Art Brussels 2025: What to expect from the 41st edition

The 41st edition of Art Brussels takes place from Thursday 24 April to Sunday 27 April 2025. Renowned as one of Europe’s most distinctive and established art fairs, Art Brussels will once again transform Halls 5 and 6 of the Brussels Expo — a stunning Art Deco icon originally built for the 1935 Brussels International Exposition facing the Atomium — into a vibrant hub for contemporary art.

This year’s fair brings together an international programme featuring 165 galleries from 35 countries. 101 are returning participants, while 39% are new to the fair. Across its five sections—Prime, Solo, ’68 Forward, Discovery, and Invited—Art Brussels will present a dynamic mix of established artists and emerging talents, reinforcing its dual reputation as a discovery platform and a high-profile contemporary art fair.

A vibrant contemporary art fair with international key players and emerging talents, reflecting Brussels’ lively art scene

The Prime section includes 108 galleries showcasing top-tier modern and contemporary works. The Solo section highlights 28 presentations dedicated to the work of individual artists, offering an in-depth focus on their practices. ’68 Forward is a new section gathering 14 galleries, celebrating the diversity, experimentation, and boundary-pushing movements that have defined contemporary art since Art Brussels’ founding year in 1968. This section offers a platform for both recognized pioneers and overlooked talents.

In the Discovery section, 36 galleries champion emerging international artists, focusing on single-artist presentations or compelling dialogues between two under-recognized creators whose work constitutes a true ‘discovery’ for European collectors. Finally, the Invited section welcomes seven galleries – newcomers to Art Brussels who stand out for their ambition, innovative programming, and, in some cases, for challenging traditional gallery models. These participants enjoy complete freedom in curating their booths, promising fresh and unexpected perspectives.

As explained by Nele Verhaeren, Managing Director of Art Brussels, celebrating renowned artists is as essential for Art Brussels as championing emerging artistic voices – “Guided by the expertise of two distinguished international selection committees, we are thrilled to unveil an exciting lineup of leading gallery projects in the Prime and Solo booths. At the same time, the Discovery and Invited sections highlight a new generation of artists who continue to push boundaries and explore new territories”.

Brussels: One of Europe’s Contemporary Art Capitals

Brussels has firmly established itself as one of Europe’s leading hubs for contemporary art. It’s a city that pulses with creative energy—subtle yet unstoppable. Nestled between the cultural giants of London and Paris, Brussels humbly carves out its own identity as a playground for artists and thinkers. Here, the avant-garde thrives alongside rich history, from its buzzing galleries and experimental spaces to its renowned museums. It’s a city where the boundaries between disciplines blur, where young artists still find room to live and create, and where art is never far from the street, the bar, or the conversation. 

Art Brussels has been a driving force in this transformation, amplifying the city’s artistic treasures and bolstering its international reputation. For over 50 years, the fair has acted as a vibrant meeting point for global galleries, artists, curators, and collectors, solidifying Brussels’ role as a vital hub in the international art scene. 

Belgium is also known for having the highest concentration of art collectors per square meter in the world, and Belgian collectors are renowned for their expertise and connoisseurship. The acquisition process here is rooted in research, with collectors like Frederic de Goldschmidt and Walter Vanhaerents are not only building exceptional private collections but also feeling the strong urge to share their holdings with the public (Cloud Seven and Vanhaerents Art Collection). 

During Art Brussels, major art institutions in the city contribute to this momentum with a compelling lineup of exhibitions. BOZAR will present “When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting” alongside an exhibition of new works by BelgianArtPrize 2025 recipient Suchan Kinoshita. WIELS will host “OBSTAKLES,” a survey of Dutch artist Willem Oorebeek, and “Patuá/Patois,” a solo exhibition by Brazilian artist Paulo Nazareth.

Other highlights include Fondation CAB‘s group exhibition “Conceptualisme Joyeux” curated by Marjolaine Lévy, and Cloud Seven, featuring a group show curated by Ariane Sutthavong from Frédéric de Goldschmidt’s Collection. These exhibitions, among others, underscore the city’s reputation as a thriving epicentre of artistic innovation and cultural diversity.

To get more info and see the full list of participating galleries, visit the Art Brussels website.