How the Affordable Art Fair Berlin makes passion investment accessible to everyone

The global art market is recovering, as summarized in the “Art Basel & UBS Global Art Market Report 2026,” . In 2025, worldwide sales increased by 4%, driven primarily by the auction market. Making reliable predictions about the unpredictable global situation is virtually impossible. However, the report clearly demonstrates the stability of the entry-level segment: While total sales have declined slightly, the lower end of the price range, up to US$50,000, remains very stable and could form a solid foundation for the art market, even though the ultra-high-priced segment is highly volatile.

This shift coincides with another interesting trend: the financial motivation for buying art is becoming less important, especially among young collectors. The latest Art & Finance Report by Deloitte Private and Art Tactic shows that in 2023, 83% of young buyers stated that financial return was their primary motivation. However, this figure dropped to 52% by 2025. Instead, emotional and cultural factors such as identity and meaning are becoming more prominent in purchasing decisions. Art is increasingly becoming a passion .

Art for everyone in Alt-Treptow: Affordable Art Fair from April 16-19 for the third time in the Arena Berlin

The Affordable Art Fair Berlin addresses the very core of these developments. It aims passionate art investment accessible to everyone and establish it in the lower price segment. The fair for affordable art opens from April 16th to 19th . With prices ranging from €100 to €10,000, it demonstrates that building a collection doesn't have to be the exclusive domain of the high-end market. It makes it as easy as possible for beginners to get started with transparent pricing and a program centered around the central theme of "How to start collecting art .

With its diverse international art offerings and expanded program, the fair will once again bring the joy of art collecting to Berlin-Treptow and captivate the capital's audience with its accessible art experience. For four days, 65 galleries and national and international exhibitors from 18 countries will showcase the work of established art world figures as well as promising new talents under the motto "Art for All ." The fair is organized by Ramsay Fairs , one of the world's largest and most successful art fair companies, which manages 15 fairs annually and attracts over 250,000 visitors.

The supporting program, focusing on the theme "How to Start Collecting Art," offers additional support for newcomers to the art market. Besides the popular "Under €1000 Wall," which demonstrates that high-quality art can be purchased even on a small budget, free guided tours are offered daily to help visitors navigate the fair. On Saturday at 3 p.m., the Collectors Talk with fair director Oliver Lähndorf, gallerist Steve Uhlig (Uhlig Gallery), and Dr. Anna Schwan will provide tips on art collecting.

A family-oriented art experience instead of an elitist art scene

Since their inception, the Affordable Art Fairs have pursued the goal of breaking down the barriers of the art world and opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to many,

emphasizes Oliver Lähndorf, the trade fair director.

Whether you're buying an original artwork for the first time or expanding your collection, our focus remains on the passion for the artwork itself, not on prior knowledge of the art market. We consciously aim to be a democratizing counter-movement to the still-prevailing elitism in the art world. That's why we offer a curated selection of top-tier galleries, but in an inviting rather than intimidating environment. The joy of discovery is at the heart of our fair, providing a vibrant art experience for everyone

Global artistic diversity at the Arena Berlin

Surrounded by the impressive industrial architecture of Arena Berlin, the Affordable Art Fair presents a diverse selection of contemporary artworks in the fields of painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. The selection of galleries reflects a focus on local roots and international diversity: alongside 15 Berlin galleries, 11 Spanish exhibitors, including Galeria Rodrigo Juarranz and Galeria Sergi Sánchez ,

The Berlin representatives include artnow Gallery , ATM Gallery Berlin , and fineart Berlin . This year, AI art is featured at the fair for the first time, thanks to Guelmann & Unbekannt Gallery , which specializes in digital art. Other highlights of the program include internationally renowned galleries such as the Spanish Pigment Gallery , BBA Gallery , and the Japanese Systema Gallery . Alongside works by established artists like Patty Carroll, Juan Escudero, and Christoph Rode, the fair will also showcase pieces by emerging talents Christian Kera Hinz, Jurena Munroz, and Nico Sawatzki.

