Informa acquires Independent, the organizer of two annual New York art fairs, bringing the contemporary-focused spring event and the 20th-century edition in the fall under the London-based group’s umbrella. The transaction closed last year, and both 2026 editions were staged with Informa as owner.
“Independent’s future is bright,” founder and creative director Elizabeth Dee said in an email, adding that partnering with Informa allows the fairs to blend “the spirit of a museum exhibition” with the market. Dee confirmed she will remain in her role overseeing both events.
Informa acquires Independent as first New York art brand
Informa, founded in 1998 and headquartered in London, operates across publishing, business intelligence, and exhibitions, running trade shows globally in sectors such as comics, aviation, cosmetics, health and wellness, food and hospitality, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, fashion, ceramics, cybersecurity, technology, energy, and boating.
In a first-half 2026 update, the company reported revenue of 2.7 billion dollars and adjusted operating profit of 723.7 million dollars. Major shareholders include BlackRock, Newton Investment Management, Lazard Asset Management, Norges Bank, Artemis Investment Manager, and Invesco.
Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index, with about 14,000 employees across 42 countries.
The purchase marks Informa’s first New York–based art brand. Its portfolio also features the Monaco Yacht Show and Cannes Lions.
South Florida Ventures, which runs Untitled Art, Art Miami, and Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary, is also part of Informa, though Independent will remain separate from that unit.
Independent notified exhibitors on Friday. On the eve of the fairs’ 20th anniversary, Dee wrote that the timing was right to bring on a partner to support growth while staying true to the mission, pointing to the successful 2026 editions as evidence of the fairs’ quality under Informa.
Independent’s evolution and distinct identity
Founded in 2010 in a former warehouse in Chelsea that once housed the Dia Center for the Arts, Independent was co-created by Dee, then a New York gallerist, and White Columns director Matthew Higgs, who continues as curatorial adviser. The fair earned a reputation for a distinctive floor plan that prioritized flow over the standard grid of booths common at commercial fairs.
Positioned as an alternative to traditional fairs, its first edition was billed in press materials as a collective or consortium and a “hybrid model and temporary exhibition forum,” as reported at the time. Nonprofits showed alongside dealers, a mix that has since become routine at many events.
Independent staged its first five editions at the former Dia building before moving to Spring Studios in Tribeca in 2016.
It briefly expanded to Europe with Independent Brussels from 2016 to 2018 at Espace Vanderborght, a former department store.
20th-century focus and venue changes in 2026
In 2022, Dee, Higgs, and Sofie Scheerlinck, formerly of TEFAF, launched Independent 20th Century to highlight art from 1900 to 2000, with the stated aim of broadening the art historical canon. The fair occupied the Battery Maritime Building for four years before shifting to the Breuer building for its fifth edition last week.
This year also saw the flagship Independent move to Pier 36 on the Lower East Side, more than doubling in size.
The edition drew attention for featuring designs by Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo in her first solo presentation at an art fair. The relocation of Independent 20th Century to the Breuer building, acquired by Sotheby’s in 2023, came with Sotheby’s joining as a partner.
The larger venue enabled expansion to 57 exhibitors, up from 31 at the previous downtown iteration, while reviews noted the fair remained accessible to visitors.
“Both Independent and Informa remain committed to Independent’s creative and curatorial autonomy under the leadership of our team,” Dee told exhibitors. She said the organization will continue to grow as a curated platform for modern and contemporary art and expressed confidence that the partnership will create new opportunities for Independent and its participating galleries.
Independent’s role within the wider landscape of New York art week underscores how the fair has helped shape the city’s mix of blue-chip and alternative events.