After much speculation, it was only a matter of time until the powers that be would make it official. But as of Wednesday, we can confirm that Art Basel Miami Beach 2020 is canceled.
Director for the Americas, Noah Horowitz, shared the news in a statement on behalf of the international fair, which also stages events in Hong Kong and Switzerland. Among the myriad of reasons for calling off this year’s event are current bans on global travel, limitations surrounding large-scale events and quarantine restrictions throughout the U.S. “It is with great regret and disappointment that we announce the cancellation of our December show in Miami Beach, as we know how crucial our show is for our galleries, as well as for the greater Miami arts community and economy,” said Horowitz.
Indeed it is. The citywide artistic hullabaloo better known as Miami Art Week hinges on the annual show at the (newly renovated) Miami Beach Convention Center. Beyond attracting artists, tastemakers and big-name brands from around the world, the annual celebration rakes in millions for the cities. The satellite fairs, such as Scope and Art Miami, haven’t made their own announcement yet but the chances of them returning in 2020 are slim.
However, December isn’t entirely a wash for art lovers: Superblue is still slated to debut at the end of this year. And as of now, Art Basel Miami Beach returns December 2 through December 5, 2021.
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