Contemporary Istanbul, Türkiye’s leading international art fair, returns from 24 until 28 September 2025 for its landmark 20th edition, with a preview day on 24 September at Tersane Istanbul. Akbank continues as the fair’s main partner, joined by associate partners Tersane Istanbul and BMW, with Borusan Otomotiv representing BMW in Türkiye.
Since its founding, the fair has grown into a vital meeting point for artists, galleries, collectors, and institutions. Two decades on, it continues to trace Istanbul’s shifting role in the international art map, a place where histories, communities, and cultural networks intersect.
This year’s edition brings together over 70 galleries from across the world, alongside a series of institutional collaborations and curated programmes that mark the anniversary. The fair also expands into the city with special presentations and site-specific commissions.
Focus America
The curated Focus section turns attention to the United States, with an emphasis on New York and its influence on global visual culture. Participating galleries include Amanita, Revolver Galería, Pontone / Friedrichs Pontone, Leila Heller Gallery, and Heft Gallery. Highlights range from Edward Burtynsky’s acclaimed industrial landscapes to Elena Damiani’s explorations of geological memory, and collaborative works by Ryan Koopmans & Alice Wexell that digitally reimagine abandoned architecture.
CIF Dialogues: Disrupted Coordinates
Running from 24 until 25 September at Rixos Tersane Istanbul, the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation’s annual talks programme explores the theme Disrupted Coordinates: Istanbul and the Shifting Landscape of Art. Speakers include Jennifer Blei Stockman, President Emeritus of the Guggenheim Foundation, Anne Pasternak, Director of the Brooklyn Museum, and Jean Cooney, Director of Times Square Arts, alongside artist Summer Wheat. Together, they reflect on how institutions and artists navigate change, digitalisation, and the shifting role of public space.
Participating Galleries
International participants include JD Malat Gallery (London – Dubai), Mark Hachem Gallery (Paris – Beirut), Pedro Cera (Lisbon – Madrid), Villa del Arte (Barcelona – Amsterdam), and Wizard Gallery (Milan), alongside leading Turkish galleries such as Dirimart, Pilevneli, Pi Artworks, and Zilberman. Together, they underline the fair’s role as a bridge between local and global art scenes.
Special Presentations
To mark the 50th anniversary of the BMW Art Car Collection, Contemporary Istanbul will present Alexander Calder’s 1975 Art Car alongside Julie Mehretu’s Art Car, exhibited together for the first time in Türkiye. This presentation underscores the dialogue between contemporary art and mobility that has unfolded across five decades.
The fair also partners with the Sigg Art Foundation, founded by Pierre Sigg, which will bring to Istanbul a curated selection from its collection. The presentation will showcase new acquisitions exploring the intersection of painting and digital culture, featuring artists such as Korakrit Arunanondchai, Nancy Burson, Meriem Bennani, Neil Beloufa, Louisa Gagliardi, and Austin Lee, alongside historical works by Charles Ross and Jean-Baptiste Vanmour.
Beyond the fair grounds, a site-specific commission by Grimanesa Amorós will light up the Peninsula Istanbul. Her Passage + Maritime installation, composed of large-scale LED sculptures, responds to the site’s layered histories as a place of passage and exchange.
Location: Istanbul, Türkiye.
Dates: 24 until 28 September 2025.