With more than 70 galleries from 24 countries, Contemporary Istanbul returns for its 21st edition with the support of Akbank as Main Partner, once again positioning Istanbul as one of the international art world’s key meeting points.
Among the galleries participating in Contemporary Istanbul for the first time are; Galeria Francisco Fino (Lisbon), Galeria Karla Osorio (São Paulo), Galerie Diego Escobar (Marseille), Galerie La La Lande (Paris), Galerie Tanit (Munich, Beirut), Galerie Vallois (Paris), Michel Rein (Paris, Brussels), Pearl Lam Projects (Hong Kong, Shanghai), Takato Kano Gallery (Tokyo), Whitestone Gallery (Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Tokyo, Karuizawa, Singapore, Seoul), Villa Magdalena (Madrid), Artiscape (Dubai, Istanbul), Rast Gallery (Istanbul), Rıdvan Kuday (Diyarbakır), Method Gallery (New Delhi) and Shiva Zahed (Tehran, Istanbul).
Among these first-time participants, Pearl Lam Projects, Takato Kano Gallery and Whitestone Gallery will also play a prominent role within Focus: Asia, Contemporary Istanbul’s regional focus for this edition.
New Grounds
New Grounds, Contemporary Istanbul’s platform dedicated to emerging galleries and next-generation artists, will once again be part of the program in 2026. Participating galleries include Friedrichs Pontone (New York), Ka (Ankara), Karpuchina Gallery (Prague), Method Gallery (New Delhi), Rast Gallery (Istanbul) and Shiva Zahed (Tehran, Istanbul).
Returning galleries for CI21 include:
Andrea Rehder Arte Contemporanea (São Paulo), Anna Laudel (Istanbul, Ankara, Düsseldorf), Art On Istanbul (Istanbul), Art Sümer (Istanbul), AWC Contemporary (Dubai), Bozlu Art (Istanbul), Buchmann Galerie (Berlin), Büro Sarıgedik (Istanbul), DG Art Gallery (Istanbul, Bodrum), Faar Gallery (Istanbul, London), Ferda Art Platform (Istanbul), Galeri Nev Istanbul (Istanbul), Galeri Siyah Beyaz (Ankara), Galeri 77 (Istanbul), Galeria Joan Gaspar (Barcelona), Galerie Esther Woerdehoff (Paris), Galerija Fotografija (Ljubljana), Gillian Jason Gallery (London), JD Malat Gallery (London, Dubai), Leila Heller Gallery (New York, Dubai), Mark Hachem Gallery (Paris, Beirut), Martch Art Project (Istanbul), Muse Contemporary (Istanbul), Pedro Cera (Lisbon, Madrid), PG Art Gallery (Istanbul), Pi Artworks (Istanbul, London), Piramid Sanat (Istanbul), Pontone (London), Revolver Galerie (Buenos Aires, Houston), Ruzy Gallery (Istanbul), Sevil Dolmacı (Istanbul, Dubai, Paris), Simbart Projects (Istanbul), SMAC Gallery (Cape Town), Villa del Arte Galleries (Barcelona, Istanbul), Vision Art Platform (Istanbul), x-ist (Istanbul) and Zilberman (Istanbul, Berlin).
CIF Dialogues: The Long and Winding Road
Organised by the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation, CIF Dialogues continues to shape the fair’s intellectual programme by bringing together leading voices from contemporary art, architecture and cultural production. Presented under the theme The Long and Winding Road, this year’s programme explores the evolving dynamics of today’s art world through the historical and cultural relationships between East and West. Taking place on 23–24 September, speakers will include Kulapat Yantrasast (Founder and Creative Director, WHY Architecture), Naz Cuguoğlu (Associate Curator, Asian Art Museum), Akiko Miki (Director, Naoshima New Museum of Art & International Artistic Director, Benesse Art Site Naoshima), Felix Kwok (Former Head of Modern Art Asia, Sotheby’s), Marc Choi (Collector and Contemporary Istanbul Ambassador to South Korea), Gülru Arvas (Architect and Former Co-Chair, Tate Young Patrons), Marc-Olivier Wahler (Director, Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Genève) and Tim Schneider (Founder, The Gray Market)
CIF Bridges
The Contemporary Istanbul Foundation’s digital conversation series CIF Bridges extends the dialogue beyond the fair, bringing together artists, curators, collectors and cultural professionals throughout the year via live online discussions. Broadcast live on the Contemporary Istanbul Instagram account and moderated by CIF Artistic Director Sarp Kerem Yavuz, the series has featured international guests including Nick Buckley Wood (Private Sales Director, Asia, Sotheby’s), Felix Kwok (Chief Creative Officer, Shenzhen Design Bay) and architect Melike Altınışık, founder of Melike Altinisik Architects.
Taking place at Tersane Istanbul between 23–27 September 2026, the fair will bring together galleries, artists, collectors and cultural professionals from across the globe, creating new opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and exchange within the international contemporary art ecosystem.
Presented with Tersane Istanbul as Cultural Destination Partner and BMW, represented by Borusan Otomotiv, as Associate Partner, CI21 will continue to strengthen Istanbul’s position on the global cultural calendar through its international gallery programme, curated exhibitions, talks, public art projects and special events.
Nearly one quarter of this year’s participating galleries will be joining Contemporary Istanbul for the first time, reflecting the fair’s growing international reach. 17 new galleries from leading art centres across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and North America will bring new perspectives and further expand the fair’s international profile.
Press release from Contemporary Istanbul
Image: Ali Kazma. North. 2017. Two channel synchronised HD video, 5 min, Ed. 5 + 2 APs. Image courtesy of the Artist and Jeu de Paume
