The City Commission approved a deal keeping Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center through 2031, with an option to 2033. What changes for residents.

Art Basel will keep holding its Miami Beach fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center through 2031. The Miami Beach City Commission approved a new multiyear agreement with the fair, the city announced Oct. 15.

The deal runs from 2026 to 2031. It carries an optional extension through 2033.

What the commission approved

The resolution authorizes the city manager to finalize the agreement. The city’s release describes two documents:

  • a 2026-2031 Event License Agreement with Art Basel U.S. Corp., worked out with OVG360, the company that runs the convention center
  • a companion Letter of Understanding that sets the framework for a designated “Art Basel Zone” and expands the fair’s longstanding public benefits for Miami Beach residents, students and cultural partners

The release does not list what the expanded benefits are, where the Art Basel Zone runs or what the fair will pay to use the building. Those terms sit in the agreement itself, which the city manager still has to finalize. We will report them when the city publishes them.

Why it matters to the city

Art Basel first came to Miami Beach in 2002. The city said the 2025 fair drew about 80,000 visitors. It put the fair’s economic impact across Miami-Dade County at an estimated $570 million, a figure that is the city’s own estimate.

The city said hotel occupancy, store spending, restaurants and transportation demand all rise sharply during Art Basel week. It called the fair its “most significant annual cultural and economic driver.”

“This renewed agreement, with expanded benefits for our residents, ensures Miami Beach remains its home and inspiration,” Mayor Steven Meiner said in the release.

“This agreement reflects a shared commitment to the next chapter of that partnership,” Noah Horowitz, Art Basel’s CEO, said in the same release.

The city said the deal allows long-term planning as the Convention Center District changes with the new convention center hotel.

What it means for you

  • This year’s fair is unchanged. The public days are Friday to Sunday, Dec. 4-6, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Our Art Basel Miami Beach guide has the tickets, hours, bag rules and parking.
  • The resident discount stands for 2026. Art Basel lists a $68 reduced ticket for Miami Beach residents, with proof of residency, against $92 for a standard day ticket.
  • Expect Art Week crowds in early December through at least 2031. The city plans for the fair each year under its Major Events Plan, with extra staffing for traffic and trash. See getting around Miami Beach.
  • Watch for the benefit details. Whether the resident discount, free days or student programs grow will depend on the final Letter of Understanding.