The Urban Art fairs that contribute to its diffusion on the market

Initially subversive and illegal when practiced in the streets, Urban Art has gradually become institutionalized since artists started to reinterpret their street work in the studio, while maintaining the codes and techniques of the street. Inspired by the authenticity of the movement, many Urban Art collectors around the world are used to taking advantage of international fairs to discover unique pieces and invest in Urban Art. Whether it's District 13 or Urban Art Fair in Paris, Stroke Art Fair in Munich, UVNT Art Fair in Madrid, or Moniker Art Fair in London which are the main international Urban Art fairs in Europe, they all contribute to the recognition of the movement and its diffusion on the contemporary art market.

Urban Art, once confined to the streets, has established itself as an essential art form, blending social engagement with bold aesthetics. Specialized Urban Art fairs have emerged to offer Street Art enthusiasts and collectors a unique opportunity to explore this movement from a new perspective, in a professional and immersive setting. And although Urban Art draws part of its essence from its ephemeral nature, art fairs help to anchor these creations in a new dimension. The artworks, often created on canvas or other durable media, enable collectors to preserve a tangible trace of this art initially conceived for public spaces. This dialogue between temporality and sustainability enriches the experience of art lovers and investors alike. Here is an overview about the main international Urban Art fairs in Europe that have established themselves as essential events during the last decade, and how they have evolved over the years.

District 13, the essential talent spotter

Created in 2018 under the initiative of Mehdi Ben Cheikh, founder of Itinerrance gallery, and Olivier Lange, managing director of Drouot Patrimoine, the international Contemporary Urban Art fair District 13 has gradually positioned itself as one of the most captivating fairs on the Parisian scene! Located within the famous Hôtel Drouot, the fair draws on the historic French auction house by bringing together a selection of national and international galleries each year to showcase the beautiful diversity of the movement. The opportunity to promote established artists as well as emerging talents, most often from the Graffiti and Street Art movement. As an art market institution established in Paris since 1852, the Hôtel Drouot fully plays its role in supporting the market by promoting a current artistic movement. Featuring more than thirty galleries and a hundred artists each year, the fair is unique thanks to conferences, live performances, family workshops and signings for an immersive experience that visitors have become fond of. As proof, the strong growth in attendance during the 6th edition, which took place from January 9 to 12 of this year, and the sales records, demonstrate the ever-growing interest of collectors and Urban Art enthusiasts for this unique venue.

Urban Art Fair, the temple of Urban Art

The first French art fair dedicated to Urban Art, launched in 2016 by Yannick Boesso, Urban Art Fair celebrates its 9th edition this year from April 24 to 27, 2025, returning to the halls of the Carreau du Temple in Paris. Through its eclectic panorama and striking scenography, the fair has become an essential event for the Urban Art market, highlighting both the pioneers of the movement and many highly promising artists. Attracting over 15’000 visitors, the event also contributes to the reflection on the place of Urban Art in our society and in the art world: conferences and documentary films are thus on the program, including a recurring partnership with Urban Films Festival, the first film festival devoted to the city and the practices and lifestyles that emanate from it, through fictional or true stories. In addition to this, there are also installations and artistic projects carried out outside the fair to highlight the different facets of urban creation. Whether in situ through different concepts (UAF solo shows, Urban Influence, Urban Art Singapore...) or off-site, Urban Art Fair is an established fair that aims to play a leading role in the market by offering an artistic immersion into the world of Urban Art.

Stroke Art Fair, the reference in Germany

On the other side of the Rhine, in Germany, the Stroke Art Fair has been held since 2009. Initiated in Berlin by the brothers Raiko and Marco Schwalbe, and then quickly expanded in Munich, where it has since founded its place in the country's 3rd largest city, the fair has attracted over 750’000 visitors in 16 years. Proof once again of the universality of Urban Art and its appeal to audiences in Europe's largest urban centers! Dedicated to galleries, artist collectives and solo artists in the form of a Boutique Art Fair in a relaxed setting, the next edition will take place from May 1 to 4, 2025, and will continue to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of the movement: paintings, photographs, illustrations, sculptures, music and fashion. Not to mention digital art, which has recently made its appearance among the selection of artworks presented. Guided by the brothers' conviction that Urban Art galleries were under-represented on the contemporary art market, and that its players lacked enough opportunities to make themselves known to the general public, the plurality of artistic practices represented by the fair reflects one of the greatest cultural changes of the 21st century. As a multi-award-winning international fair, Stroke Art Fair has been at the vanguard of Urban Art, which has since become an essential influence for the work of many emerging international artists worldwide.

UVNT Art Fair, the versatile event in Madrid

As a creative hub for many artists in Europe, Spain is not to be outdone with UVNT Art Fair, which held its 9th edition in Madrid from March 6 to 9, 2025 in the heart of Matadero, a major cultural center dedicated to creation, inviting more than 40 galleries from around the world and 125 artists during Contemporary Art Week. Founded by Sergio Sancho, the event has since explored all the new forms of contemporary art worldwide, thus renewing aesthetic codes while remaining true to its DNA by always giving an important place to the urban art movement, from Graffiti to Street Art, and without forgetting muralism. Emerging and established artists from the Spanish, European and global scene are invited to assert their new vision of the cultural landscape. Spanish and international galleries come together to present the latest works of contemporary art, including sculptures, paintings, ceramics, illustrations, graphic design and digital art, with an emphasis on innovation. This year, the fair also introduced the new section “Focus Latam”, creating a space for dialogue and celebration of Latin American art, with Spain playing its role as a bridge between the American continent and Europe.

Moniker Art Fair, the pioneering art fair

In the UK, Moniker Art Fair has built a reputation as one of the most innovative Contemporary Urban Art festivals, drawing its roots in London's vibrant urban culture. Founded in London in 2010 by Frankie Shea, Moniker Art Fair has always attracted the most prominent artists from the Graffiti and Street Art movement, and its associated subcultures. Since its inception, the organization has produced 12 festivals in London and New York, immersive installations and exhibitions in Berlin and Leeds, as well as public murals and bold brand collaborations, not to mention conferences and educational initiatives. In recent years, however, Moniker has reinvented itself by developing new forms: publishing, foundation and cultural action, without losing its subversive and innovative spirit. Tina Ziegler, Moniker's director and curator since 2015, has presented over 300 exhibitions and worked with more than 1’000 artists from all over the world. Committed to promoting urban art in an authentic way, Moniker Art Fair positions itself as a torchbearer for Urban Art and urban cultures, and participates through its actions in pulling the movement upwards on the contemporary art market.

Driven by a dynamic market and the ever-growing interest for this art form among collectors, international initiatives and urban art fairs have sprung up in Europe's largest capitals. Spurred on by gallery owners, auction houses and urban art specialists, these events have taken place in big cities where the Graffiti and Street Art movement is already omnipresent. From the faded plaster of the street to the white walls of the living room, the works therefore slip from illegality and vandalism to conventionality. The organizers of these events and their participants position themselves as talent spotters or purveyors of renowned artists, increasing their market value and contributing to the rise of Urban Art on the contemporary art scene. Urban Art fairs play a crucial role here by offering collectors a cutting-edge selection of artworks, often combined to live performances that reinforce their cultural and emotional value. And for artists, these international fairs are like springboards for their visibility, enabling them to develop their studio work and establish their legitimacy on the market. In addition, one can say that specialized museums and international Urban Art fairs complement each other to the great benefit of the artists.

Discover our article on museums specializing in Urban Art