The DenizBank 3rd IAAF Izmir Art Fair brought the art world together for the third time in Izmir between May 13 and 17, 2026. Held at Fuar Izmir, the organization concluded with the intense participation of artists, galleries, collectors, and art lovers.
The event featured works from various disciplines, including painting, sculpture, relief, ceramics, and glass art, with the participation of 120 galleries and approximately 1,600 artists from Turkey and abroad. Visited by nearly 28,000 art lovers and collectors, the event made significant contributions to international interaction in the field of contemporary art.
Evaluating the event, Sebahattin Aslan, Chairman of the Board of Demos Exhibitions, stated that IAAF Izmir grows every year and has become one of Turkey’s important contemporary art platforms. Indicating that the event created a significant vitality not only in the field of art but also in terms of the city's economy, Aslan said, “Art organizations also add value to the cultural tourism and international promotion of cities. Throughout the event, the artists, galleries, collectors, and visitors coming to Izmir made serious contributions to the city's economy in many areas such as accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, and shopping. This year, works belonging to nearly 50 immortal artists were exhibited in a special selection and attracted great interest from visitors. DenizBank's support for the Izmir edition, following the Istanbul leg, is also extremely important for our fair's impact and growth in the culture and art ecosystem.”
Young Artists Attracted Attention
Within the scope of the organization, the works of new generation artists met with art lovers in special areas reserved for young artists; panels and talks were held addressing topics such as the use of art in interiors, the role of art in public and private spaces, and the relationship between curation and spatial experience. The event continued with a moderated Q&A session, and assessments were made with the participants regarding the relationship between art, space, and design. In the award ceremony organized as part of the opening ceremony, artists, institutions, and names contributing to different fields of contemporary art were awarded.