Artists’ Fair Kyoto 2026 | Kyoto National Museum

Unlike many art fairs, where artists are represented by galleries and rarely present, Artists’ Fair Kyoto allows you to meet the creators themselves. Now in its ninth edition, the event provides a platform for emerging artists to launch their careers and engage directly with collectors and the public.

This year, 40 emerging artists from Japan and abroad will exhibit at the historical Meiji Kotokan building at the Kyoto National Museum, with works spanning multiple genres from paintings and video art to sculptures and installations.

A distinctive feature of the fair is its inclusive selection process. Artists are chosen by an advisory board of leading Japanese artists including Izumi Kato, Kohei Nawa, Sasaoka Yuriko and Kenji Yanobe. There’s also a public application process to ensure a broad yet carefully curated line-up.

Artists’ Fair Kyoto is complemented by AFK Resonance, a fringe exhibition at Tofukuji Temple, running from February 21 to March 1. Ticketing details will be announced in January.