1-54 2026 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to New York for its 12th year, bringing together a focused group of galleries from across Africa, Europe and the Americas. Presented at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea, the fair offers a snapshot of contemporary practices from Africa and its diasporas, and a space for exchange between artists, collectors and ideas.

This year introduces a new curated focus, 1-54 Presents: Brazil Beyond Brazil, led by Igor Simões, exploring Afro-Brazilian practices within a broader diasporic framework and opening a more layered view of contemporary production. A series of special projects expands the fair beyond the booth format, with presentations including Vilanismo: Collective Practices of Refusal across the Black Atlantic, alongside Ekene Ijeoma’s Black Forest and TM Arthouse’s Entanglements exhibitions, each offering immersive, research-driven approaches.