Global art phenomenon Affordable Art Fair returns to Melbourne for its sixth and most dynamic edition, transforming the Royal Exhibition Building into a vibrant celebration of contemporary art over four colourful days from 27 to 30 August 2026.
More than 70 Australian and international galleries will participate, bringing thousands of original works priced between $100 and $10,000 – all available to purchase and take home on the same day.
Australian Fair Director Georgia Huestis estimates that more than 18,000 art-lovers will explore the fair, buy pieces from some of Australia’s best artists and revel in a packed program of live painting, interactive installations and family-friendly activities.
“The Affordable Art Fair breaks down barriers to collecting art and gives everyone, from first time buyers to seasoned collectors, the chance to find something they truly love,” said Huestis. “The sixth edition of Affordable Art Fair Melbourne is our most diverse and dynamic yet.”
“Following record-breaking editions in Brisbane in May and Sydney last November, the Fair continues to grow in popularity, attracting an increasingly broad and engaged audience. Designed to make art inclusive to everyone, the Fair invites visitors to connect directly with gallerists, watch artists at work and explore a wide range of styles, stories and mediums.”
“Every artwork is by a living artist, prices are clearly displayed, and visitors can purchase and take home their favourite pieces on the spot. There’s no mystery, no gatekeeping, just a celebration of great art,” said Huestis.
Affordable Art Fair Program Highlights:
The 2026 Fair welcomes a fresh wave of new galleries and artists, celebrates the return of Fair favourites and shines a light on eight emerging artists aged under 35 through the popular Discover: Young Talent program.
Visitors can expect an immersive celebration of creativity when they step inside the colourful world of Diego Dough. The French artist will transform a space into a whimsical custom “art shop” filled with playful fried egg sculptures, vibrant flowers and a sense of joyful frivolity.
Positioned at the entrance to the Fair, Face Value – a new mural by Daylesford artist Struan Hopwood (Thirteen 05 Gallery) – serves as a bold introduction to the event, reflecting the artist’s distinctive and contemporary style. Thirteen 05 Gallery will also feature a dedicated gallery space within the Fair, showcasing a curated selection of works.
The popular Artist in Action live art-making demonstrations feature incredible creatives, including painter Greg Mallyon (Manyung Gallery), printmaker and poet Jeff Gardner (Cascade Art Gallery), collagist Robert Lee Davis (Storehouse), illustrator Chloe Blythman (Oddball Gallery), realist oil painters Sally and Ben Ryan (Hamley Studio of Fine Art) and textile artist Nilraya Bundasak (SOL Gallery), alongside the crowd favourite Art ATM by Melbourne local Jackie Case.
Budding young artists will be delighted by the Kaleidoscope Children’s Art Studio x Claudio Kirac, a vibrant, kaleidoscopic world inspired by toys, kawaii culture, and all things collectible.
Gallery Spotlight:
Reflecting sustained collector appetite for technically refined oil painting and realism, traditional painting continues to gain momentum with this year’s Fair set to showcase showcasing Victorian Artists Society (VAS), one of Australia’s foremost art institutions, alongside respected contemporary galleries Rich and Strange led by Alice Palmer, and Hamley Studio of Fine Art where founders Sally and Ben Ryan will bring the creative process to life as Artists in Action.
Beloved Fitzroy institutions, Brunswick Street Gallery and SOL Gallery, will both bring a curated selection of diverse works by emerging and established artists, and Thomas Burge returns to the Fair with a selection of local artworks from his artisan St Kilda space, Storehouse. Artist Lane brings its award-winning selection of artists, while AJAA Design will host 2026 Melbourne Fair campaign artist Ailish Bourke, whose abstract works explore the power of memory and distortion over time.
Celebrating the strength and diversity of local artists, a strong contingent of regional Victorian galleries will be represented at the Fair, including Manyung Gallery Group, who have five galleries across the state, Maldon’s Cascade Art Gallery, and Queenscliff’s Salt Contemporary Art.
Perennial crowd-pleaser Jumbled returns with its irresistible roster of bright, colourful works alongside Fair favourites The Toowoomba Gallery, Brisbane’s Aspire Gallery, Yandina’s Stevens Street Gallery and Sydney’s Oddball Gallery, will again bring a selection of vibrant artworks to Melbourne.
Returning as Access Partner, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for profit, 100% Aboriginal-owned art centre representing artists from the remote Central Australian desert communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi.
Affordable Art Fair Melbourne takes place at the Royal Exhibition Building from Thursday 27 August to Sunday 30 August 2026. For more information, visit: www.affordableartfair.com for details.
Images: Affordable Art Fair Melbourne 2025 (supplied)