At the 42nd edition of Art Brussels, director Nele Verhaeren announced a shift towards a 'quality-first' approach. With 138 participating galleries, down from last year's 154, the fair aimed to create a more focused experience that allows visitors to appreciate art without overwhelming them.

The reduction in exhibitors allowed all booths to fit into one hall at Brussels Expo for the first time since 2019. As operational costs rise and geopolitical tensions persist, galleries must now carefully select which fairs they participate in. Art is becoming more experiential, with galleries focusing on joyful visitor experiences.

Given the challenging years, Nele Verhaeren of Brussels-based gallery Xavier Hufkens noted that while it's not all smooth sailing, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. He has stuck to a local strategy, observing that 'a regional art scene feels small but actually isn’t.'

Art Brussels’s new Horizons section, curated by Devrim Bayar from Kanal-Centre Pompidou, offers galleries like Aglaia Konrad and Nadja Vilenne more space for large-scale works. Meanwhile, affordable initiatives such as Parloir pop up in unused office spaces, offering cheaper alternatives to traditional fairs.