In 2025 the art market showed contrasting signals, with a clear but irregular recovery that raises crucial questions about the dynamics of the coming months.
How has the art market transformed in 2025?
In the second half of 2025, auction sales began to grow again after years of slowdown. According to the Intelligence Report: The Year Ahead 2026 by Artnet, the overall auction volume rose by about +13% compared to the previous year.
This increase represents the first real sign of a trend reversal after a prolonged phase of stagnation. However, the aggregated data hides strong imbalances between geographical areas, market segments, and types of works exchanged.
Why does the recovery appear so uneven?
A significant part of the growth was driven by a few ultra-expensive works sold in New York. Some high-end lots, awarded at houses like Sotheby’s, had a decisive impact on the final figures at the end of the year.
Moreover, this concentration effect suggests that the recovery is not yet widespread across the entire system but largely depends on the availability of masterpieces and the appetite of a narrow elite of major collectors.
What is the role of the United States and China today?
Beneath the surface of global numbers, a very differentiated picture emerges. The United States is leading the expansion, with New York in particular consolidating its centrality in high-end sales.
China, on the other hand, continues to mark a phase of contraction, in contrast to the U.S. dynamism. This shift in geographical balance reshapes the hierarchies among the main markets, while new areas are gradually gaining ground.
Which new markets are emerging?
Alongside the historical poles, some younger and less mature scenes are gaining visibility and market share. In various regions, there is increased activity from galleries, fairs, and collectors, contributing to diversifying the geography of flows.
That said, these markets are still far from reaching the size and liquidity levels of New York or Hong Kong. However, their growth suggests a gradual rebalancing compared to traditional capitals.
How are collectors’ preferences changing?
As the overall volumes reorganize, collectors’ choices are also evolving. Many operators report a clear shift away from the more speculative works of the ultra-contemporary segment.
Additionally, there is a renewed interest in already established artists and names consolidated in the canon. This shift towards greater caution reflects the search for stability, long-term value, and more solid historicization.
What role do major international fairs play?
Events like Art Basel Miami Beach remain privileged observers of trends. The VIP Preview 2025, hosted on December 5, 2025 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, showed intense participation from collectors and global operators.
In these occasions, the selective interest of buyers emerges clearly: strong demand for works with secure provenance and recognized artists, greater caution for riskier proposals. For further structured analyses, it is useful to compare the data with reports from Art Basel and statistics published by Christie’s.
Was 2025 an isolated case or the start of a cycle?
The central question concerns the sustainability of the current recovery phase. The report by Artnet describes a recovering but fragmented market, where positive results heavily depend on a few segments and a narrow range of works.
Overall, it will be crucial to observe whether in 2026 the contribution of major collectors and masterpieces at auction will be confirmed, or if the sector will show signs of normalization with more widespread growth. To follow the evolution of the main quantitative indicators, the analyses by Artnet remain reference points.
That said, the coming year promises to be a crucial testing ground to measure the solidity of the trends that emerged in 2025 and the system’s ability to transform an unequal recovery into a more balanced growth path.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
