Art Fairs and Exhibitions You Can Still Catch Before September Ends

September always feels like a month of transition in the art world. Summer begins to slip away, galleries start filling their calendars again, museums unveil new programmes, and suddenly there is something happening in almost every major art city. By the time we reach the final week of the month, the calendar can feel especially full, with fairs, exhibitions, talks and events happening across different corners of the world.

And if you have been waiting for the perfect excuse to spend a weekend looking at art, this might be it. From New York to London, Istanbul to Madrid, Los Angeles to Taipei, some of the art world’s September highlights are taking place right now, with several closing between September 27 and 28. So before we completely turn the page to October, here are some of the art fairs and shows still worth knowing about.

1. The Armory Show, New York

September 24–27, 2026 | Javits Center, New York

New York’s September art season is always a busy one, and The Armory Show is right in the middle of it. Taking place at the Javits Center from September 24 to 27, this year’s fair brings together galleries and artists from across the contemporary and modern art world. The fair has long been one of the major stops on New York’s art calendar, making this final weekend of September an especially busy one for anyone wanting to see what galleries are bringing to the city.

One of the lovely things about an art fair like this is the sheer range of work you can encounter in one place. Instead of moving from one gallery to another across the city, visitors can walk through presentations that bring together different artists, mediums, ideas and approaches under one roof.

And for artists, fairs can be just as interesting as they are for collectors. They offer a chance to see how galleries present artists, how bodies of work are installed, and what kinds of conversations are happening around contemporary art. If you’re in New York this weekend, this is one of the major stops on the September calendar.

2. Independent 20th Century, New York

September 24–27, 2026 | Sotheby’s at The Breuer, New York

A short distance away, the Independent 20th Century is taking a different route through art history. The fifth edition of the fair runs from September 24 to 27 inside Marcel Breuer’s iconic former museum building at 945 Madison Avenue, now home to Sotheby’s. The fair focuses on art made between 1900 and 2000, bringing together solo, duo and group presentations that revisit both well-known and lesser-known figures from the twentieth century. This year’s edition includes 57 nominated exhibitors and work by more than 130 artists.

There is something particularly interesting about the setting. The Breuer building has previously been home to the Whitney Museum, the Met Breuer and the Frick Collection, so the fair is taking place inside a building that already carries its own museum history.

And there is plenty happening beyond the booths. The programme includes conversations, screenings and discussions, including a screening of Joan’s Friends, a documentary about Joan Mitchell, and a discussion focused on women of Abstract Expressionism. For anyone interested in the artists and movements that shaped twentieth-century art, this is one to keep on the radar.

3. SPRING/BREAK Art Show, New York

September 23–28, 2026 | New York

If traditional art fairs can sometimes feel a little formal, SPRING/BREAK offers something rather different. The New York edition returns for its 15th year from September 23 to 28, bringing together independent curators, galleries, non-profit organisations and project spaces. The 2026 theme is “HIDE N SEEK,” giving the edition a playful framework around ideas of concealment and discovery.

That curatorial structure is part of what makes SPRING/BREAK interesting. Rather than simply moving from booth to booth, visitors encounter exhibitions shaped by individual curatorial ideas. It can feel closer to walking through a collection of small exhibitions than a conventional commercial fair, which makes it particularly appealing for anyone who enjoys discovering artists and ideas that may sit slightly outside the usual art-world spotlight.

And if you’re in New York on September 28, you still have one extra day to catch it after several of the city’s other September fairs have closed.

4. Contemporary Istanbul

September 23–27, 2026 | Tersane Istanbul

September’s art calendar isn’t limited to Europe and North America. Contemporary Istanbul returns for its 21st edition from September 23 to 27 at Tersane Istanbul, bringing together 70 galleries from 16 countries and presenting more than 1,300 artworks by 736 artists. The 2026 edition also introduces Focus Asia, alongside sections dedicated to newcomers and new grounds.

The location itself adds another layer to the experience. Tersane Istanbul is a historic waterfront setting, giving the fair a very different atmosphere from the convention centres where many international art fairs take place.

There is also a strong regional and international mix, with participating galleries from different parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. That makes the fair an interesting meeting point between local and international contemporary art.

