The medalists for the Art Basel Awards have just been announced. The initiative is entering its sophomore year with a list of artists, patrons, thinkers, and creatives that is more ambitious and wide-reaching than ever. ‘This year’s cohort represents a field that is increasingly interconnected, cross-disciplinary, and global, reflecting how art is produced and experienced today,’ affirms the Global Director of Art Basel Fairs, Vincenzo de Bellis. The 2026 lineup is peppered with visionaries who not only respond to our fast-evolving world, but lead the way for tomorrow.
The globally connected, outward-looking artists who were named medalists are matched by the international spread of the jury itself, from Hans Ulrich Obrist, Director of Serpentine in London, to Hoor Al-Qasimi, President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation. Following the tragic loss of jury member Koyo Kouoh, the late curator and pioneering force for art networks in Africa, the jury has also welcomed a new member this year: Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Chief Curator of Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin and curator of the most recent São Paulo Biennial.
Like all creative accolades, the Art Basel Awards are also a barometer, identifying those who best respond to—and often determine—the cultural weather. Its uniquely industry-wide remit means that it’s particularly well placed to do so. Not only are 15 artists recognized with medals across three separate categories, but three patrons, institutions, cross-disciplinary creators, allies, curators, and storytellers are also celebrated.
