds.

Source