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The art world in numbers

High-end vs the rest

At fine-art auctions in 2025, growth concentrated upstairs. Toggle a price band to compare year-on-year change and each band’s share of value.

Value, YoY
+30%
Lots, YoY
+9%
Share of value, 2025
22%
Share of value, 2022
33%

This is the same “visible top” story as the highest painting sales chart: a tiny share of lots can rewrite the year's totals. In 2023–24 the top cooled while lower prices held up; in 2025 the pattern flipped again.

Figures summarized from The Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 by Arts Economics. © Art Basel / UBS / Arts Economics. Official report site.