The first international art fair in Prague, Prague Contemporary, will take place from April 29 to May 2, 2027, at the Industrial Palace at Výstaviště Prague. The inaugural edition unfolds within the newly restored Central Hall of this 1891 Art Nouveau landmark, where soaring ceilings, historic iron framework, and natural light provide an architectural backdrop tailored to contemporary art presentations. Bringing together 40 galleries, including 30 international presentations, the fair bridges the contemporary art scenes of Western and Eastern Europe, offering works ranging from tens of thousands to millions of Czech crowns.
Major international art fairs can often feel hectic and impersonal. Prague Contemporary, the first fair of its kind in the Czech Republic, is built on the opposite premise: an intimate, focused experience that allows visitors to truly engage with each presented work. Reflecting this approach, the motto of the inaugural edition is simple: “Take your time.”
The concept was initiated by Alexandra Karpuchina, founder of the progressive Prague-based Karpuchina Gallery, known for presenting established and emerging artists side by side. Since 2016, she has systematically connected local and international scenes and initiated numerous cross-border cultural projects. This background directly shapes the ambition of the fair, not merely to stage another seasonal event, but to revive Prague’s historical legacy as an international cultural crossroads.
Rudolphine Prague was once the cultural heart of Europe, a meeting ground for artists, scholars, and collectors from across the continent. We want to build upon that legacy in a contemporary context: elevating the Czech art scene and integrating it directly into the global market,” says Alexandra Karpuchina, Executive Director of the fair.
“Across the international art fair landscape, we are seeing a clear shift toward more considered, boutique formats with strong curatorial selection and meaningful encounters. At the same time, international galleries and art professionals are actively seeking new regions and markets, and Prague is emerging as a destination they are increasingly curious to discover,” she adds.
Forty Galleries from Across Europe
The fair will be invitation-only and feature a curated selection of 40 galleries, ten prominent Czech and thirty international exhibitors. Confirmed international participants include Emanuel Layr (Vienna), Pedro Cera Gallery (Lisbon/Madrid), Polana Institute (Warsaw), Galeria Senda (Barcelona), L.I.N.K. Gallery and Doza Gallery (Sofia), The Window Project (Tbilisi), ACB Gallery (Budapest), and Steinhauser and Umrian galleries (Bratislava). Among the first Czech galleries to confirm their participation are Kodl Contemporary, DSC Gallery, Kvalitář Gallery, The Chemistry Gallery, Trafo Gallery, Spot Gallery, and Bold Gallery. Additional exhibitors will be announced continuously.
The artistic direction of the fair is led by Stephan Stoyanov, an internationally active curator and gallerist with over twenty years of experience and founder of New York’s Luxe Gallery. He has worked with artists exhibited at MoMA, Tate Modern, and the Venice Biennale. Participation is by invitation only, with every presentation reviewed by a curatorial team led by Stephan Stoyanov. With support from international Advisory Board members comprising leading international figures, including, e.g., Marc-Olivier Wahler, Branko Franceschi, and Tevž Logar, and local support from Prague’s most dominant galleries. This guarantees both visitors and collectors an uncompromising level of artistic quality.
“Our goal at Prague Contemporary is to juxtapose works by internationally established figures with creations by emerging talents, offering pieces that can serve as someone’s very first art investment. However, our rigorous selection standards apply equally across the board,” notes Artistic Director Stephan Stoyanov.
The fair also brings together prominent international advisors. The Advisory Board includes figures such as Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family, prominent collector, and acclaimed artist who presented at Art Basel Unlimited this year—and sculptor Gabriela von Habsburg, whose lineage directly connects to Rudolphine Prague, or Marc-Olivier Wahler and Branko Franceschi. Curators from major global modern and contemporary art institutions have also placed the inaugural edition firmly on their radar.
The late-spring date is strategic. Positioned between established European highlights such as Art Brussels and Art Basel, Prague Contemporary offers a natural stopover for international collectors traveling across the continent. Furthermore, the project addresses the regional gap left by viennacontemporary, which historically focused on Central and Eastern European art and recently announced the conclusion of its operations in its previous format.
