Art Basel Miami Beach isn’t just an art fair-it’s the cultural event that kicks off December in spectacular fashion. For five days, Miami transforms into the epicenter of the international art world, drawing collectors, curators, artists, and the globally sophisticated set who understand that this is the place to be in early December.

This year marks another edition of what’s become the most significant art fair in the Americas and the undisputed centerpiece of Miami Art Week-a destination-wide cultural phenomenon that transforms the entire city. Beyond the main fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center, dozens of satellite fairs, gallery exhibitions, exclusive parties, and cultural programming take over Miami and Miami Beach. The city pulses with energy from morning exhibition openings to late-night gatherings in Wynwood and the Design District, creating a week-long celebration of contemporary art.

This edition foregrounds voices, histories, and innovations that define the American art scene today within a global conversation, emphasizing the dialogue between North and South America and their shared histories of migration, innovation, and cultural exchange. With 49 first-time participants and galleries from 43 countries, it’s both familiar and fresh.

The scene is electric and diverse-European collectors, Latin American art enthusiasts, New York gallerists, West Coast tech entrepreneurs, and Miami’s own international crowd all converge. It’s equal parts serious art business and spectacular social event, which is precisely what makes it compelling.

Here’s everything you need to know to experience Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 like an insider.

The Essentials

Dates: December 4-7, 2025 (VIP Preview: December 3-4)
Location: Miami Beach Convention Center (main fair), with events throughout Miami Beach, Wynwood, the Design District, and downtown Miami
What It Is: The Miami edition of the world’s premier modern and contemporary art fair, featuring 283 leading galleries from across 43 countries and over 4,000 artists, marking the fair’s 23rd edition

What’s New in 2025: This year debuts Zero 10, Art Basel’s first dedicated digital art platform, featuring 12 international exhibitors including Beeple Studios, bitforms gallery, and Art Blocks. The fair also introduces the inaugural Art Basel Awards presented by BOSS, honoring 11 outstanding practitioners and institutions across visual art and creative fields, unveiled Thursday, December 4.

Curatorial Focus: This edition foregrounds Latinx, Indigenous, and diasporic practices while re-examining Modernism through a trans-hemispheric lens. The theme celebrates the “multiplicity of American art-not as a single narrative but as a constellation of perspectives,” emphasizing dialogue between North and South America and their shared histories of migration, innovation, and cultural exchange.

The VIP Preview: December 3-4th is when the serious collecting happens and when you’ll find the most exclusive crowd. Access requires VIP credentials, which are typically extended through galleries or via the fair’s First Choice program. Pro tip: Tuesday and Wednesday VIP previews are focused, transactional energy-arrive early and be prepared for business.

Where to Stay

The right hotel matters during Art Basel week-not just for comfort, but for proximity to events and the scene itself.

The Setai, Miami Beach

The perennial favorite for the Art Basel crowd. This South Beach sanctuary combines Art Deco elegance with Asian-inspired design, offering the kind of understated luxury that appeals to collectors and cultural sophisticates. The pools are spectacular, the ocean-facing suites are some of the best in Miami, and you’re steps from the convention center.

What to Know:

  • Request an ocean suite for the full experience
  • The restaurant is a scene during Art Basel week
  • Pool and beach access tends to be less crowded than other South Beach properties
  • Book at least 6 months in advance for Art Basel dates

Book: https://www.thesetaihotel.com/

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

If the Setai is understated elegance, Faena is theatrical glamour. The gilded interiors, the Damien Hirst mammoth skeleton in the lobby, the velvet and marble everywhere-this is where you stay if you want to be in the middle of the art-world energy. The hotel itself feels like an art installation.

What to Know:

  • The Faena Theater hosts performances and events during art week
  • Los Fuegos restaurant with Francis Mallmann is exceptional
  • Cathedral Suites are the rooms to book
  • The crowd here leans younger and more fashion-forward

Book: https://www.faena.com/miami-beach

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

For those who prefer a more relaxed, less sceney vibe while still being in the middle of everything. The Standard sits on the Venetian Causeway with Biscayne Bay views, offering a wellness-focused escape with an excellent spa, waterfront pools, and a crowd that appreciates good design without the flash.

