Art market analysis 2026
New York
New York’s May marquee auctions closed with strong results across Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips, continuing the momentum seen earlier in London. The week was marked by headline sales that once again placed the top end of the market at the centre of attention, with Jackson Pollock’s Number 7A reaching $181.2m, alongside major results for Constantin Brancusi and Mark Rothko. Overall, the auctions generated around $2.5bn, driven in part by a small number of high-value works and the strong performance of single-owner collections, particularly S.I. Newhouse.
London
London’s first marquee sales week of 2026 brought together thirteen 20th and 21st century art auctions at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips. Around 900 works sold with an 87% sell-through rate, totalling £419.8 million and signalling steady demand across the market, led by Henry Moore’s 'King and Queen' (£26.3m).