Armory Show Returns with Younger Galleries and a Later Date

Emerging galleries and solo projects, as well as artists from, or connected to, the Caribbean, are the key themes of this year’s Armory Show, the first details of which were announced this week.

Around 230 galleries from more than 30 countries will take part in the fair at the Javits Centre in New York City, which has been scheduled later than its familiar, post-Labor-Day slot. The 2026 edition will run from 24–27 September, meaning it won’t clash with Frieze Seoul—both events are owned by Frieze.

The fair’s director, Kyla McMillan, said: “The Armory Show has always reflected New York’s openness: to artists, galleries and ideas from across the Americas and the wider world. This year, that comes through in the breadth of the gallery list, the expansion of Presents and Solo, and the work of our curators, whose sections trace histories of movement, exchange and cultural connection through the Caribbean.”

Single-artist presentations are being given more space this year: the Solo section of the fair expands to around 25 galleries, dotted throughout the exhibition space. Among the artists on show will be Akayo Rokkaku (represented by Baró Galeria), Firmino Saldanha (Galeria MaPa) and Monilola Olayemi Ilupeju (PSM).

Meanwhile, Presents, the part of the fair for young and emerging galleries, grows to around 55 participants. Making their inaugural appearances are Lobster Club, Rajov Menon, Adegbola Gallery and Catinca Tabacaru, while the returnees include Kendra Jayne Patrick, 56 Henry and Patel Brown. Margot Samel Gallery, which was awarded the Grammercy International Prize, receives a complimentary booth and will be presenting work from Sasha Brodsky and Leroy Johnson.

The curated sections of the fair will focus on the Caribbean, featuring artists from the region as well as first-generation North American artists from the Caribbean diaspora. Jovanna Venegas of SculptureCenter is curating Platform, which will house large-scale pieces from artists including Jesus Hilario Reyes and Bony Ramirez, considering how technological forms are emerging across the Caribbean.

Focus, curated by María Elena Ortiz from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, will explore how the diversity of the Caribbean prompts artistic discourse. Among the artists on display will be Ernesto Rivera and Ricardo Cabret. Artists from outside the region but whose work engages with the Caribbean diaspora include Renée Cox and Yanira Collado.

The geography of the Javits Centre plays a key role in the 2026 show. The entrances each carry their own curatorial perspective: the south entrance is home to galleries and artists echoing this year’s themes—including a group exhibition of works from Cuba—while the north entrance focuses on the role of New York City in shaping global art and culture.