For anyone interested in seeing where different artistic communities meet, Contemporary Istanbul is one of the most geographically diverse stops on this month’s calendar.

5. British Art Fair, London

September 24–27, 2026 | Saatchi Gallery, London

For anyone who loves British art, this is a particularly good weekend to be in London.

British Art Fair returns to the Saatchi Gallery from September 24 to 27 and is the UK’s only fair dedicated exclusively to Modern and Contemporary British art. The 2026 edition brings together specialist dealers presenting work spanning twentieth-century masters and contemporary artists.

The artist list alone gives you an idea of the range. Barbara Hepworth, Gwen John, Bridget Riley, Paula Rego, David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Frank Auerbach and Damien Hirst are among the names represented this year.

But the fair is not only about established names. One of its strengths is the opportunity to see different generations of British art alongside one another, moving between painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, prints and ceramics.

And there is something rather lovely about experiencing all of this inside the Saatchi Gallery, a familiar part of London’s contemporary art landscape.

If you’re in London on September 26 or 27, this is one of the easiest additions to an art-filled weekend.

6. ESTAMPA, Madrid

September 24–27, 2026 | IFEMA MADRID

Madrid is also ending September with a major contemporary art gathering.

ESTAMPA, the International Contemporary Art Fair, runs from September 24 to 27 at IFEMA MADRID. Now in its 34th edition, the fair brings together national and international galleries alongside curated sections, forums, debates and other activities.

What makes ESTAMPA particularly interesting is its focus on the Spanish contemporary art scene while still creating room for international participation.

It is a place where collectors and galleries meet, but it is also an opportunity to get a sense of what is happening within Spain’s contemporary art landscape right now.

For visitors, that means a chance to move beyond the most familiar museum names and discover galleries, artists and practices that may be new to them.

And if you’re already planning a Madrid art trip, the timing could hardly be better.

7. The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles

September 24–27, 2026 | Barker Hangar, Santa Monica

The Other Art Fair has always taken a slightly more relaxed approach to the traditional art fair experience, and its Los Angeles edition is no exception.

Running from September 24 to 27 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, the fair brings together more than 160 independent artists alongside installations, performances, DJs and other creative experiences.

There is something refreshing about the emphasis on meeting artists directly. Rather than feeling like a space designed only for established collectors, the fair positions itself as a place where people can discover independent artists, browse original work and simply spend time around art.

The programme also includes immersive installations and performances, so the experience extends beyond looking at framed works on walls.

For emerging artists especially, fairs like this can offer a glimpse into what it means to build an audience outside the traditional gallery system.

And if you’re in Los Angeles this weekend, September 26 is actually one of the public days, with the fair open from 11 AM to 7 PM.

8. ART FORMOSA, Taipei

September 25–28, 2026 | Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei

And finally, September takes us to Taipei.

The 12th edition of ART FORMOSA runs from September 25 to 28 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, bringing together galleries from across East Asia and beyond. The fair has a particular interest in contemporary art and has previously expanded its programme to include sculpture, new media and installation.

This year’s edition continues its panel-style exhibition format, giving participating galleries a chance to present their artists within a more focused setting.

The fair also reflects the increasingly international nature of Taipei’s art scene. Galleries from countries including Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia are among those connected to the fair’s wider network.

And unlike most of the events on our list, ART FORMOSA continues beyond September 27, giving visitors until September 28 to catch the fair.

Before September Ends

There is something special about the final week of a month like this.

The art world feels particularly alive. A visitor in New York can move between major fairs and independent projects. Someone in London can spend a weekend with British modern and contemporary art. In Istanbul, Madrid, Los Angeles and Taipei, entirely different art communities are gathering at almost exactly the same time.

And that is perhaps one of the nicest things about the art calendar. You do not have to experience all of it to feel part of it.

Maybe you are visiting a fair in person. Maybe you are following artists online from the other side of the world. Maybe you are simply saving names, discovering galleries or finding an artist whose work you want to come back to later.

Art does not always ask us to arrive with a plan.

Sometimes, it is enough to know what is happening and let curiosity take it from there.

So before September quietly disappears and October brings its own busy calendar, take one last look at what is happening around the world.

There might just be something waiting for you.