French Galleries Accuse Art Basel Paris of "Disrespect, Even Contempt"
A group representing over a quarter of the exhibitors released a letter demanding compensation following the fair's abrupt closure.
Five days after Art Basel Paris announced it would prematurely terminate its 2026 edition on October 23, the Comité Professionnel des Galeries d’Art (CPGA), an industry group representing over a quarter of the fair's exhibitors, issued a letter demanding fair compensation and accusing event organizers of poor communication and mistreatment.
In the letter addressed to the new director of Art Basel Paris, Karim Crippa, the association demanded “concrete proposals for compensating exhibitors," stated that the galleries were never consulted about the event's early closure, and accused organizers of "disrespect, even contempt," according to Monopol. Along with CPGA President and Mon Charpentier gallery co-founder Philippe Charpentier, 14 members of the board signed the letter in support. The day after the association issued the letter, Crippa reportedly wrote to exhibitors promising a "concrete update in the coming days."
On October 22, event organizers for Art Basel Paris emailed exhibitors announcing that "in light of potential demonstrations across Paris this weekend and in the interest of safeguarding our visitors," the fair would close two days ahead of its planned October 25 end date. Following a temporary lockdown during installation at the Grand Palais on October 17, organizers proceeded with the original program before agreeing to end the fair early, citing the ongoing rallies over France’s failing education system and public services that have swept across the nation since mid-September.
