Arthur Jafa and Julie Mehretu Among Art Basel Awards 2026 Medalists
1April 20, 2026
Art Baselhas announced the thirty-three winners of its 2026 edition of theArt Basel Awards, the second iteration of a round of accolades it introduced last year in order to honor individual artists, curators and major players in the contemporary art system; as well as institutions in a broader sense.
As was the case last year, the awardees fell under nine separate categories: Icon Artists; Established Artists; Emerging Artists; Cross-Disciplinary Creators; Patrons; Institutions; Curators; Allies; Media and Storytellers. This year’s winners include photographer Farah Al Qasimi, multidisciplinary artistPrecious Okoyomon, performance and sculpture artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons, legendary filmmakerArthur Jafa,The Brickin Los Angeles, led by Hamza Walker, and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in Saudi Arabia.
In 2026, the Awards also added a new jury member: Prof. Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, director and chief curator of Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin.
“This year’s cohort spans geographies, disciplines, and generations, reflecting a truly interconnected art world,” Vincenzo de Bellis, chief artistic officer and global director of Art Basel Fairs, said in a statement. “The Awards are designed to capture a broad cross-section of the ecosystem, grounded in the belief that meaningful progress depends on exchange across disciplines and perspectives. From emerging voices to established figures, the 2026 cohort represents those advancing some of the most compelling and forward-looking ideas in the industry today, setting the foundation for future generations and expanding what the art world can become.”
Medalists will be recognized during Art Basel’s Switzerland fair in June and through year-round global campaigns and initiatives. Later this year, Gold Awardees will be selected: these individuals or entities will receive a total of over $250,000 annually in honorariums and philanthropic gifts.
The full list of awardees is below.
Emerging ArtistAziza KadyriCarla GueyeDiego Marcon Farah Al Qasimi Precious Okoyomon Tiffany SiaEstablished ArtistApichatpong Weerasethakul Arthur JafaJulie MehretuMaría Magdalena Campos-Pons Rirkrit TiravanijaTheaster GatesIcon ArtistBarbara Kruger Howardena Pindell Jenny HolzerCross-Disciplinary CreatorKulapat Yantrasast Laurie Anderson Sumayya Vally
Museum and InstitutionDiriyah Biennale FoundationSAVVY ContemporaryThe BrickMedia and StorytellerAnton Vidokle Hilton Als Siddhartha MitterPatronMercedes Vilardell Pamela J. Joyner Teiger FoundationAlliesIndependent Curators International New CuratorsStudio Museum in Harlem: Artist-in-Residence ProgramCuratorAzu Nwagbogu Diana Campbell Stuart Comer