$59.6 billion
Global art market sales in 2025
The global art market grew 4% by value in 2025 after two consecutive years of decline.
Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 · 2025 data, published 2026
Reference guide
U.S. Art Market & Auction Statistics
Current figures on the art market, public auctions and the U.S. arts economy, collected in one source-friendly reference.
Last updated July 21, 2026. This page uses the latest full-year market data available at the time of publication: 2025 art-market reporting and 2023 federal arts-economy reporting.
At a glance
Eight figures worth knowing.
For collectors, estate representatives, writers and anyone following the market for fine art, jewelry, antiques and other significant objects.
$20.7 billion
Global public auction sales in 2025
Public auction sales rose 9% year over year, while the number of art-market transactions reached 41.5 million.
Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 · 2025 data, published 2026
44%
U.S. share of global art-market sales in 2025
The United States remained the largest market by value, with an estimated $26.0 billion in sales.
Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 · 2025 data, published 2026
Just over $7 billion
U.S. public fine-art auction sales in 2025
U.S. public auction sales rose 20% from 2024, supported by major collections and high-value works.
Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 · 2025 data, published 2026
+21%
Growth in value for fine-art lots above $1 million
The value of these lots rose 21% in 2025, and the number of transactions at that level increased 15%.
Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 · 2025 data, published 2026
$1.2 trillion
U.S. arts and culture value added to the economy in 2023
Arts and culture represented 4.2% of U.S. gross domestic product, according to the latest federal data.
National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2023 data, published 2025
5.4 million
U.S. wage-and-salary arts and culture workers in 2023
Those workers received $553.9 billion in total compensation during the year.
National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2023 data, published 2025
$36.8 billion
U.S. arts and culture trade surplus in 2023
Arts and cultural exports reached $91.3 billion, compared with $54.5 billion in imports.
National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2023 data, published 2025
Methodology and sources
How these figures were selected.
Market figures come from the annual Art Basel and UBS report, prepared by Arts Economics. U.S. arts-economy figures come from the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Each figure above links directly to its source.
Figures are reported as published. Market reports measure fine art and related art-market activity; they are not an appraisal guide or a prediction of what any individual object will sell for.
Cite this page
Cape Ann Auction, “U.S. Art Market & Auction Statistics,” updated July 21, 2026. Link to the specific statistic above when possible.
For an individual estate or collection
Broad market data is only the starting point.
Condition, provenance, maker, rarity and the right audience can matter far more than an industry average. Cape Ann Auction offers a practical first look at art, jewelry, coins, maritime material, books and estate collections.