What to expect at 2026 Seattle Art Fair and new Assembly Art Fair

On the last weekend in July, art lovers in Seattle will have two expansive art fairs to hop between: the Seattle Art Fair, now in its 10th edition, and newcomer Assembly Art Fair, organized by two longtime Seattle gallerists.

Both are open to the public July 23-26, but will have markedly different presentations of what an art fair can be. Art fairs traditionally serve as events where collectors, artists and galleries can see a wide variety of work under one roof, providing sales and networking opportunities for all involved. 

SAF fits the traditional “art fair” bill, regularly featuring over 80 galleries from around the globe, attracting thousands of visitors, and organizing an extensive special programming schedule. It’s a place where international, national and local art scenes are woven together, inviting visitors to view paintings from artists in Seoul next to sculptures from a Georgetown studio. 

“The longevity of the project, I think, is an indicator of the dedication of the Seattle arts community,” said Kelly Freeman, SAF director. “It’s that people engage, people want it to work, people want to commit to being involved. I think it shows the strength of the collecting community as well.”

Assembly — put on by Sarah Traver of Traver Gallery and Carol Clifford, co-owner of Greg Kucera Gallery — is a much more scrappy affair. Traver and Clifford decided to start Assembly after weathering a tough year — and paying tens of thousands of dollars to get into a large fair like SAF didn’t make economic sense, Clifford noted. Instead, they conceived Assembly as a gallery-led effort, inviting participants and crafting programming on a much smaller scale. 

They will be using West Canal Yards, the development along the Ship Canal that houses Traver Gallery, as their base. Five galleries — J. Rinehart Gallery, AMcE Creative Arts, Hall Spassov Gallery, The Vestibule and studio e — will have booths at both art fairs. 

“I think it’s going to really add to the dynamic of the week,” Clifford said. “We’re a big city. There’s no reason why we can’t have a couple things going at the same time.”

Here’s what to expect at each of them.

Seattle Art Fair

Location: Lumen Field Event Center, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle

Expected turnout: Around 20,000 people. 

What this fair is about: Originally founded by late billionaire Paul Allen in 2015, the Seattle Art Fair, produced by Art Market Productions, is a traditional art fair in all its glitz and glory — dozens of galleries from around the world in booths Tetrised together, showy installations, and lots of attendees. 

Number of galleries participating: 101, including 47 local (such as Winston Wachter Fine Art, AMcE Creative Arts, Stonington Gallery, Roq la Rue), 33 national (Superposition Gallery, Billis/Williams Gallery, Michael Szabo Studio, etc.), and 21 international (Zenyk Art Gallery, Galerie Duret, Galerie Duret, etc.). 

Highlights to keep an eye out for: SAF’s programming this year is stacked. Our region’s vibrant textile and fiber arts scene are a special focus — the fair will feature fiber installations by artists like Ko Kirk Yamahira, Malaika Temba, Azadeh Gholizadeh, and Lucy + Jorge Orta as well as a special presentation by the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum. STUDIO DRIFT will extend its Seattle Art Museum installation “Meadow” into the event center and is showing “Coded Nature,” an interactive installation inspired by the Pacific Northwest landscape. English conceptual artist Jeremy Deller has partnered with Gage Academy of Art to present “Life Drawing of a Caregiver,” a series of (clothed) life drawing sessions where attendees can sketch models who work in caregiving roles. Additionally, SAF has partnered with Ukraine-based arts organizations to present work by Ukrainian artists. 

Ticket prices: A fair pass is $81.40 (includes opening night entry on July 23); a single day ticket is $50.19 (public days, July 24-26, only). 

Attire: SAF takes up tens of thousands of square feet of space inside the event center, so comfortable walking shoes are a must for attendees. While there’s no strict dress code (this is the Pacific Northwest, after all), the art fair is an opportunity to get creative with your clothing decisions should you choose to do so. “Anything is welcome,” Freeman said. “People really do use it as an opportunity to wear something that feels a bit more expressive.”

Assembly Art Fair

Location: West Canal Yards, 1100 W. Ewing St., Seattle

Expected turnout: TBD. Since this is the fair’s first year, attendance is a bit up in the air, according to organizers, but Traver said ticket sales “are going well.” 

What this fair is about: Assembly Art Fair is a gallery-led effort and features mostly local galleries putting their best on display. It’s a much more focused, curated event rather than traditional art fairs where the sheer number of booths can easily lead to sensory overload. Traver said they are set on “giving folks a more digestible experience.” Even if you don’t have the means to purchase anything, organizers encourage attendees to come, engage with art, and enjoy the sun by the wharf.

Number of galleries participating: 17 — mostly local — galleries: Greg Kucera Gallery, Traver Gallery, PDX CONTEMPORARY ART (Portland), G. Gibson Projects, James Harris Gallery (Dallas), studio e, Foster/White Gallery, Russo Lee Gallery (Portland), Hall Spassov Gallery, J. Rinehart Gallery, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, AMcE Creative Arts, Koplin Del Rio Gallery, Elizabeth Leach Gallery (Portland), Laura Vincent Design & Gallery (Portland), Charlie James Gallery (Los Angeles) and The Vestibule. 

Highlights to keep an eye out for: Sculptor Matt Sellars will have a giant installation hanging from the rafters at West Canal Yards that visitors can see from all levels of the building. Belltown retailer Orcas Paley will also be on-site with their Concept Shop featuring artisan goods and one-of-a-kind finds. Dick’s Drive-In food truck, Cafe Umbria, Old Salt Bagels and Sea Creatures are set to quell any hunger or caffeine-related pangs over the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, Assembly will host a closing celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. highlighting the artists who made the art fair possible. 

Ticket prices: A full fair pass is $40, guaranteeing entry for all four days. You can nab a weekend pass for $25 (July 25-26) or a single day pass for $15. A patron and collector pass is by invite only, gaining entry to VIP events (like the collector preview on July 22) and all public hours. 

Attire: While the space isn’t as cavernous as SAF, comfort is still king. “People turn out for Art Walk these days,” said Clifford. “Dress creatively — have fun with it.”

A quick note: Last week, Assembly announced that the Frye Art Museum has committed to acquiring an artwork from the fair for its permanent collection, giving preference to a local artist or one represented by a local gallery. Faith Brower, director and curator of collections at the Frye, will choose the artwork that will then be featured at the museum’s “Recent Acquisitions” exhibition next year. “It’s just a wonderful way for Assembly and the Frye to come together to support and celebrate the local arts community,” said Clifford.