What to Know:

  • The spa is one of Miami’s best
  • Lido Restaurant is consistently excellent
  • More accessible price point than Setai or Faena
  • Popular with creative professionals and younger collectors

Book: https://www.standardhotels.com/miami/properties/miami-beach

The Miami Beach EDITION

Ian Schrager’s Miami Beach property brings his signature sophisticated-cool aesthetic to a beachfront location. The scene at the lobby bar and Matador Room restaurant during Art Basel is quintessential Miami energy-international, stylish, and always interesting.

What to Know:

  • Bowling alley and ice skating rink add playful elements
  • Jean-Georges restaurant is exceptional
  • The nightclub hosts events during art week
  • Great for those who want luxury with a social scene

Book: https://www.editionhotels.com/miami-beach

Design District Options

If you prefer to be in the Design District rather than Miami Beach, consider The Moore or The Elser Hotel & Residences. You’ll be steps from galleries, restaurants, and Design District programming, though you’ll need a car or Uber to access the main fair.

The Art Basel Schedule

Wednesday, December 3-4: VIP Preview

December 3-4th is when serious collectors make their purchases. If you have VIP access, arrive early (doors open at 11 AM) to see works before they’re sold. The energy on preview days is focused and intense-this is business before pleasure. Tuesday and Wednesday VIP previews operate with sharp, transactional energy where people are buying, making deals, and securing commitments.

Evening: Gallery openings throughout Wynwood and the Design District, plus invitation-only dinners and gatherings.

Thursday-Sunday, December 4-7: Public Days

The fair is open to ticket holders, with different sections and programming throughout the convention center.

Main Fair Sectors:

  • Galleries – 226 established international dealers (19 newcomers) presenting modern, post-war, and contemporary artworks including paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photography, and videos
  • Meridians – Large-scale sculptures, paintings, and installations curated by Yasmil Raymond with “The Shape of Time” theme, examining how art embodies, distorts, or suspends time
  • Nova – 23 galleries (8 first-time participants) presenting fresh and experimental work created within the last three years in 22 thematically focused booths
  • Positions – 16 galleries (10 newcomers) featuring solo projects by emerging artists, probing materiality, perception, and the post-human condition
  • Survey – 18 galleries (12 new participants) showcasing rediscovered or lesser-known artists, tracing the lineage of those who shaped contemporary art
  • Kabinett – “Show within a show” providing galleries with tightly curated presentations within their main booths to highlight specific themes, artists, or historical contexts

Satellite Fairs:

  • NADA Miami (New Art Dealers Alliance) – Younger galleries, emerging artists
  • UNTITLED Art – Mid-size galleries, more accessible price points
  • SCOPE Miami Beach – Contemporary art in an outdoor setting
  • Pinta Miami – Latin American art focus
  • Art Miami – Longest-running contemporary fair during art week
  • Zero 10 (NEW) – Art Basel’s inaugural digital art platform featuring 12 international exhibitors, including Beeple Studios, bitforms gallery, and Art Blocks. This groundbreaking section, curated by Eli Scheinman, represents the fair’s most significant push into digital art, bridging traditional art market structures with emerging digital creators.

Featured Highlights:

  • UBS’s “Beyond Pop: Art of the Everyday” – Special presentation featuring new commission by Katherine Bernhardt
  • Meridians – Returns as curatorial epicenter under Yasmil Raymond with “The Shape of Time” theme
  • Conversations Program – Three days of live debate, opening with art and sport focus

Don’t Miss:

  • Gallery exhibitions in Wynwood (Thursday evening is the main gallery walk)
  • Design District programming and installations
  • Public art installations throughout Miami Beach
  • Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) special exhibitions
  • The Bass Museum special programming

Networking Like an Insider

Art Basel is as much about the social calendar as the art itself, and the relationships you build here can define your year ahead. Based on insider strategies from those who’ve mastered the scene, here’s how to navigate the power dynamics:

Pre-Event Strategy:

  • Research the exhibitor list and identify 5-7 strategic targets whose orbit you wish to enter
  • Build a dossier for each target, including collecting habits and afterparty attendance patterns
  • Engineer natural collisions by knowing their interests and preferred venues

Opening Gambit:

