Visitor information
With its worldwide reputation as the premier European art show, the Basel edition attracts nearly 90,000 art lovers from across the globe. We therefore recommend planning your visit early.
Here you will find all the information you need, including the show's opening hours, as well as how to purchase tickets and book one of the many art tours guiding you through the exhibition halls.
Guided tours
Gain a deeper understanding of the art on display with a guided tour, available from Thursday through Sunday during show hours.
Public tours, guided by art historians and art critics, are offered in three languages: English, German, and French.
Bookstores
During the show, you can browse and purchase a wide selection of notable books about Modern and contemporary art from major artworld publishers. Bookstores can be found in entry areas of Hall 1 and Hall 2.
Hatje Cantz Verlag GmbH
Zeppelinstrasse 32,
Ostfildern, Germany
TASCHEN GmbH
Hohenzollernring 53,
Köln, Germany
Zucker Art Books
80 East 11th street
Suite 403,
NYC, United States
STAMPA
Spalenberg 2,
Basel, Switzerland
Cafes & restaurants
Rules for visitors
To ensure your safety and comfort at our Basel show, please be aware of the following and prepare accordingly:
- All bags, briefcases and similar items larger than 30 x 30 centimeters must be deposited at the bag check in Hall 5 on the other side of Messeplatz from Hall 2. No backpacks of any size are allowed.
- Smaller bags can be taken into the halls but will be subject to inspection.
- Photography is allowed for personal use only. No medium-format cameras with long lenses, flashes, extendable camera devices (i.e. monopods, tripods, selfie sticks, etc.) or video recording are permitted. When photographing in booths, please ask the gallerist for permission.
- Dogs and other pets are not permitted in the exhibition halls, with the exception of certified service animals for visitors with disabilities.
- Please note that press and promotional photography and filming are taking place on the premises. Attendance at the fair implies permission for your image to be used for non-commercial purposes (including media reports).
- All visitors must comply with requests from our onsite security staff.
Visitors with disabilities
Visiting with children
The Kids Lounge at Art Basel is a perfect and safe place for kids to enjoy art and recreational activities while their parents visit the fair. Art Basel offers art programs for children aged 4 and over under the supervision of the Robi-Spiel-Aktionen professionals. Kids aged 7 and above can develop their skills at the Young Artists Studio, a paid program created in collaboration with the Museum Tinguely.
This year a series of moveART's play sculptures were featured in the Kids Lounge, showing art's practical side. Made from organic and sustainable materials, these sculptures are safely designed for kids to climb and explore the need for body movement while fitting harmoniously with their surroundings.
The Kids Lounge is open to Art Basel visitors during show hours in Hall 1.1.
Introducing children to Modern and contemporary art can be the beginning of a life-long adventure. Here are some tips for making the most of your children's visit to Art Basel:
- Children under age 16 must always be accompanied by an adult.
- Remind your children to always walk, not run.
- Smaller children can be brought in baby strollers, which are permitted throughout the venue.
- Remind children that security guards protect us and the art; please ask your children to respect their requests.
- Instruct your children to never touch art as it can be damaged by the natural oils on their fingers.
- To protect the art, please enjoy food and beverages only in the dining areas, especially with children.
Cultural institutions
Basel is home to 37 museums, an extraordinary number for a city of its size. In addition to its world-famous institutions, major public artworks include Richard Serra’s monumental sculpture 'Intersection' and Jean Tinguely's whimsical fountain, a collection of fanciful, water-spitting sculptures.
Institutions in and around Basel:
Antikenmuseum Basel and Sammlung Ludwig
Basler Papiermühle
Fondation Beyeler
Cartoonmuseum Basel
HeK (House of Electronic Arts Basel)
Museum der Kulturen Basel
Historisches Museum Basel
Kunsthalle Basel
Kunsthaus Baselland
Kunstmuseum Basel
Kunstmuseum Basel, Gegenwart
Kunstraum Riehen
Schaulager
Museum Tinguely
Naturhistorisches Museum
Pharmazie-Historisches Museum
Römermuseum
Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel
Vitra Design Museum
lnstitutions outside Basel:
Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau
CRAC Alsace, Altkirch (FR)
Kunsthalle Bern
Sculpture at Schönthal, Langenbruck
Kunsthalle Palazzo, Liestal
Kunsthalle Luzern
La Kunsthalle Mulhouse (FR)
Fondation Fernet-Branca, Saint-Louis (FR)
Kunstmuseum Thun
Kunstmuseum Winterthur
Fotomuseum Winterthur
Counter Space, Zürich
Kunsthaus Zürich
Kunsthalle Zürich
Haus Konstruktiv, Zürich
Where to find us
Venue
Messeplatz 10
4005 Basel
Switzerland
Our show takes place at Messe Basel, Switzerland’s largest and most important exhibition site, featuring a new hall designed by the leading international architects Herzog & de Meuron of Basel.
Opening hours
Private days (by invitation only)Monday, June 12, 2017
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Vernissage (by invitation only)
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Public days
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Friday, June 16, 2017
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
ABOUT THE SHOW
View an introduction to the show and an overview of what you can expect at Art Basel in Basel.
GETTING HERE
Plan your visit to the Basel show with helpful information about travel and accommodations.
