Cosmoscow announces dates and venue of the 13th edition and starts accepting applications from potential exhibitors

The 13th edition of Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair will take place across two floors of the Timiryazev Centre exhibition space (Verkhnyaya Alley, 6/1) on September 11–14, 2025. Collectors and members of the art community will have the first opportunity to view the exhibition during Cosmoscow Preview on September 11. The project is supported by the following partners: Sber, Samokat, Hutton, MR Group, EKONIKA, BORK, TUD, Beluga, and The Act.

“Today, art fairs are the main driving force in the development of the art industry worldwide, fostering the exchange of ideas and strengthening connections between collectors, gallerists, and artists. In Moscow, interest in contemporary art continues to grow steadily, and the art market shows positive development dynamics. In 2024, over 50 thousand people visited Cosmoscow during its four working days, showing a 20-thousand growth on the previous year. The 13th edition will be held at the same venue but in an expanded format: we will use both floors of the Timiryazev Centre. The increased space will allow us to display the most significant and important art in one location,” said Margarita Pushkina, founding director of Cosmoscow.

Applications for participation are being accepted from May 22 through June 20 concluding in an expert selection process. Cosmoscow maintains its status as a curated art fair, which involves a special approach to forming its program. Several criteria are considered during selection, including overall visual presentation of the stand and the list of participating artists and their works. The Expert Committee also pays attention to each gallery’s program and exhibitions held throughout the year.

The Expert Committee for 2025 includes: Margarita Pushkina (founding director of Cosmoscow), Elena Selina (co-founder of XL Gallery), Elvira Tarnogradskaya (founder of Syntax Gallery), Valentin Dyakonov (curator and art critic), Anton Belov (collector, art advisor), Daria Belyakova (founder of Arch(e)type bureau), and Maria Savostianova (art historian).

As usual, participating galleries will be divided into sections based on their specialization. The BASE section will feature both young and well-established galleries with their own exhibition spaces. CONTOUR will bring together galleries that do not have permanent spaces and operate in a showroom format or online platform. The PRINT section will include galleries engaged in dealing with prints and multiples, while DESIGN will showcase galleries working with collectible design. Projects aimed at developing infrastructure, education, and communication in the field of contemporary art, as well as increasing interest in collecting, will be presented in the COMMUNITY section.

The Cosmoscow program will also be complemented by non-profit projects, including Cosmoscow Talks discussion sessions, art initiatives from foundations and leading cultural institutions. The Cosmoscow Foundation will present art projects by the winners its 2025 programs: the Krasnoyarsk Ploschad Mira Museum Center (Cosmoscow Museum of the Year; PROVMYZA art group (Cosmoscow Artist of the Year); and the Fabrika Center for Creative Industries (Cosmoscow Institution of the Year).

The exhibition space will also feature collaborations between brands and artists. The stands will serve not only as showcases for unique works and innovative ideas but also as platforms for engaging with audiences, fostering cultural dialogue, and supporting interest in contemporary art.

As usual, Cosmoscow will also have an online version. Works presented at the fair can be purchased remotely through TEO by Cosmoscow, Russia’s largest online marketplace for contemporary art. Cosmoscow Online will have an extended duration compared to the fair at the Timiryazev Centre and will again take place on its platform.

Simultaneously with Cosmoscow, from September 11–14, the 6th edition of the satellite fair blazar will be held at the Moscow Museum (Zubovsky Boulevard, 2/1). The fair’s Preview for collectors and art professionals will take place on September 10. The fair will feature not only galleries but also early-career artists, independent creators, designers, architectural bureaus in the Art and Design sections, as well as educational institutions and contemporary art initiatives. 

Cosmoscow will also present an additional program offering participants a unique opportunity to attend artist meetings, thematic lectures, exhibition projects, and educational events.