“TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR 2026” to Be Held over Two Weekends in January 2027 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

The art book and zine fair “TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR 2026” will be held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Koto-ku, Tokyo) over two weekends: Thursday, January 21 to Sunday, January 24, and Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31, 2027. Publishers, galleries and artists from Japan and abroad take part, and visitors can handle printed matter while talking directly with exhibitors. According to the museum, this is the 16th edition; although it is named “2026,” it takes place in January 2027. Details such as admission will be released once decided.

What is TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR? An art publishing fair that began in 2009

According to the official website, TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR (TABF), launched in 2009, was Japan’s first book fair dedicated to art publishing. It is held once a year, with about 350 publishers, galleries, artists and others from Japan and abroad taking part each time and more than 20,000 visitors. The official website says it has become the largest art book fair in Asia.

As the official website explains, an art book fair is a place where makers sell books while interacting directly with visitors at their booths. Books at relatively affordable prices serve as an entry point to art. Special exhibitions, talks and screenings are also held during the fair.

Named “2026,” held over two weekends in January 2027

The previous edition, the 2025 fair (the 15th), was held at the museum from Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, December 14 and from Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, running over two weekends for the first time (according to the organizers). The venues included the B2F exhibition gallery and the entrance hall. The 2026 fair also runs over two weekends, with the timing moving to January of the new year.

Last time, the exhibition area was organized by Tokyo Art Book Fair (a general incorporated association) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture). As of October 19, the museum’s page did not list the organizers or the venue floors for the 2026 fair.

Which Guest Country? Last time it was Italy

Each year, TABF features a “Guest Country” that introduces the publishing culture of one country or region. As of October 19, the Guest Country for the 2026 fair had not been announced.

The previous Guest Country was Italy, the ninth edition of the program. Two exhibitions traced the history of independent publishing: “YES YES YES Revolutionary Press in Italy 1966-1977,” which gathered Italian newspapers and magazines from 1966 to 1977, and “OUT OF THE GRID: Italian Zine 1978–2006,” which introduced zines from 1978 to 2006. There was also an exhibition by Corraini, the publisher of picture books by Bruno Munari and others, and an exhibition of works by Takashi Homma.

Tickets, prices and access

Admission, opening hours and ticket sales methods for the 2026 fair have not been announced. Last time, date- and time-specified online tickets (1,000 yen for adults plus a 165 yen issuing fee) and same-day tickets (1,200 yen) were sold, and elementary school students and younger were admitted free.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is a 9-minute walk from Exit B2 of Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and a 13-minute walk from Exit A3 of Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station on the Toei Oedo Line. It is a 15-minute walk from Kiba Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and from Kikukawa Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line, and the Toei bus stop “Tokyo-to Gendai Bijutsukan-mae” can also be used.

Editor’s perspective

The 2026 fair carries on the two-weekend format first adopted last time while moving from December to January. What sets the fair apart is that visitors can pick up relatively affordable books and zines while talking directly with their makers, offering a different entry point from art fairs where artworks are bought and sold.

In March, Art Fair Tokyo 21 will be held at the Tokyo International Forum. Events from winter to spring are compiled in our art fair and art festival calendar.

Overview

Name: TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR 2026
Dates: Thursday, January 21 – Sunday, January 24 and Friday, January 29 – Sunday, January 31, 2027
Hours: Not announced as of October 19
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Address: 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Not announced as of October 19 (to be published on the official website and elsewhere once decided)
Official website: https://tokyoartbookfair.com/
Venue information: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/exhibitions/tokyo-art-book-fair-2026/
*Information as of October 19, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, November 2018 (photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on information on the official websites of the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team