What to expect at the India Art Fair 2026

One day in 2008, when most Indian artists were skeptical of the format, the India Art Fair was conceptualised as a trade platform in Delhi, and though it was rooted in commerce (by galleries for collectors), it’s since blossomed into one of the most head-turning, headline-churning art galas in the country. 

IAF courts modern and contemporary artists across India and South Asia, and sometimes even beyond. You’ve got cutting-edge artwork, of course, but more than that, it’s grown into a space that encourages active discussion on what art is. This time, panels on the theme ‘What Makes Art Happen’ are lined up for the weekend, as well as out-of-the-box workshops and in-person performances. 

Last year saw a supremely successful show. MF Husain, SH Raza and Raja Ravi Varma were the biggest crowd pullers, but it was the textile exhibits that – quite surreptitiously – grabbed eyeballs, the most notable being Rekha Rodwittiya’s embroidery exploring gender politics.

Well, the fair’s entering its seventeenth season – here’s some stuff to keep in mind. 

When and where is IAF happening?

When: The fair is open on February 7-8 for general entries, with the last entry time being 5pm. On Saturday, you can be there from 10am to 7pm; if you’re on a student ticket, your entry time would be 1pm. The next day holds the same time for entry, but the fair will wrap up by 6pm.

Where: It’s at the Okhla NSIC Exhibition Grounds in South Delhi, where you can enter from Gate 6. That’s walking distance from the Govindpuri station on the Delhi Metro’s violet line. Limited parking is available, but we recommend you come by public transport as it’ll be easier to navigate the entry and exit.

What can you expect?

Over 130 in-booth exhibiting galleries with over 500 artists from young to old, including names you might recognise. That tells you how huge it is – but not necessarily what experience you’ll have. We suggest you prioritise artists from outside Delhi, because this is the best shot you’ll get at sampling the kinds of dialogue, pricing standards, and curation happening in other cities. 

Twelve enormous outdoor installations by twelve artists that are not booth-bound, so your legs won’t feel like you’re on a conveyor built. Built with waste material, embroidery, indigenous plants, and construction material. You’ll think of memory and how it blinks itself alive amid decay, through different bodies and cultures. 

Also: four Artists-in-Residence – the IAF’s fifth edition – from Sri Lanka, Kerala, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Panel discussions will be centred on the theme ‘What Makes Art Happen’ – focusing on what are propped up as key challenges, like social access and AI, facing the sector today. Two interesting ones on Sunday (12pm and 2:30pm) address working in IT as an artist and the impact of friendships between artists and collectors.

Performance art, centred around the psychic act behind a kitchen stripped of its material food and bringing together dance, cinema and more, will be outside the auditorium at 12:45pm on Saturday.

Even fabric design exhibits are in the mix.

How accessible is the show if you have a disability?

The folks behind IAF promise that the venue is wheelchair-friendly, staff and volunteers are sensitised to any needs you have, and there is reserved parking at Gate 6 for senior citizens and people with disabilities. You can request them for a wheelchair buddy to take you around too. The talks and walkthroughs as well as a select number of workshops will have sign language interpreters.

All talks will have interpreters for English and Indian Sign Language (ISL).

IAF also will feature The Inclusion Lab on all fair days, which will host workshops for children with disabilities, adults with varied needs, and anyone interested in using art as a tool for therapy and self-expression. Two to look out for: dreamcatcher-making and sculpting in the dark! There’s also a Sensory Art Rest Corner, which is designed as a quiet spot to step away from the overload.

What if you missed buying tickets or wanted to bring friends along?

You can buy tickets at the venue. But if the line is too daunting, Defence Colony has your back, just over 25 minutes of a drive away. An edgy line of more lowkey galleries – many of which are walkable from each other – is hosting a range of free-to-attend shows in the area for longer  than February. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, there’s even a glass or two of gin waiting for you. But if you’re not, Defence Colony Market nearby has fantastic end-of-night options. This is also great if you’re having an IAF hangover. Be sure to check the timings for each individual exhibition before you plan a day.

Some of these shows are: 

RITES: Alida Sun, at Method (On till April 15)

Flashback: Ketaki Sheth, at PhotoinK (On till Mar 17)

A Day in Making: Neerja Kothari, at Shrine Empire (On till Feb 28)

Abr Kyā Chīz Hai? / What Really Is a Cloud?: Debashish Mukherjee, at Akar Prakar (On till Mar 6)

Evolution / Involution, at Latitude 28 (On till Mar 15)

The Gatecrasher: Atul Dodiya, at Vadehra Art Gallery (On till Mar 10)

A Breath Held Long Enough: Sudarshan Shetty, at Galleryske (On till Mar 17)