New galleries bet on New York: Armory Show’s ‘Presents’ section grows 20%

New York’s annual The Armory Show is significantly expanding its section for new galleries: “Presents” will gather 54 exhibitors at the 2026 edition, up from 45 a year earlier — a 20% increase, according to a piece by The Art Newspaper published on September 25, 2026 on the risks and rewards for new galleries. Eighteen of the 54 galleries will exhibit in New York for the first time.

The fair runs September 24–27 at the Javits Center in Manhattan (429 11th Avenue) and opens New York’s fall art season — an event that since 1994 has made the city the main arena of the contemporary art market. Works from the 2026 edition can also be viewed online until October 4.

“Presents” is reserved for galleries up to 12 years old — the age criterion was expanded this year — and each booth presents the work of one or two artists, a format designed to be read quickly and to introduce new names to a wide audience. Booths cost less than in the main “Galleries” section, but New York logistics — shipping, insurance, travel and accommodation — remain expensive; some of the debutants negotiated fees or shared booths with other galleries to afford the costs.

The fair is led by director Kyla McMillan, and the 2026 program includes an expanded “Armory Week” with exhibitions and events across the city. Each year the “Presents Prize” is also awarded to the section’s most outstanding and innovative booth — a mechanism that makes a New York debut not only a commercial bet but also a curatorial platform.