Kyoto Wants to Be an Art Hub, and Its Government Is Backing the Push

Kyoto, the old imperial capital in western Japan known for its temples and gardens, is trying to add contemporary art to its reputation. Government support has been a driving force behind that ambition, according to Artnet News, which reports that politicians and dealers are both committing to the plan.

The clearest test is happening this weekend at Art Collaboration Kyoto, a fair where galleries rent stands to show and sell works. The 2026 edition runs from November 7 to 9. The fair says it will present 63 galleries from Japan and around the world across its Gallery Collaboration and Kyoto Meetings sections. The Art Newspaper reported that the fair's main section alone brings together 52 galleries, and that the event is marking five years of matching galleries with one another.

Some of the pairings are new. Taro Nasu, a gallery in Tokyo, is joining forces with Hauser & Wirth, a large international gallery group, for a joint presentation at the fair. Sharing a booth or a show lets a smaller gallery split the costs of travel, shipping and staffing, and gives visitors a reason to see two sets of artists side by side.

The fair is part of a wider upswing. Reuters reported in March that a UBS report said the global art market had returned to growth, with sales rising 4% in 2025. That is the backdrop to Kyoto's bid, and it is the market Kyoto's galleries hope to reach.

For visitors, the fair is a chance to see work in person without travelling to Tokyo, Hong Kong or New York. For the galleries, it is a test of whether buyers will make the trip to a city better known for its shrines than its auction rooms. Whether Kyoto's plan turns into a lasting art scene will depend on the galleries and collectors who keep coming back after the stands are packed up.