The art market calendar for the third week of May 2026 is shaping up to be among the most articulate and varied of the entire spring season. Here are the auctions scheduled for the coming days.
Between May 21 and 27, 2026, the spotlights of the most prestigious auction houses will be turned on to unveil catalogs full of fascination, capable of attracting institutional investors and enthusiasts from all over the world. The journey through the Italian scene opens on May 21 with a packed agenda. Enthusiasts can follow FarsettiArte ’s long-term session titled Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures and Graphics, an online event that began as early as mid-month and is just now getting into the thick of the final offerings. This digital offering is complemented by a second web review signed by Wannenes, the web-only auction Antique and 19th Century Paintings - Auction 612, a virtual catalog active until May 28. Gonnelli Auction House’s interesting review comes to a close on May 21, celebrating the second day of its Arte Antica, Moderna e Contemporanea [Part II] - Auction 69 and Arte Antica, Moderna e Contemporanea - Session V. Also active during the same period is Finarte ’s timed auction entitled Easy Collecting - A Collection of Drawings and Watercolors, with bidding open until next June 4. On the traditional live auction front and also on May 21, Capitolium AuctionHouse comes out on top with the afternoon session Traditional 20th Century Design and Decorative Arts.
The following day, Friday, May 22, the spotlight shifts to Florence where Pananti Auction House opens the first of its sessions with the live event Authors from the 16th to the 21st Century - Live Auction No. 185.
The beginning of the following week sees attention split between Lombardy, Piedmont and Lazio. On May 25, Finarte inaugurates in Milan the exclusive Gioielli Importanti event, a two-day live auction. At the same time, from Turin, Aste Bolaffi ’s auction entitled Vintage Fashion and Luxury Accessories kicks off, a live Internet session that for two consecutive days will see collectors and admirers compete on the web to win haute couture dresses and bags from the most prestigious brands. The following day, Tuesday, May 26, the scene becomes even more eventful: in Milan, Il Ponte opens the sale of Modern and Contemporary Art - Auction774. Also via the web, Maison Bibelot’s online sale, the timed auction No. 342 entitled The Elegance of the Table, reaches its final beat, while Capitolium Art offers the virtual session Modern and Contemporary Art - Auction 588. Also on May 26, but in Rome, Babuino Fine Art Auctions catalyzes the interest of classic connoisseurs by inaugurating the prestigious two-day event entitled High Antiques.
Closing the circle of national sales on May 27 are four important sessions focused on luxury and the visual arts. Pandolfini inaugurates Jewels - Live Auction No. 1430 in Milan, a live event that will continue the following day. On the same date, Il Ponte doubles its contemporary offerings by bringing out the second session of Modern and Contemporary Art. Rounding out the Italian picture is Wannenes with the auction Antique and 19th Century Paintings - Auction 602-603.
On May 21 Christie’ s presents the Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale in New York while Sotheby ’s presents Handbags & Accessories in Zurich. On the same day Bonhams - Cornette de Saint-Cyr is in Paris with Finest European CellarsIcons, Matures & Essentials while Dorotheum presents the Vienna auctions Important and Noble Jewels and Contemporary Art II. On the same day, auction house Tajan concludes the auction CHARITY AUCTION - RÊVER POUR GUÉRIR while Artcurial presents the auctions Design Italien, Art Déco / Design and Color Party online. Bonhams also presents the Impressionist & Modern Art auction in New York on May 21, and on the same day, auction house Phillips presents the auctions MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART : MORNING SESSION and MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART: AFTERNOON SESSION in New York. On May 22 Christie’ s presents the Picasso Ceramics auction in New York , and simultaneously Dorotheum is active in Vienna with Wrist and Pocket Watches. On May 24 Bonhams presents the Coins auction in Denmark. On May 25 Christie’s turns the spotlight on the Hong Kong square to present the Handbags & Accessories session; on May 26 the same auction house presents Magnificent Jewels. In Paris, the competition on luxury gets heated thanks to the extraordinary review signed Bonhams - Cornette de Saint-Cyr; the maison beats in the prestigious spaces of Avenue Hoche the long-awaited live auction Art of Luxury Hermès Home, Bags & Jewels - Chanel - Vuitton, bringing simultaneously to a conclusion the digital review Online Jewellery, Paris. The same auction house(Bonhams) is active on the same day in Denmark with Modern art and design.
Finally, on Wednesday, May 27, Dorotheum reopens its Viennese halls at 10 a.m. for its specialized appointment with Coins and Medals. Afterwards, the French capital once again becomes the absolute epicenter of the global market, thanks in part to Piasa’s important sessions. The auction house enriches the afternoon of May 27 by debuting at 4 p.m. with the eagerly awaited digital sale Arman : The Memory of Objects; immediately afterwards, at 5 p.m., the maison will turn the spotlight on the refined room sale dedicated to Scandinavian Design.
Also on this rich Parisian day, Artcurial presents in its spaces the unreserved catalog Arts des XXe & XXIe siècles starting at 2 p.m., flanking the afternoon auction of Drouot Estimations Watches, Jewelry & Fashion in Salle 3 and the live auction Design signed by Christie’s. Rounding out the international close is Sotheby’s, which concludes the Parisian wine session Crowned Vineyards | Featuring the Burgundy cellar of a European collector and simultaneously returns to focus on Italy with the afternoon Modern and Contemporary Art auction directly from the piazza in Milan.
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| Auctions of the week: ancient art, design and antiques |
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