Emerging artists from Berlin in a curated special exhibition

Another aspect of the Affordable Art Fair is the promotion of emerging local and regional artists. The "Emerging Artists" exhibition, curated by Hannah Weber-Heidenfels, puts young artists in the spotlight each year, helping them navigate the often challenging entry into the art market.
Artist Bella Bram is given ample opportunity to showcase her work in this special format. Inspired by the animal world, Bram's works combine the characteristics of insects and snails with architectural structures, artistically exploring the in-between moments of liminality.

 

3 questions for trade fair director Oliver Lähndorf on the topic of Passion Investments

Oliver Lähndorf , the director of the Affordable Art Fair , has been observing the art market for a long time. He can provide us with well-founded information about the risks and opportunities of art as a passion investment in the affordable price range. He can also explain what investors should pay attention to when buying art at the Affordable Art Fair.

Oliver Lähndorf, Director of the Affordable Art Fair

For Kunstplaza the trade fair director answered three key questions:

What are the core elements of Passion Investments and how do they differ from other asset classes?

O. Lähndorf: “A passion investment is primarily characterized by its personal significance for the investors. In short: investments in objects that are not only valuable in purely material terms, but also possess high emotional or aesthetic value. Unlike classic financial products such as bonds or ETFs, they impress with their tactile appeal. This is particularly evident in the example of passion investing in art.”

Instead of digital figures, you have a unique physical asset that you can display and experience. Unlike a stock sitting in a portfolio, a work of art delivers a daily return in the form of inspiration, joy, and quality of life. There's also an intrinsic aspect that adds further value to the Passion Investment in Art: By purchasing a work, you're directly investing in the careers of artists and thus promoting cultural diversity in our society. That's something that can't be measured in returns

Which passion assets are particularly popular? Where can they be obtained?

O. Lähndorf: “Among the classic and most popular passion assets are luxury watches , classic cars, wines, and art. However, a passion investment can be anything – from jewelry and luxury real estate to film props like Darth Vader's lightsaber from the Star Wars series, which, for example, was auctioned for a record sum last year. What they all have in common is that their value is not determined by market mechanisms, but by their uniqueness, provenance, and personal significance to the investors.”

Depending on which passion investment you're interested in, there are many different ways to acquire it. For anyone considering investing in art for the first time, I can recommend art fairs, especially the Affordable Art Fair. The entire fair concept is designed to guide novices through the art buying process and make entering the art market as easy as possible.

But experienced collectors will also find something to their liking: We always have established names as well as up-and-coming young talents in our program, and this April at the Arena Berlin there will be plenty of exciting things to discover again.”

What should you consider when buying? What are the risks?

O. Lähndorf: “It is certainly possible to achieve considerable profits with the right passion assets. However, one cannot usually rely on a high return, especially as a layperson or beginner. With classic stocks and ETFs, one achieves significantly more reliable results than with collectibles of any kind. This uncertainty would typically be considered a risk.”

Since Passion Assets is not solely, and often not even primarily, about capital appreciation and profit maximization, this risk is not as significant as with other investment decisions. My advice, as someone who has been in the art business for over 20 years, is: Buy what you love. If you acquire a work of art that touches you and speaks to you, you have already won the moment you buy it

Key Facts & Admission

Key facts of the Affordable Art Fair Berlin

April 16–19, 2026 at Arena Berlin (Alt-Treptow, Eichenstraße 4)
Opening hours: Fri. 12–10 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Opening reception on April 16 from 5 p.m.
Public late-night viewing on April 17 from 5–10 p.m. with drinks and DJ

admission

• Early bird tickets (February 5 – March 5): 10 EUR
• Advance tickets (until April 9th): 13 EUR
• Adults (regular): 16 EUR
• Pensioners, students, people with disabilities, unemployed people: 14 EUR
• Family ticket (2 adults + max. 3 children): 25 EUR
• Opening (April 16, 5-10 pm): 20 EUR
• Late View (April 17, 5-10 pm): 20 EUR

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de

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How to buy art affordably now – An expert guide. Why invest in art? Opportunities, tips, dos & don'ts. Democratizing art: "Affordable Art Fair" in Berlin. The Affordable Art Fair in Hamburg offers art for everyone on its 25th anniversary. What motivates art buyers – Motivations of high-net-worth individuals in 2023.