Cover Angelle Siyang-Le and Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at the Art Basel Hong Kong preview on March 25 (Photo: Zed Leets/ Tatler Hong Kong)
Angelle Siyang-Le and Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at the Art Basel Hong Kong preview on March 25 (Photo: Zed Leets/ Tatler Hong Kong)
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A star-studded Art Basel vernissage confirmed Hong Kong’s place at the centre of the global art world—and Tatler was there for every moment
The private viewings of Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 were, by any measure, a triumph. Held on March 25 and 26 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the days before the fair opened its doors to the public on March 27 proved that this city remains the undisputed heart of the Asian art world—and, increasingly, a rival to anywhere on the global circuit.
Leading the charge was Angelle Siyang-Le, director of Art Basel Hong Kong. Siyang-Le did what she always does: set the tone—in a vivid yellow ensemble to boot. Under her stewardship, the 2026 edition assembled 240 world-class galleries from 41 countries and territories, more than half of them from Asia Pacific—a figure that speaks to the fair's genuine commitment to the region it calls home.
The celebrations carried extra weight this year. At the fair’s opening ceremony, secretary for culture, sports and tourism Rosanna Law announced a five-year collaboration between the Hong Kong Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Art Basel, cementing the city’s position as the fair’s exclusive host city in the region. Art Basel Hong Kong will continue to champion public art and education in the city, while also helping the bureau strengthen the local art ecosystem. Law noted that the partnership would extend well beyond the exhibition hall, describing the fair as a powerful engine for Hong Kong’s broader cultural economy.
Also read: The Peninsula Hong Kong opens ‘Art in Resonance’ 2026 during Hong Kong Art Week
Kayla Wong and Elaine Chen-Fernandez
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Among the luminaries who made the journey to Hong Kong for the occasion was Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, whose attendance was a significant statement, with her having overseen the inaugural edition of Art Basel Doha in February. And then, of course, there were the familiar faces. Businesswoman and Li Ka Shing Foundation director Solina Chau, tycoon and Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman Peter Lam and architect Caroline Fok were among those who made their way through the halls—a reminder that Art Basel Hong Kong has always been as much about the reunions as the art.
The fair’s programming was as striking as the guest list. The Encounters sector was curated for the first time by a collective, led by curator Mami Kataoka, the director of Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum, alongside M+ curator Isabella Tam, Jakarta-based curator Alia Swastika and Mori Art Museum’s Hirokazu Tokuyama. A newly launched sector, Echoes, shone a light on works created within the past five years, while Art Basel’s digital initiative Zero 10 made its Asian debut, following its first appearance at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2025.
For three days each spring, Hong Kong is the place where everyone in the art world wants to be. In 2026, there was no question it earned that status once again.
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As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
