The 19th Daegu International Art Fair (DIAF 2026) will take place from October 29 to November 1 at Halls 4, 5, and 6 of EXCO’s East Wing in Daegu, South Korea. This year’s edition will bring together 103 galleries from Korea and abroad, presenting a wide range of works by leading figures in Korean modern and contemporary art as well as internationally active contemporary artists.
 
Established in 2008 as the Daegu Art Fair, DIAF has become one of the city’s leading art market events, drawing on Daegu’s longstanding gallery culture and collector base. This year, the fair will expand its programming with a special exhibition commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, a presentation of works from private collections, an exhibition of artists’ objects, and a program featuring affordable artworks aimed at emerging collectors.

Major Galleries and Contemporary Artists from Korea and Abroad
 
This year’s DIAF will feature galleries from Korea and overseas, including Dongwon Gallery, Leeahn Gallery, Lee & Bae, Gallery Shilla, Gallery CNK, 021 Gallery, P&C Gallery, Gallery J One, and Art Works Paris Seoul.
 
The fair is expected to present works by major figures in Korean modern and contemporary art, including Kim Tschang-Yeul, Park Seo-Bo, Nam June Paik, Lee Kang-So, Lee Kun-Yong, Rhee Seundja, Lee Ufan, and Chun Kwang Young. International artists whose works are expected to be featured include Yayoi Kusama, Donald Judd, Chiharu Shiota, and Eddie Martinez.
 
To improve the exhibition environment, the organizers have increased the height of the booth partition walls to 3.6 meters. This adjustment is intended to provide greater flexibility for displaying large-scale works and developing individual gallery presentations.

Four Special Exhibitions Exploring Franco-Korean Artistic Exchange and Collecting Culture
 
One of the highlights of DIAF 2026 is 《Daegu–Paris: 140 Years of Perspectives》, a special exhibition commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.
 
The exhibition examines artistic exchanges between the two countries through works by artists from Daegu and the surrounding Gyeongsangbuk-do Province who studied or worked in France, alongside French artists with connections to Korean art.
 
The exhibition brings together 12 Korean artists—Nam Kwan, Kwon Soon Cheol, Kim Jong Bok, Park Jong Kyu, Park Chang Seo, Byun Chong Ha, Shim Moon Pil, Lee Bae, Lee Seulgi, Chung Jae Kyoo, Hwang Ho Sup, and Kwak Soo Young—and six French artists: Daniel Buren, Claude Viallat, Bernard Aubertin, Nicolas Chardon, Niele Toroni, and François Ristori.
 
By exploring the relationship between artists from Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do and the French art scene, the exhibition offers an opportunity to consider the international dimensions of the region’s art history.
 
《Artists’ Objects》 focuses on furniture and objects by Donald Judd, exploring the relationships between art, design, and everyday life. The exhibition considers how artistic ideas and formal approaches extend beyond conventional artworks into furniture and living spaces.
 
《A Collector’s Collection》 presents works by major contemporary artists, including Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Alex Katz, and Cy Twombly. Through these works, the exhibition explores collectors’ choices and the cultural significance of private collections.
 
《Edge 100》 introduces artworks priced at KRW 1 million or less, selected by participating galleries. The program focuses on relatively small-scale works, with two-dimensional pieces generally limited to Size 15 or smaller under the Korean canvas sizing system. Designed to make art collecting more accessible, it offers visitors with limited experience purchasing art an opportunity to begin building their own collections.

The History of Korean Contemporary Art and Daegu’s Gallery Culture

Daegu has played an important role in the formation and development of Korean modern and contemporary art. Numerous artists were active in the city during the development of Korean modern art, while experimental artistic practices gained particular momentum in the region during the 1970s.
 
The Daegu Contemporary Art Festival, first held in 1974, is widely regarded as a significant event in the history of Korean experimental art. Moving beyond conventional approaches to painting and sculpture, artists associated with this period explored new media and forms of expression, contributing to the broader development of Korean contemporary art.
 
Meanwhile, Daegu’s commercial art market has evolved through the activities of regional galleries and the gradual development of a local collecting culture. These galleries have played an important role in introducing artists and their works to collectors, helping establish part of the regional foundation on which DIAF operates today.
 
Although experimental artistic practices and the development of commercial galleries emerged from different historical contexts, both are essential to understanding Daegu’s distinctive artistic environment.
 
 
 
Expanding the Collector Base and Opportunities for International Exchange
 
In recent years, art fairs across South Korea have increasingly sought to broaden visitor and collector engagement through special exhibitions and public programs alongside their core commercial activities.
 
DIAF’s presentation of works from private collections and its program featuring more accessible price points reflect this broader development.
 
《Edge 100》 is particularly noteworthy for targeting not only established collectors but also visitors who are beginning to take an interest in purchasing art. Encouraging new collectors to enter the market may, over time, help expand opportunities for galleries and artists.
 
The special exhibition dedicated to Franco-Korean artistic exchange also provides an opportunity to examine the relationship between regional art history and the international art world. However, the extent to which such exhibitions lead to sustained exchanges among galleries or generate new art market opportunities remains to be assessed over time.
 
DIAF 2026 reflects Daegu’s efforts to respond to changing art market conditions by building on its established gallery culture and collector base. Whether this year’s edition can sustain the engagement of existing art audiences while creating new opportunities for collectors and international exchange will be an important point to watch.
 
 
 
Fair Information
 
Event: 19th Daegu International Art Fair (DIAF 2026)
Dates: October 29 – November 1, 2026
Venue: EXCO, East Wing, Halls 4, 5, and 6, Daegu, South Korea
Participants: 103 galleries from Korea and abroad
Official Website: https://diaf.or.kr/