Art Basel Awards Name 33 Global Medalists for 2026

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The Art Basel Awards have announced 33 medalists for its 2026 edition, recognizing artists, curators, institutions, and cultural leaders whose work reflects evolving practices across the contemporary art world.

Now in its second year, the awards program seeks to acknowledge the full scope of the global art ecosystem, spanning nine categories that include artists, patrons, media figures, curators, and cultural organizations. The initiative is presented in partnership with BOSS, reflecting an ongoing effort to connect art with other creative industries, including fashion. 

According to organizers, the awards process begins with anonymous nominations submitted by international art professionals and cultural leaders. A jury of nine experts then selects 33 medalists based on vision, impact, and contribution to the field. The program emphasizes sustained influence rather than single achievements.

Fifteen artists were recognized across three categories, Emerging, Established, and Icon, while 18 additional medalists were honored in Cross-Disciplinary Creator, Museum and Institution, Media and Storyteller, Patron, Allies, and Curator categories.

The 2026 cohort reflects broad geographic representation, with honorees from regions including North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Organizers noted a strong presence of artists and institutions from the Global South, with work addressing themes such as migration, postcolonial history, climate change, and urban transformation.

Medalists will be formally recognized in June during Art Basel’s flagship fair in Switzerland. Additional programming will take place throughout the year, with Gold Award recipients to be announced later at Art Basel Miami Beach.

Gold awardees in the artist categories will share more than $250,000 annually in unrestricted funding, according to organizers, along with access to global networks, partnerships, and commissioned projects.

In the Emerging Artist category, medalists include Aziza Kadyri, Carla Gueye, Diego Marcon, Farah Al Qasimi, Precious Okoyomon, and Tiffany Sia. Their work spans media such as film, textiles, and installation, often addressing identity, ecology, power structures, and cultural memory.

Established Artist honorees include Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Arthur Jafa, Julie Mehretu, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Theaster Gates. Their practices incorporate film, painting, performance, and socially engaged work, frequently exploring themes of migration, community, and historical narrative.

The Icon Artist category recognizes Barbara Kruger, Howardena Pindell, and Jenny Holzer, whose decades-long careers have influenced contemporary discourse through text-based art, abstraction, and politically engaged practices.

Recipients in the Cross-Disciplinary Creator category include Laurie Anderson, Sumayya Vally, and Kulapat Yantrasast, whose work bridges art, architecture, music, and design.

Institutional honorees include the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, SAVVY Contemporary, and The Brick in Los Angeles, each cited for contributions to exhibition-making, research, and cultural dialogue.

In the Media and Storyteller category, Anton Vidokle, Hilton Als, and Siddhartha Mitter were recognized for their roles in criticism, publishing, and curatorial practice.

Patron awardees include Mercedes Vilardell, Pamela J. Joyner, and the Teiger Foundation, acknowledged for supporting artists and advancing institutional development. Allies recognized include Independent Curators International, New Curators, and the Studio Museum in Harlem’s Artist-in-Residence program.

Curator medalists include Azu Nwagbogu, Diana Campbell, and Stuart Comer, whose work spans international exhibitions, biennials, and museum leadership.

Many of the selected medalists engage with issues that extend beyond national boundaries, reflecting a globalized and increasingly interconnected art world. The awards also highlight practices that cross disciplines, incorporating visual art with film, performance, architecture, and publishing.

Vincenzo de Bellis, chair of the awards jury, said the 2026 cohort reflects “a broad cross-section of the ecosystem” and underscores the importance of exchange across disciplines and perspectives in shaping the future of art.

The Art Basel Awards program is positioned as an alternative to traditional prize models, focusing on long-term impact and collaborative networks rather than singular works or exhibitions.