ARCOlisboa 2026 Awards
ARCOlisboa 2026 reaffirms its commitment to collecting, to the visibility of artists, and to fostering connections between galleries and arts professionals through awards that support contemporary creation.
Partner institutions and companies contribute to the fair through initiatives that encourage acquisitions, recognise artistic excellence, and, in some cases, promote the production of new works. These awards, aligned with the values and research interests of the entities and institutions that grant them, strengthen the artistic ecosystem and consolidate ARCOlisboa as an essential platform for discovering artists and energising both public and private collections.
The Fundação Millennium bcp Award for Best Booth at ARCOlisboa is presented for the fourth time in 2026, establishing itself as an important recognition of the fair’s exhibition quality. This award highlights innovation and excellence in the presentation of one of the participating project, while also acknowledging the work of its gallerists and artists. It reaffirms Fundação Millennium bcp’s commitment to Contemporary Art and to promoting proposals that stand out for their quality and rigour, strengthening the dynamism of the art market in Portugal and within the international scene.
In its seventh edition, the Opening Lisboa Award will once again recognise the best project in the section at ARCOlisboa 2026. The jury composed of international professionals in the curatorial field and directors of institutions connected to contemporary art will select the winning gallery based on the quality of its presentation, research and discursive renewal. This award continues to underscore the importance of Opening Lisboa as a platform for new proposals and for the discovery of new galleries and projects at the fair.
This year, the jury will be composed of Övül Durmuşoğlu (Independent Curator), Ines Goldbach (Director, Kunsthaus Baselland, Liestal), Ana Laguna (Curator, Kunsthalle Lissabon, Lisbon), Catalina Lozano (Chief Curator, Artium Museoa, Vitoria-Gasteiz), and Agustina Strüngmann (Director, Salta Art Foundation, Buenos Aires).
At ARCOlisboa 2026, the Colección Studiolo - Candela A. Soldevilla will grant an Acquisition Award to a work selected from among the proposals presented in this edition. The award will be granted as a mark of recognition, promotion and support for contemporary art.
At ARCOlisboa 2026, MACAM – Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins will grant the II MACAM Acquisition Award, selecting an artwork for inclusion in its permanent collection. This award highlights MACAM’s commitment to the promotion of contemporary art and reinforces its role as a dynamic bridge between artists and audiences worldwide.
MACAM – Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins, is the first museum and 5-star hotel concept of its kind in Europe. Set in the historic site of Palácio Condes da Ribeira Grande and in a contemporary extension, located between Lisbon’s Alcântara and Belém cultural districts, MACAM covers 13,000 square meters, including 2,000sq metres of exhibition space.
Founded by the Portuguese collector and entrepreneur Armando Martins, the MACAM showcases his personal art collection, which comprises more than 600 works, dating from the late 19th century to present day. MACAM represents the culmination of a five-decade passion and commitment to acquire modern and contemporary art. Directed by Adelaide Ginga, the museum project also reflects Armando Martins’ strong belief that art should be accessible to all, a conviction embodied in the project’s motto The House of Private Collections and in a curatorial programme that includes the invitation to other private collectors to present their collections within MACAM’s exhibition space.
Established in 1986, the FLAD Contemporary Art Collection has come to occupy a unique position within the Portuguese institutional landscape, thanks to the excellence of its selections and the way it has consolidated a central axis largely built around drawing, which defines much of its identity.
With an almost exclusive focus on Portuguese art, the collection brings together key figures from the second half of the 20th century, while also supporting emerging artists across a wide range of disciplines, from painting to photography, from sculpture to moving image and, of course, drawing.
The FLAD Acquisition Award at ARCOlisboa 2026 reaffirms FLAD’s commitment to actively supporting the development of the national art system, highlighting the importance ARCO has always had in strengthening cultural relations across the Iberian Peninsula, as well as in the internationalisation of Portuguese art. It is also a sign of support for the professionalisation of the gallery sector and its crucial role in increasing the visibility of artists both nationally and internationally.