  • Wear something that signals cultural understanding but stands slightly apart (vintage Comme des Garçons, rare sneakers, unique jewelry)
  • Follow the “Momentum Principle”: move within three seconds of identifying an opportunity
  • Lead conversations with value or genuine curiosity, not self-promotion

Building Intrigue:

  • Avoid appearing too available-scarcity creates value
  • Use “playful calibrated challenge” rather than fawning agreement
  • Communicate strategic independence with phrases like “I’m only in Miami through Thursday before studio visits in Mexico City”
  • Drop status indicators casually, not boastfully

Reading the Room:

  • VIP previews (Tuesday/Wednesday) require sharp, purposeful conversations
  • Friday’s main fair is more social; afterparties have different social rules
  • Identify the individual who holds social authority in any group (others reference them with their eyes)
  • Practice the “Strategic Exit”: leave conversations while interest is high

The Close:

  • Exchange Instagram handles instead of business cards for immediate social proof
  • Create “time bridges” with specific next actions rather than vague promises
  • Follow up within 48 hours with value (articles about discussed artists, introductions, or invitations)

The Party Scene

Art Basel is as much about the social calendar as the art itself. Events range from intimate gallery dinners to massive branded parties.

The Invitation-Only Circuit:
If you’re connected to galleries, collectors, or brands, you’ll receive invitations to private dinners, collectors’ gatherings, and exclusive parties. These typically happen Wednesday through Friday evenings.

The Notable Parties:
Without spoiling specific event details (which often aren’t confirmed until closer to dates), expect major events from luxury brands (Dior, Louis Vuitton, etc.), art publications, and Miami institutions. Basement Miami, LIV, and other venues host art-week specific programming.

The More Accessible Events:
Many galleries host openings that are open to the public, particularly in Wynwood on Thursday evening. The Design District also programs events throughout the week that don’t require invitations.

Where to Eat & Drink

Reservations are essential during Art Basel week. Book at least a month in advance for the most sought-after spots.

Carbone (Miami Beach) – The scene during art week. Book well in advance or expect a long wait even with a reservation.

COTE (Design District) – Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse offering an elevated butcher’s feast experience, perfect for art week dining.

Le Jardinier (Design District) – Michelin-starred plant-forward French cuisine in an art-filled space that complements the week’s cultural programming.

Mayami (Wynwood) – Modern Mexican-Asian fusion featuring innovative dishes, popular with the art crowd.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Design District) – Two-Michelin-starred French fine dining in the heart of the Design District action.

Cipriani Downtown Miami – Classic Italian, reliable, attracts the international art-fair crowd.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro (Design District) – For a quieter, more intimate meal between galleries.

Michael’s Genuine (Design District) – Local favorite that’s less sceney but consistently excellent.

Drinking:

Beyond the Fair

What Else to Do:

If you need a break from art (or if someone in your party is less art-inclined), Miami offers plenty:

  • Beach time: Most hotels have excellent beach access
  • Spa treatments: The Standard Spa and Faena spa are exceptional
  • Shopping: Bal Harbour Shops, Design District boutiques
  • Little Havana: A different Miami experience entirely
  • Vizcaya Museum & Gardens: Stunning historic estate and gardens

Insider Tips

  • Buy your tickets in advance. Day-of tickets involve long lines.
  • Download the Art Basel app. Essential for navigating the fair and seeing exhibitor information.
  • Arrive early on public days. Late afternoon gets extremely crowded.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. The fair involves miles of walking.
  • Hydrate. Miami in December is still warm, and convention centers are dry.
  • Plan your satellite fair visits. You can’t see everything-prioritize based on your interests.
  • Book cars in advance. Ubers surge during art week; hotel car service or advance booking helps.
  • Join gallery mailing lists. Many events are invitation-only, and being on gallery lists helps.
  • Don’t over-schedule. Leave room for spontaneity and rest. Art Basel is a marathon.

Art Basel Miami Beach is one of those events that exceeds expectations-more beautiful, more energizing, more surprising than you anticipate. Whether you’re a serious collector or simply someone who appreciates art, design, and cultural moments, this is where you want to be in December.

Book your hotel now, plan your schedule loosely, and prepare for five days of the best the art world has to offer in one of America’s most dynamic cities.