The Industrial Palace & City-Wide Programming
The venue itself, the Central Hall of the newly restored Industrial Palace at Výstaviště Prague, is integral to the fair experience. Originally constructed in 1891, this Art Nouveau landmark is an architectural work of art in its own right. Following a meticulous, extensive restoration, the palace reopens with its historic iron framework and natural light, reconnecting Výstaviště to its foundational mission: showcasing the finest art produced in Europe.
The event will also extend well beyond the walls of the palace, activating the entire capital over four days. A curated satellite program will span partner institutions and spaces.
Prague’s Position on the European Contemporary Art Scene
Prague is rapidly becoming a key destination for contemporary art and culture itself. Over the past few years, the city’s art scene has opened up to the world, marked by the opening of Kunsthalle Praha – an independent space for modern and contemporary art located in the historic center of Prague. Private galleries like Kodl Contemporary are growing, and Prague Art Week is celebrating its fifth edition this year. Prague Contemporary builds directly on this momentum. By bringing international galleries and collectors to the city, the fair establishes the recurring art platform Prague has long needed.
Dates:
April 29, 2027 – VIP Day
April 30 – May 2, 2027 – Public Days
Opening hours:
April 29, 2027: Exclusive to VIP guests and VIP ticket holders
VIP Preview: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM and VIP Opening: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
April 30, 2027: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
May 1, 2027: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
May 2, 2027: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Industrial Palace Výstaviště, 170 00 Praha 7-Bubeneč
Tickets for the inaugural edition are now on sale: get your tickets here.
Prague Contemporary – www.praguecontemporary.cz
Prague Contemporary is the first international contemporary art fair in the Czech Republic. It was founded to connect the Czech and European art scenes directly to the global market, offering collectors, galleries, and the public a boutique format that prioritizes quality and direct engagement over volume. Institutional and programming partners include Villa Pellé, Kodl Contemporary, Trafo Gallery, Prague Art Week, and Edu Art Experience. The project is patronized by The Pudil Family Foundation and the Robert Runták Collection.
Alexandra Karpuchina is a prominent figure in the Czech contemporary art scene, recognized for her innovative curatorial vision and her ability to develop projects that connect the local art scene with an international context. After studying Arts Management and Intermedia Confrontation at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, she founded White Pearl Gallery in 2016, later transforming it into Karpuchina Gallery in 2020, based in Prague’s historic centre. She has curated and managed numerous exhibitions across Europe, establishing a respected position within the contemporary art scene. At Prague Contemporary, she brings an entrepreneurial spirit, deep knowledge of the Czech art market, and extensive fundraising experience. Her vision is to build an internationally respected art fair in Prague that strengthens the visibility and confidence of the Czech art scene and creates a platform for galleries, collectors, institutions, and other key figures in contemporary art from across Europe.
Stephan Stoyanov is an internationally acclaimed curator and gallerist with more than two decades of experience in contemporary art. As the founder of the prestigious Luxe Gallery in New York, which he directed from 2002 to 2014, he collaborated with artists whose work has been presented at the Venice Biennale, the Whitney Biennial, Tate Modern, MoMA, and other leading international institutions. He also contributed to the realization of the Cuban Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and has worked as a curator and advisor to major institutions, including the Belvedere Museum and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA). Today, he curates and develops international art projects across Europe and beyond. His work has been recognized with distinctions including Top Young Gallery in Rome and Top Curator in Vienna in 2021. In recent years, he has served as an advisor, ambassador, and member of expert committees for major international art fairs and cultural platforms, including viennacontemporary and Art Dubai. As Artistic Director of Prague Contemporary, Stephan Stoyanov contributes to shaping the fair’s curatorial direction and international development. Drawing on his experience and long-standing connections within the global art world, he helps engage leading galleries, collectors, and institutional partners.
