Coming in October to THE MART: the new Chicago Art Fair

Announcements

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Aug 26, 2026

The artist Joseph Seigenthaler in his studio

By CGN STAFF

Chicago’s already busy fall art season is getting a new addition this October. Announced earlier this summer, Chicago Art Fair, an independently organized contemporary and modern art fair, will debut October 7–10, 2026, at THE MART, with a mix of Chicago and out-of-town exhibitors.

The fair's October dates put it on the opposite side of EXPO CHICAGO, which takes place in the spring, giving collectors and art supporters another fair to explore during the traditional fall rush of gallery openings, exhibitions, museum events and other programs across the city.

The location also recalls an earlier chapter in Chicago’s art-fair history. Art fairs have taken place at the Merchandise Mart before, making the arrival of a new fine art fair at the building a familiar concept for longtime Chicago collectors. Today, THE MART remains closely associated with the city’s design and architecture communities, audiences the organizers also hope to reach.

The inaugural exhibitor list reflects the fair’s combination of local and national participation. Announced galleries include Echo Fine Arts, Hilton Contemporary, Jerald Melberg Gallery, McCormick Gallery, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Vallarino Fine Art, with additional exhibitors expected to be announced. Presentations will include contemporary and modern painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and more.

Pooja Pittie, From Within, 2022 acrylic on canvas 48 x 36 inches signed, dated and titled verso. McCormick Gallery.

“Chicago has long been home to an extraordinary community of artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions,” said George Billis, Exhibition Manager for Chicago Art Fair. Billis said the fair is intended to build on that foundation while creating opportunities for galleries, collectors and the broader creative community to connect. The fair hopes to reach a Midwestern collector market while offering an approachable event for new as well as experienced collectors.

For Chicago, the arrival of another independently organized fair helps build out an increasingly active fall art season, while offering collectors and supporters a new opportunity to encounter galleries and artists from both Chicago and elsewhere. Billis runs his own namesake galleries in Connecticut, New York City and Los Angeles.

To date the exhibitor list is as follows:

+GALLERYLABS

CAROUSEL FINE ART

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN GALLERY

ECHO FINE ARTS

HABATAT

HAVEN GALLERY

HILTON CONTEMPORARY

J. RUEL MARTIN GALLERY

JERALD MELBERG GALLERY

JONATHAN COOPER

LAWRENCE FINE ART