Taipei Dangdai has opted to abandon the 2026 installation.
In a significant move, the organisers of the Taipei Dangdai art fair have announced that the event will not take place in 2026. The decision comes after a strategic reassessment, with the organisers planning a thorough evaluation of the fair’s model, timing, scale, and format for any future activities.
The Taipei Dangdai, one of three regional art fairs in Asia overseen by The Art Assembly, has been a prominent fixture in the Asian art scene since its debut in January 2019. The fair, which originally scheduled to open with a benefit preview on October 28, 2025, saw a decline in exhibitors from its inaugural 90 galleries to 54 in 2025. This decline, coupled with the departure of co-director Robin Peckham after the 2025 edition, appears to have played a role in the decision to pause the fair.
The exact timing or format of any future Taipei Dangdai fairs is currently uncertain. Past material about the fair has been removed from its website, and the Instagram page for The Art Assembly appears to be disabled. Angus Montgomery Arts (AMA), a principal shareholder, no longer lists Taipei Dangdai among its fairs.
The Art Assembly oversees three regional fairs: Taipei Dangdai, Art SG in Singapore, and Tokyo Gendai in Japan. While Taipei Dangdai is undergoing uncertain changes, there is no public indication that the other two fairs are being paused or cancelled. However, AMA, which is connected to The Art Assembly, has recently faced cancellations of other events such as the Photofairs 2025 Hong Kong debut and its second New York edition, suggesting a period of instability or strategic reassessment in their portfolio. No explicit announcements were found about the long-term future of Art SG or Tokyo Gendai.
The decision to pause the Taipei Dangdai art fair has been met with interest in the art community. UBS, a financial supporter of the fair, released a statement expressing its commitment to the Asian art market and its ongoing support for art events in the region. The reason given for the cancellation is a "strategic pause," and a statement regarding the re-evaluation can be found on the fair's website.
[1] Artnet News. (2025, July 28). Taipei Dangdai Cancels 2026 Edition. Retrieved from https://news.artnet.com/art-world/taipei-dangdai-cancels-2026-edition-1986270 [2] The Art Newspaper. (2025, July 29). Taipei Dangdai Cancels 2026 Edition. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/07/29/taipei-dangdai-cancels-2026-edition [4] Artforum. (2025, July 30). Taipei Dangdai Cancels 2026 Edition. Retrieved from https://www.artforum.com/news/id=1011045660
- The contemporary art fair, Taipei Dangdai, has been a noticeable feature in the Asian art scene since its emergence in 2019, and typically involves exhibitions featuring various art mediums, including sculptures.
- Despite the cancellation of the 2026 edition, the organisers of Taipei Dangdai have expressed their intention to re-evaluate the fair's model, timing, scale, and format for any future activities, suggesting a potential return to the art scene.
- Interestingly, the art collector community has responded to the cancellation with continued support, with UBS, a financial supporter of the fair, stating their ongoing commitment to the Asian art market and their intention to back art events in the region.
- In a departure from art fairs, the announcement of Taipei Dangdai's cancellation appears to be reflected in other ventures, as AMA, a principal shareholder, has faced cancellations of other events, hinting at a period of reassessment in their portfolio, much like the popular movies-and-tv entertainment industry.
- Gallery owners and artists who were planning to showcase their work in the 2026 Taipei Dangdai might instead explore alternative avenues for displaying their art, just as many movies and TV shows find alternative platforms when traditional ones, such as theatre screenings or DVD releases, are unavailable.
