Art Basel Miami Beach

Art Basel Miami Beach, North America’s largest and most prestigious international contemporary art fair, is returning to the Miami Beach Convention Center in South Beach. Since its inception in 2002, Art Basel Miami Beach has routinely drawn more than 80,000 visitors annually, from art dealers to artists, collectors and art aficionados. It has become the splashiest cultural event of the Greater Miami & Miami Beach social calendar, with parties and events galore attended by celebrities and tastemakers. This year, over 285 galleries from 38 countries will showcase works by thousands of emerging, mid-career, established and blue chip artists.

And while Art Basel Miami Beach is the singular fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Art Week, December 2-8, encompasses over 20 satellite fairs for a whirlwind week filled with art and parties perfectly suited for sunny Miami.

Get Your Tickets To Art Basel

Art Basel Miami Beach kicks off December 4-5 with invitation-only VIP previews and a Vernissage celebration on December 5. The fair opens to the public December 6-8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

A number of ticketing options can be purchased online in advance of the show or onsite at the Miami Beach Convention Center. First Access tickets ($120) grant access to the fair for a single day starting at 11 a.m. Day Tickets ($85) are timed tickets for a single day with slots available from noon to 4 p.m. Reduced Day Tickets ($65) grant access for a single day to Miami Beach residents, seniors and veterans, while children age 12 or under accompanied by an adult receive single-day entry for $10.

Premium ticket packages (from $650) include VIP access to the Thursday Vernissage, an all-access pass to the fair, admission to select area museums and other perks.

Art Basel Exhibitors and Sectors

The exhibition space at the Miami Beach Convention Center is comprised of sectors: Galleries, Meridians, Nova, Positions, Survey, Kabinett and Conversations, which divide the fair into separate curatorial spaces. Galleries serves as the centerpiece of the show, where the majority of the fair’s international galleries showcase the work of the artists they represent.

Meridians, curated this year by Yasmil Raymond (visual art curator and rector of the Städelschule in Frankfurt, Germany), is Art Basel Miami Beach’s platform for large-scale works, while Nova focuses exclusively on new works created within the last three years. Positions brings together select solo presentations by emerging artists represented by young galleries.

Kabinett and Survey both take a historical approach to curation. Kabinett features thematic group exhibitions and art historical showcases, as well as solo presentations, while Survey is dedicated to galleries highlighting artistic practices of historic relevance. There’s also a series of Conversations throughout the show, ranging from panel discussions to lectures by inspiring cultural leaders and artists.

Parking at Art Basel

Both valet parking and self-parking are available at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Valet parking can be found on both the west and east sides of the building, with pickup and drop-off taking place on Washington Avenue, Convention Center Drive, and 19th Street and Convention Center Drive.

An 800-space onsite parking garage offers $20 flat fee self-parking. Several municipal and private parking garages, as well as surface street parking, are available throughout Miami Beach.

Check out our full guide to transportation and getting around during Art Basel Miami Beach.

Discounted Stays at Miami Beach Hotels

When planning your visit to Art Basel Miami Beach, you can’t go wrong with a stay at one of the fair’s three official hotel partners: W South Beach, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and Grand Beach Hotel Miami Beach, offering discounts of up to 20%.

W South Beach is a perennial favorite amongst scenesters and celebrities and is only a few short blocks from the Miami Beach Convention Center. Luxurious accommodations feature oceanfront balconies, and the lobby bar, Living Room, boasts an impressive contemporary art collection with works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and George Condo.

Situated oceanfront at the foot of Lincoln Road, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach is close to not only the Miami Beach Convention Center but also the Untitled and SCOPE art fair tents on the beach. This classic luxury hotel, originally designed by iconic mid-century Miami architect Morris Lapidus, is also home to DiLido Beach Club, one of South Beach’s most alluring oceanfront restaurant lounges, perfect for a post-fair Champagne clink.

The beauty of the all-suite oceanfront Grand Beach Hotel Miami Beach is its residential appeal. The resort features plush, modern accommodations with oversized guest rooms, most featuring a separate living area, two bathrooms and a balcony. When it’s time to unwind after a busy day at the fair, relax on their spacious poolscape.

You can explore more prime Greater Miami & Miami Beach hotels perfectly suited for your visit to Art Basel Miami Beach.

By: Shayne Benowitz | October 16, 2024