Each October, London transforms into the epicentre of the global art calendar. From Regent’s Park to Mayfair, Somerset House to Soho, Frieze Week is a citywide celebration of creativity and cultural exchange. Here are six standout events defining the 2025 edition.
Frieze London
The OG fair returns for its 23rd year, reigning once again over Regent’s Park with a focus on curatorial innovation and global artistic exchange. Featuring more than 160 galleries across 43 countries, Frieze London embodies the city’s restless creative pulse.
This year’s curated sections bring together artistic heavyweights and fresh talent alike. Artist-to-Artist, with selections by Abraham Cruzvillegas, Nicole Eisenman, Camille Henrot, Bharti Kher, Chris Ofili and Amy Sherald, returns alongside Echoes in the Present, curated by Dr. Jareh Das.
Director Eva Langret notes that the fair “deepens our commitment to artists shaping the future of contemporary art,” reinforcing London’s position as a global centre of contemporary culture.
Don’t miss the Focus section, spotlighting young galleries under 12 years old, advised by Joumana Asseily, Piotr Drewko and Cédric Fauq. New names like a. Squire, Bombon, and Kayokoyuki join a lively mix of returning favourites including Ginny on Frederick, Wschód, and Xxijra Hii.
Regent’s Park | 15th–19th October
frieze.com/fairs/frieze-london
Frieze Masters
Across the Regent’s Park from Frieze London, Frieze Masters continues its dialogue between ancient and modern under new leadership from Emanuela Tarizzo. With over 120 galleries from 26 countries, it bridges thousands of years of art history, from antiquities and Old Masters to modern icons.
Curated highlights include Sheena Wagstaff’s “Studio”, with works by Anju Dodiya, Samia Halaby and R. H. Quaytman; Valerie Cassel Oliver’s “Spotlight”, with presentations by Cildo Meireles and Prince Twins Seven-Seven; and a new section, “Reflections”, curated by Abby Bangser, inspired by Sir John Soane’s Museum and Kettle’s Yard.
Look out for David Aaron Ltd.’s A Goddess Rediscovered, unveiling a long-misattributed Egyptian masterpiece, and Bowman Sculpture’s Echoes in Form, spanning 150 years of sculptural practice from Degas to Emily Young.
Frieze Sculpture, curated by Fatoş Üstek, extends the experience outdoors in The Regent’s Park English Gardens until 2 November 2025.
Regent’s Park | 15th–19th October
frieze.com/fairs/frieze-masters
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
Marking its 13th edition, 1-54 continues to spotlight the depth and diversity of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. With 50 exhibitors from 13 countries, the fair is both a platform and a celebration of cross-continental creativity.
This year, a special focus on Nigeria showcases more than 15 artists, including Samuel Nnorom, Austin Uzor, and Ayoola Gbolahan. South Africa is also strongly represented with works by Reggie Khumalo, Zana Masombuka, and Boemo Diale.
Highlights include a Caribbean spotlight section; a debut presentation by Egyptian photography gallery TINTERA, whose artists Ibrahim Ahmed and Hashim Nasr explore identity, gender and exile through poetic visual narratives; and 193 Gallery’s presentation which includes Hassan Hajjaj, Sesse Elangwe, Jean-Marc Hunt, Roxane Mbanga, Thandiwe Muriu, Hyacinthe Ouattara and Shourouk Raheim.
Somerset House | 16th–19th October
1-54.com/london
Paul Majek, Courtesy of O’DA Art; Souad Abdelrasoul, Courtesy of Gallery Misr.
Minor Attractions
Equal parts art fair and boutique happening, Minor Attractions returns to The Mandrake, transforming the hotel’s suites into immersive gallery spaces. Over 70 international galleries bring a blend of film, music and performance to the mix.
Notable highlights include Bolanle Contemporary’s presentation of British-Jamaican painter Ramone K Anderson, whose show Moving on Swiftly probes memory and spirituality through a contemporary lens.
The Performance Night lineup features Cabanon (Paris), Division of Labour (Salford), Miłość (London), and sonic experimenters Lateworks, while author Geoff Dyer hosts a Soho Reading Series. Expect the unexpected.
The Mandrake Hotel | 15th–18th October
minorattractions.com
Echo Soho
New for 2025, Echo Soho takes its name from the mythological nymph whose voice lingers after speech–a fitting metaphor for a fair amplifying overlooked voices. Founded by India Rose James, Director of Soho Revue, this women-led initiative showcases female-driven galleries and underrepresented artists within a townhouse setting.
Participants include Alice Black, Gillian Jason Gallery, LAMB, Liminal Gallery, House of Bandits, and Wilder. Don’t miss Alicja Biala’s site-specific chapel installation with Berntson Bhattacharjee, and the Sarabande Foundation’s presentation with House of Bandits.
Highlights include the AWITA-curated booth featuring innovative such as SLQS Gallery (presenting Damaris Athene “Undercurrents”), the Soho House Prize for best gallery booth, and the Echo Soho Cass Art Award, the fair’s programming cements it as a bold new player in the London art scene.
Soho | 16th–19th October
echosoho.com
PAD London
Design devotees converge in Mayfair’s Berkeley Square for the 17th edition of PAD London, where art, design and craftsmanship meet. Sixty-seven international exhibitors present everything from rare historical collectibles to cutting-edge contemporary design.
This year introduces 11 new galleries and the fair’s first-ever participants from the Middle East and Cyprus. Highlights include PIK’D (Beirut), championing ceramic and glass works by Lebanese designers; NM Art & Design (Limassol/London) showcasing tactile, organic pieces; and Friedman Benda’s The Magpie’s Nest, curated by Faye Toogood.
Elsewhere, Pulp Galerie honours Gaetano Pesce, Galerie Mathivet presents a rare Alberto Giacometti sconce, and Unforget (Belgium) exhibits exquisite vases designed by Gianni Versace.
Berkeley Square, Mayfair | 14th–19th October
padesignart.com/en/london
London, Amplified
From the grandeur of Regent’s Park to the intimacy of a Soho townhouse, Frieze Week 2025 reaffirms London’s place as a city that doesn’t just host art–it lives and breathes it. Whether you’re collecting, curating or simply curious, these six events offer a lens into the global creative conversation shaping the future of art and design.
