Chicago Art Fair, a new independently organized contemporary and modern art fair, is running its first edition October 7 to 10, 2026, at THE MART. More than 30 galleries from Chicago and other cities are taking part. Spectrum Chicago, a fair for independent artists, is debuting in the same building, giving collectors two new events this fall.
Key Takeaways
- Chicago Art Fair runs October 7 to 10, 2026, at THE MART, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza.
- The exhibitor list includes more than 30 galleries, among them McCormick Gallery, Stephen Daiter Gallery, Jerald Melberg Gallery, Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Vallarino Fine Art.
- Single-day tickets start at $25.
- Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, after a Wednesday evening opening.
- The fall dates put the fair opposite EXPO CHICAGO, which runs each spring at Navy Pier.
- Spectrum Chicago, which features solo presentations by independent artists, is also making its first appearance at THE MART.
Chicago Art Fair Fills the Fall Gap in the City’s Art Calendar
Chicago Art Fair chose its timing carefully. For more than a decade, the city’s main art fair weekend has been EXPO CHICAGO in the spring at Navy Pier. October is busy in other ways, with gallery openings, museum exhibitions and institutional programs, but there has been no major fair to bring collectors together in one place.
Chicago Art Fair fills that slot. Holding the fair during the fall gallery rush gives visitors a reason to see works from several dozen galleries in one stop while the rest of the art scene is also active. For galleries, it creates a second selling moment in the year without having to travel to the coasts.
Chicago Art Fair Revives a Merchandise Mart Tradition
THE MART is a familiar setting for longtime Chicago collectors. Art fairs have been held at the Merchandise Mart before, so a new fine art fair in the building picks up an earlier chapter of the city’s art-fair history. Today the building is closely tied to Chicago’s design and architecture communities, and the organizers hope to reach those audiences too.
That crossover is a big part of the fair’s plan. Interior designers, architects and art advisors already pass through THE MART regularly. Putting galleries in front of people who place art in homes, offices and hotels gives the fair a built-in professional audience beyond traditional collectors.
Exhibitor List Mixes Chicago Galleries With National Dealers
The inaugural Chicago Art Fair lineup combines local and national galleries. Chicago is represented by galleries including McCormick Gallery and Stephen Daiter Gallery, a photography dealer, while out-of-town participants include Jerald Melberg Gallery, Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Walter Wickiser Gallery. The full list also includes Echo Fine Arts, Hilton Contemporary, Melissa Morgan Fine Art Gallery, Vallarino Fine Art, Verse Gallery, Habatat, Moberg Gallery and others.
Presentations cover contemporary and modern painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media. George Billis, the fair’s exhibition manager, who runs his own galleries in Connecticut, New York City and Los Angeles, said Chicago “has long been home to an extraordinary community of artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions.” The fair is aimed at the Midwestern collector market and is meant to be approachable for new buyers as well as experienced ones.
Spectrum Chicago Gives Independent Artists Their Own Fair
Spectrum Chicago is also debuting at THE MART this fall and covers a different part of the market. While Chicago Art Fair centers on galleries, Spectrum Chicago focuses on solo presentations by independent artists, many of whom don’t have gallery representation.
Having two fairs in one building shows how the art market is changing. Artists increasingly sell directly to collectors and build their own audiences, and a fair built around independent presentations gives them space they would not get at a gallery-only event. For visitors, the pairing offers both established dealers and artists working on their own in one trip.
New Fairs Join a Long Line of Chicago Art Events
The new fairs add to an art calendar that already runs through every season. Spring brings EXPO CHICAGO, and summer has neighborhood art fairs such as the 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park. Chicago Art Fair and Spectrum Chicago now give the fall a gallery-focused, indoor option downtown.
For Chicago galleries, the arrival matters for practical reasons. A local fair lowers the cost of reaching collectors compared with shipping work and staff to out-of-state events. If the first edition draws strong attendance and sales, organizers will have a case to return and expand in future years.
Chicago Art Fair Hours and Tickets
Chicago Art Fair opened with an evening session from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7. It continues from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9, and closes with hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 10. Single-day tickets start at $25. THE MART sits on the Chicago River at the edge of River North, the city’s long-established gallery district.
FAQs
When is Chicago Art Fair 2026?
Chicago Art Fair runs October 7 to 10, 2026, at THE MART. The fair is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
How much are tickets to Chicago Art Fair?
Single-day tickets start at $25.
Which galleries are exhibiting at Chicago Art Fair?
Exhibitors include McCormick Gallery, Stephen Daiter Gallery, Echo Fine Arts, Hilton Contemporary, Jerald Melberg Gallery, Nancy Hoffman Gallery, Melissa Morgan Fine Art Gallery, Vallarino Fine Art and Verse Gallery, among more than 30 participants.
How is Chicago Art Fair different from EXPO CHICAGO?
EXPO CHICAGO takes place each spring at Navy Pier. Chicago Art Fair is a separate, independently organized fair held in October at THE MART, during the city’s fall gallery season.
What is Spectrum Chicago?
Spectrum Chicago is a fair focused on solo presentations by independent artists. It is also making its first appearance at THE MART this fall.
