Frieze Seoul 2026 Opens at COEX: New Sections, Full Preview

Seoul's signature autumn art event is back. Frieze Seoul 2026 takes place over four days, September 2 through 5, at COEX in Gangnam-gu, and with the exhibitor list and program now announced, art enthusiasts are already buzzing. As one of Korea's largest international art fairs, it's also the moment each year when galleries and museums across the city fall into step for "Frieze Week."

What is it

Frieze started in London and has since expanded to New York and LA, building a reputation as one of the world's premier art fair brands. Since its Seoul edition first launched in 2022, it has become the biggest event on Korea's art calendar every September. This year, more than 125 galleries from 30 countries are set to take part, with a strong showing from Asia-Pacific galleries alongside a broad mix from Europe and the Americas. The fair is held in Halls C and D on COEX's 3rd floor, while Halls A and B on the 1st floor host Kiaf SEOUL, Korea's leading domestic art fair, running at the same time — so a single visit lets you take in two major fairs at once.

The details

The standout change this year is the addition of two new curated sections. "Material Practice" draws inspiration from Korea's long tradition of handcraft, artisanship, and experimental approaches to materials themselves, bringing together works that reinterpret the physical qualities of their materials in original ways — a section worth checking out if you're into work that blurs the line between craft and contemporary art. "Spotlight," a new section devoted to solo presentations by 20th-century artists overlooked by mainstream art history, has also been added this year, curated by Wonseok Koh. On top of that, the existing "Focus" section, which highlights emerging artists, has expanded its scope beyond Asia to include Europe and the Americas.

Ticket prices vary by day and tier. Thursday Preview and First Access tickets are each KRW 90,000, Afternoon Access is KRW 70,000, and students aged 7-19 can get in for KRW 55,000. There are also VIP tiers for collectors and industry professionals: a VIP Preview ticket runs KRW 250,000, while the top "Frieze Insider" tier is priced at KRW 750,000. Tickets can be booked through Frieze's official website.

Visiting tips

Thursday's opening preview, when VIPs and general visitors arrive at the same time, is likely to be the busiest day. If you want to take your time with the work, a weekday afternoon slot is a better option than the weekend. Since Kiaf SEOUL and Frieze Seoul are both housed in the same COEX complex, fitting everything into a single day can be tight, and plenty of visitors split their visit across two days. This time of year also brings the annual "Frieze Week" program, with major galleries in neighborhoods like Samcheong-dong and Hannam-dong holding special exhibitions of their own — worth checking before or after your COEX visit.