Art Basel Miami Beach 2026: the week
Art Basel Miami Beach 2026 is open to the public 4 to 6 December at the Miami Beach Convention Center, after invitation-only preview days on 2 and 3 December, and 6 more fairs run around it during Miami Art Week, 1 to 6 December, on Miami Beach and across the bay. The dearest nights we sampled are Thursday 3 December and Friday 4 December, when a typical hotel in our panel cost about $1,231 a night, 2.1× a quiet night ($597); Sunday 6 drops to $509.
Art Basel opens to the public in 23days6hours
Night by night
| Night | Fairs open | Typical hotel | vs a quiet night | Sold out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | 5 of 7 | not sampled | ||
| Wed 2 Dec | 7 of 7 Art Basel: preview, by invitation | $1,054 | 1.8× | 5 of 23 |
| Thu 3 Dec | 7 of 7 Art Basel: preview, by invitation | $1,231 | 2.1× | 3 of 23 |
| Fri 4 Dec | 7 of 7 Art Basel open to the public | $1,231 | 2.1× | 3 of 23 |
| Sat 5 Dec | 7 of 7 Art Basel open to the public | $991 | 1.7× | 1 of 23 |
| Sun 6 Dec | 6 of 7 Art Basel open to the public | $509 | 0.9× | 0 of 23 |
The same 23 hotels every night: lowest rate for 2 adults, before taxes and resort fees. Sold-out hotels count as dearer than any room on sale. Check the hotel before you book.
Points or cash?
A peak night. Cash rates jump, so this is where hotel points go furthest: price the award against the cash rate before you book, and book early; the dear rooms sell out first.
The fairs, and how far from Art Basel
| Fair | Dates | Where | From the Convention Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Basel Miami Beach The main fair, with galleries from around the world, and the reason for the week. | Public days 4–6 Dec; invitation-only preview 2–3 Dec | Miami Beach Convention Center Miami Beach | Same building |
| Design Miami Collectible design, furniture and objects, next to Art Basel. | 1–6 Dec (its site); 2–6 Dec (the Convention Center's listing) | Miami Beach Convention Center Miami Beach | Same building |
| Untitled Art A curated fair in a purpose-built pavilion on the sand. | Preview 1 Dec; open 2–6 Dec | Ocean Drive at 12th Street (a tent on the beach) (approx.) South Beach | about 24 min on foot |
| InScope The fair from the team behind SCOPE, for emerging and contemporary art. | 1–6 Dec | Ocean Drive at 8th Street (a tent on the beach) (approx.) South Beach | about 30 min on foot |
| Aqua Art Miami A smaller fair at a South Beach hotel; we couldn't confirm its dates with the organiser. | 2–6 Dec (reported by third parties) | Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Avenue South Beach | about 14 min on foot |
| Art Miami and CONTEXT Two fairs side by side on the mainland waterfront: modern and contemporary art, and CONTEXT for emerging artists. | 1–6 Dec | One Herald Plaza Downtown Miami (Edgewater) | about 17 min by car or taxi |
| NADA Miami The New Art Dealers Alliance fair: younger galleries and new work. | 1–5 Dec | Ice Palace Studios, 1400 N Miami Avenue Park West, Downtown Miami | about 19 min by car or taxi |
Miami Art Week 2026: Art Basel Miami Beach and the fairs around it. Dates from each fair's own site, checked against the Miami Beach Convention Center calendar; where they differ, both are given. Aqua's dates come from third-party listings only. Beach-tent positions (Untitled, InScope) are approximate. Times are straight-line estimates (×1.3 at walking pace); over the causeways, allow double in fair-week traffic.
Where to stay
The week splits in two. 5 fairs are on Miami Beach, a walk apart; 2 are on the mainland, across the MacArthur or Venetian Causeway. Stay on the side you'll spend the most days on.
On Miami Beach, near the Convention Center
Art Basel Miami Beach, Design Miami, Untitled Art, InScope, Aqua Art Miami.
- The SetaiSouth Beach · about 8 min on foot
- Kimpton SurfcomberSouth Beach · about 8 min on foot
- DelanoSouth Beach · about 9 min on foot
- The Ritz-Carlton South BeachSouth Beach · about 11 min on foot
- 1 Hotel South BeachSouth Beach · about 12 min on foot
On the mainland, near the Downtown fairs
Art Miami and CONTEXT, NADA Miami.
- Miami Marriott Biscayne BayDowntown · about 5 min on foot
- InterContinental MiamiDowntown · about 29 min on foot
- JW Marriott Marquis MiamiDowntown · about 32 min on foot
- Kimpton EPICDowntown · about 32 min on foot
- EAST MiamiBrickell · about 41 min on foot
From our 23-hotel price panel; smaller hotels may be closer. Walking times are straight-line estimates (×1.3).
Compare hotels for Art Basel
Watch
The fairs on a map
Dates from each fair's own site, checked against the Miami Beach Convention Center calendar. Not affiliated with Art Basel or any fair.