Astoria Artshow: Launch of Vienna's New Art Fair

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Vienna, July 17, 2026 - Joint endeavor of Vienna's gallery scene: From September 10–13, 2026, the new Astoria Artshow opens its doors in the historic Astoria Garage in Vienna's 8th district. The initiator and organizer of the new fair format is the association VAU – Vienna Art United, a coalition of 35 leading Vienna galleries with the goal of jointly establishing a contemporary art fair with international standing. This year's exhibition format marks the launch and preview edition of a new Vienna art fair starting in 2027.

The Astoria Artshow will bring together approximately 70 Austrian and international galleries and present both established and emerging artistic positions. The venue is the Astoria Garage in Vienna, a remarkable architectural jewel from 1923, which is being used for the first time as a venue for a major art event.

The initiative sees itself as a direct response to the closure of viennacontemporary and this year's cancellation of the SPARK Art Fair Vienna – a vacuum that Vienna's gallery scene is now actively filling with the new Astoria Artshow. "Our ambition is to combine the highest international quality standards with an open, collectively supported, and forward-looking format," says Markus Peichl, chairman of VAU – Vienna Art United. "Our goal is to unite the strengths of Austria's gallery sector and develop a forward-thinking and sustainably successful fair format of international renown."

Astoria Garage: Historic Jewel Becomes Art Hotspot
The venue of the new art fair, the Astoria Garage, is considered Europe's first and largest tower garage and is among the continent's most significant historic garage structures. The six-story high-rise garage with its characteristic spiral ramp access and distinctive glass dome over the former petrol station exemplifies modern architecture and remains substantially intact in its original structure to this day. The open construction with its generous window surfaces provides natural light on all levels and creates a special spatial quality for the presentation of contemporary art. The combination of historic architecture and industrial character makes the Astoria Garage a unique exhibition venue.

The Solidarity Model
A distinctive feature of the new Astoria Artshow is the solidarity participation model, based on the economic capacity of participating galleries: participation fees are scaled according to the revenue and company size of the participating galleries – not according to the size of exhibition space. This enables fair and sustainable participation of galleries – taking into account their economic capacity.

The Astoria Artshow is being realized with support from the City of Vienna and the Federal Ministry for Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport. "These grants enable Vienna galleries to establish a truly independent, autonomous new art fair and send a clear signal for Vienna's dynamic art location," says Markus Peichl (Galerie Crone Wien). Alongside him, the board of VAU – Vienna Art United includes gallery owners Thomas Krinzinger (Galerie Krinzinger), Maximilian Thoman (Galerie Elisabeth und Klaus Thoman), Karoline Bartosch-Hilger (Galerie Hilger), Antonia Lia Orsi (City Galerie Wien), and Isabell Kisling-Steynek (Galerie Steinek).

FACTS & FIGURES

• Organizer: VAU – Vienna Art United
• Dates: September 10–13, 2026
• Venue: Astoria Garage, Trautsongasse 4, 1080 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily 12:00–19:00
• Press Conference: September 10, 2026, 10:00 AM

Contact VAU – Vienna Art United:
Markus Peichl (Galerie Crone Wien), Chairman VAU – Vienna Art United
Phone +43 1 5813164
office@vienna-art-united.com

Agency Contact LOEBELL NORDBERG GmbH:
Annabel Köle-Loebell
Phone +43 676 6904023
al@loebellnordberg.com