Dallas Art Fair to Begin New Era at SMU, Creating First-of-Its-Kind International Contemporary Art Fair on a University Campus

The Dallas Art Fair today announced that its 2027 edition will take place at SMU, marking a strategic evolution for one of the country's leading contemporary art fairs. The move will allow the fair to expand its scale, intellectual ambition, programming and hospitality while connecting the international contemporary art world more closely with the cultural and creative life of Dallas and SMU, a major research university located in the heart of the city.

The first major initiative of SMU’s recently formed The Dallas Office, created to strengthen the university’s engagement with the city and surrounding region, the fair will take place April 15–18, 2027 at Armstrong Fieldhouse on SMU’s campus. The expansive, light-filled space will give galleries greater flexibility to create larger installations and more immersive presentations. The visitor experience will be enhanced with improved circulation through the space and the addition of an upscale, on-site dining option. Brand partners such as Visit Dallas, Highland Park Village, Headington Companies, Heritage Auctions, Crozier Fine Arts and Distinguished Fine Art & Collectibles have already committed to the 2027 edition, along with many returning galleries, signaling strong support for the fair’s next chapter. The fair will announce its list of participating galleries in January.  

“We are committed to competing at the highest level internationally, and this new venue and partnership gives us the opportunity to advance that ambition,” said John Sughrue, founder of the Dallas Art Fair. “We’re thrilled to partner with the SMU community, which so powerfully contributes to the commercial and cultural success of Dallas. This is a strategic investment in the future of the fair, in our local cultural ecosystem and in the role Dallas can play internationally.”

The relationship with SMU will extend beyond the fair’s exhibitions. Through internships, educational opportunities, programming and other forms of engagement, the fair will integrate with the university community, bringing students, faculty and thought leaders into conversation with participating galleries, artists, collectors and cultural leaders. 

“We see this as an opportunity to immerse contemporary art in a setting that naturally encourages introspection, discovery and exchange,” said Dallas Art Fair Director Kelly Cornell. “The distinctive energy of the university campus will be incredibly exciting for the galleries, collectors and arts leaders who converge in Dallas for the fair.”

The partnership builds on SMU’s longstanding commitment to the arts and its connections to Dallas’s cultural community. Home to the Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum, the university brings extensive artistic and academic expertise to the collaboration, including its art history program, SMU DataArts—a national leader in arts and cultural research—and a dual-degree program in arts management and business. 

“Bringing the Dallas Art Fair to our campus creates an exciting opportunity to connect the SMU community with artists, collectors, and creative leaders from around the world,” President Jay Hartzell said. “It’s exactly the kind of partnership we envision as we strengthen SMU’s connections with Dallas and create new opportunities for our students and faculty to engage and contribute.”

Since its founding in 2009, the Dallas Art Fair has brought leading galleries, artists, museum leaders and cultural audiences from around the world to Dallas. As the fair enters this next chapter at SMU, it remains committed to the longstanding relationships with Dallas’s museums, cultural institutions and brands that have been central to its growth and its role in the city’s cultural life. The Dallas Art Fair Foundation has raised nearly $3 million to support local arts institutions, including the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center and Dallas Contemporary—these three museums will continue to be beneficiaries of the fair’s opening gala. Established more than a decade ago, the DMA Acquisition Fund has enabled the Dallas Museum of Art to acquire more than 75 works for its permanent collection, supporting the museum’s growth while creating meaningful opportunities for participating galleries and artists. 

The move to SMU will build on this legacy of city-wide programming while creating even more opportunities for collaboration, philanthropy and engagement across Dallas, expanding the fair’s ability to connect museums, galleries, artists, collectors, sponsors and audiences while further strengthening the city’s position as an important destination for contemporary art. Additional details regarding participating galleries, university collaborations, programming, tickets and the fair's new campus experience will be announced in the coming months.