Art Jakarta 2026 Brings 75 Galleries Together in a Celebration of Contemporary Art
The Petalogue / 27 minutes
October 19, 2026
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5 min read
Art Jakarta 2026 has concluded its 16th edition at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, bringing together galleries, artists, collectors, institutions, and creative communities from Indonesia and beyond.
Held from 2–4 October 2026, this year’s fair continued Art Jakarta’s focus on contemporary art from Southeast Asia while expanding its programming through exhibitions, collaborations, artist projects, and initiatives connecting different parts of the regional art ecosystem.
The 2026 edition welcomed 75 galleries, with more than half representing Indonesian galleries alongside 33 international galleries. The fair also saw 19 galleries participate for the first time, reflecting the continued interest surrounding Art Jakarta and the wider development of the region’s contemporary art scene.
The edition followed two dedicated Art Jakarta spin-offs earlier in the year: Art Jakarta Papers, which focuses on paper-based practices, and Art Jakarta Gardens, which explores outdoor and site-specific works. Together, the three formats have allowed Art Jakarta to broaden its programming across different artistic practices and presentation formats.
Bringing the Art Ecosystem Together
For Fair Director Tom Tandio, Art Jakarta’s role extends beyond presenting artworks.
The fair has continued to develop as a platform connecting artists, galleries, collectors, curators, art lovers, and other communities within the visual arts ecosystem.
At this year’s edition, that role was reflected through a range of initiatives, including Korea Focus and the newly introduced SCOPE section.
Korea Focus returned for its second year through a collaboration with the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service, bringing together 14 galleries from South Korea.
Meanwhile, SCOPE, supported by MTN Seni Budaya, introduced MTN Market, bringing six emerging art fairs from different parts of Indonesia to Jakarta.
The participating initiatives included Mini Art Malang, Artists Art Fair, ART HEY, Maa Ledungga, Hello Goodbye Photo Market, and Watercolor Art Fair.
The new section offered another perspective on Indonesia’s growing art ecosystem by connecting audiences with creative communities and emerging art platforms from cities outside Jakarta.
Art, Ideas, and Brand Collaborations
Beyond its gallery presentations, Art Jakarta 2026 featured a wide range of collaborations between artists, brands, and institutions.
Lead Partner Julius Baer, celebrating 20 years in Asia, continued its partnership with Art Jakarta for the fifth year. Its VIP Lounge featured Indonesian contemporary artist Handiwirman Saputra, including works from his Penampang Taut Berpilin series and new paintings.
The presentation also included Kuasa Alam (The Might of Nature), an interactive experience that allowed visitors to customise their own art prints inspired by personal connections with nature.
Bibit and Stockbit collaborated with Yogyakarta-based artist Endry Pragusta on Lost at Sea. Centred around a raft installation, the project explored ideas of adaptability and resilience, while an interactive corner invited visitors to participate in writing and origami activities.
Meanwhile, Treasury presented Gravity of the Unheld, created in collaboration with Etza Meisyara, winner of this year’s Treasury Art Prize.
The multisensory installation explored the transformation of gold from a physical material into a broader idea of value, using sight, smell, and sound to create an immersive experience.
BCA returned with myBCA District One, offering visitors an interactive experience around its digital banking features alongside special offers during the fair.
Creativity Beyond the Gallery Booth
Art Jakarta 2026 also demonstrated how contemporary art can intersect with technology, design, sustainability, and popular culture.
iForte and Protelindo Group presented Hutan Kabel, an installation by Agnes Hansella that repurposed thousands of metres of discarded cable waste.
Inspired by the interconnected growth of Ficus trees observed in Central Borneo, the installation transformed cable infrastructure into a large-scale canopy incorporating optical fibres and interactive sensors responding to visitors’ movements.
Returning Main Partner TACO presented The Curiosity Engine by Aji Fajar of Palette Studio. Inspired by TACO’s New Horizon campaign, the installation explored curiosity, possibility, and discovery through familiar forms and tactile elements.
Other collaborations brought art into fashion, fragrance, coffee, and lifestyle.
ALCHEMIST worked with Japanese contemporary painter Mai Yokoyama, while Djournal collaborated with Indonesian artist Darbotz on a custom brand identity featuring exclusive merchandise, three coffee creations, a dedicated booth, and a sculpture.
MINI also brought its collaboration with designer Paul Smith into its Art Jakarta presentation, exploring ideas around individuality and personal interpretations of “destination.”
New Perspectives Through SPOT, SCENE, and AJX
Art Jakarta’s established sections also returned for the 2026 edition.
SPOT continued to give galleries the opportunity to move beyond conventional booth formats and experiment with different scales and spatial approaches.
This year’s presentations included works by Nguyễn Phương Linh, presented by ara contemporary; Henryette Louise, presented by ArtSociates; Albertho Wanma and Budi Santoso, presented by ROH; and Angki Purbandono, presented by SAL Project.
SCENE, meanwhile, continued its focus on artist collectives and collaborative practices. The section expanded to 39 participants from cities across Indonesia, highlighting the country’s diverse culture of collective artistic practice.
Through AJX, Art Jakarta also continued its collaborations with cultural institutions and agencies from Indonesia and abroad.
The section included Korea Focus and Natta-Cita Art Space (N-CAS) from ISI Bali, which brought Balinese contemporary artist-academics into the wider regional conversation.
Looking Beyond the 16th Edition
With its 16th edition now concluded, Art Jakarta 2026 continues to reflect the development of Indonesia’s contemporary art ecosystem and its growing connections with the wider Asian art market.
The presence of 75 galleries, including first-time participants and international exhibitors, alongside new initiatives such as SCOPE and the continued development of Korea Focus, demonstrates the fair’s expanding regional scope.
At the same time, its collaborations and dedicated sections provide opportunities to explore contemporary art through different perspectives, mediums, communities, and disciplines.
Rather than functioning solely as a marketplace for artworks, Art Jakarta continues to position itself as a meeting point for the wider art ecosystem—creating space for artists, galleries, collectors, institutions, and audiences to exchange ideas and build new connections.
As the 2026 edition comes to a close, Art Jakarta’s evolving programme continues to underline the diversity and momentum of contemporary art in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
