The world's top auction houses recently published their figures for the first half of 2026, and here is our analysis of the results.
Christie’s
Christie's achieved its highest total sales during the first half of 2026, reaching $4.5 billion. Of this, $1 billion came from private sales and $3.5 billion from auctions, representing a 71% increase compared to the same period last year. The 20th and 21st century art category saw an even more impressive 79% increase, reaching $2.3 billion and thus becoming the highest-grossing category.
This success was no accident, as it included the sale of 16 works from the collection of publisher S.I. Newhouse, which was the most valuable auction of the year so far, achieving $630.8 million. This auction also featured the two most expensive artworks of the current auction season: Jackson Pollock's Number 7A, 1948 ($181.2 million) and Constantin Brâncuși's Danaïde ($107.6 million). With the $98.4 million achieved for Mark Rothko's 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe), Christie's also secured third place. All three results were auction records.
But Christie's success wasn't limited to the top price segment; art valued between $20,000 and $100,000 sold in day auctions and online auctions, also proved lucrative. Online events, in particular, proved to be a significant entry point for new customers, accounting for 63% of sales. Participation from Millennials and Gen Z as a whole saw a slight improvement over the previous year, reaching 47%. Overall, Christie's sales rate was 91%.
"We had our best first half in 5 years at Christie's, growing in all departments and regions, at every price point," said Bonnie Brennan, CEO of Christie's, in a statement. "We delivered auction sales up 71% YoY and our strongest half year private sales total. With a continued focus on exceptional art and objects, whether in collections or various owner sales, we drove our strongest ever levels of international bidding and buying and delivered the best selling performance in the market for our clients."
See also: Marquee Week in New York: A Billion-Dollar May
Sotheby’s
Sotheby's enjoyed a similarly successful first half of the year. Its total sales of $4.4 billion represented a 58% increase compared to the previous year, with $3.4 billion coming from auction sales (+59%) and $826 million from private sales (+52%). It was Sotheby's most successful spring auction season to date, and the auction house achieved its highest sales rate since 2010 of 90%. The Marquee Weeks in New York (totaling $908.6 million) and London (totaling $556.5 million) played a major role in this success. The outstanding sales figures of the record-breaking London week were primarily driven by the "Masterpieces from The Lewis Collection" auction, which, at $406.2 million, was the most valuable single-owner sale ever held in the United Kingdom. In New York, the Robert Mnuchin collection fetched $173 million, while the $96 million paid for the Jean and Terry de Gunzburg collection set a new record for a design auction in the United States. Sotheby's also made history in Hong Kong, where the "Hong Kong Important Watches" auction achieved $52.9 million, becoming the most successful watch auction in history. Bidders from 119 countries have participated in Sotheby's global auctions in 2026 so far.
"What we have seen this year is a market defined by conviction," said Madeline Lissner, Sotheby's Head of Global Fine Art & Major Collection in a press release. "Collectors are responding decisively to quality, rarity, and provenance. The exceptional performance of major single-owner collections and the continued growth of private sales reflect a healthy market environment, with sophisticated collectors actively seeking opportunities and engaging across categories with confidence. Over the past year, Sotheby’s has also demonstrated that market-defining collections can achieve extraordinary results when presented with ambition and imagination. At the same time, our continued investment in museum-quality exhibitions and cultural programming at the Breuer continues to broaden engagement with art and collecting."
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions, the world's leading auction house for collectibles, is set to record its sixth consecutive year of a record-breaking first half of the year in 2026. While total sales in 2025 were $962 million, sales reached $1.41 billion in 2026, representing a 47% increase. This puts Heritage Auctions on track to surpass its 2025 sales total of $2.15 billion this year. In addition to a wide range of collectibles – from entertainment and sports memorabilia to comics and video games, which appeal particularly to younger collectors – Heritage Auctions also auctions art and antiques, as well as jewelry, watches, and wine, which are the focus of established collectors.
"Crossing $1.4 billion during the first half of our 50th anniversary year speaks not only to the strength of today's market, but to the remarkable breadth of today's collector," said Heritage CEO and Co-Chairman Steve Ivy in a press release. "We're seeing new generations enter the market while longtime collectors continue to compete at the highest levels, driving extraordinary growth across categories."
Highlights at Heritage Auctions this year so far included a sealed 1985 NES Super Mario Bros. game ($3 million), a complete first edition of the base cards for the Pokémon game ($1.2 million), rare trading cards of Honus Wagner ($3.6 million) and Michael Jordan ($2.1 million), as well as a 1911 Chinese "Short Whiskered" dollar ($4.88 million) and a sought-after 1804 American silver dollar ($3.54 million).
See also: A New Star Wars Auction Record Set in Dallas
Phillips
In 2026, Phillips not only celebrated its 230th anniversary but also boasted an outstanding first half of the year, generating $507 million – a 60% increase over the previous year. Other positive figures included a 90% sell-through rate and a 40% first-time buyer participation rate. Overall, nearly one in three buyers belonged to the Millennial or Gen Z cohort. The auction house further solidified its leading position in the sale of high-end wristwatches over the past six months. The auctions held in May and June in collaboration with Bacs & Russo set new benchmarks. The Hong Kong auction achieved the highest price ever paid for a watch in Asia, the New York auction was the highest-grossing auction in the U.S. to date, and the Geneva auction was the highest-grossing worldwide (achieving $96.3 million).
Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr.'s collection of Danish paintings sold completely, while the collection of art collector and patron Tina Hills sold 99% of its collection. Phillips also continued its new Priority Bidding strategy, introduced in the fall of 2025. Under this system, buyers who submit their bids by a certain time before a live auction (excluding wristwatches) are granted a reduction in the buyer's premium if their purchase is successful – an attractive model for both the auction house and its consignors, as well as for buyers.
"As we conclude the spring season in Phillips’ 230th anniversary year, these results reflect not only the strength of the market, but the progress we have made as a business over the past year," said Martin Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Phillips, in a statement. "Auction totals were up 60%, driven by exceptional property, strong global participation and sustained demand throughout the market."
"The art market is changing fast, and collectors’ tastes and expectations are changing with it," Wilson continued. "Our aim is to build on the past year’s success and keep adapting — to keep finding better ways to bring exceptional works to market and to make Phillips the most responsive and forward-looking auction house in the business."
See also: World Record for a Vintage Patek Philippe Wristwatch
Dorotheum
Dorotheum in Vienna, which is Central Europe's leading auction house, also announced that it had its best spring season to date in 2026. While no specific figures were given, beyond the "well over €100 million" achieved in the first half of 2025, sales are expected to again reach the hundreds of millions. Highlights of the past few months included the auction of a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi (€837,500), a new world record for Carla Accardi (€520,000), an Austrian record for watches (€1.025 million), and a new jewelry record for Austria and Germany (€779,000). The collection auctions of Otto Schenk and Teddy Podgorski each concluded as White Glove Sales. Bidders from over 90 countries participated online and in the live auctions.
"The figures presented by the world’s largest auction houses offer excellent news for both the houses themselves and the market in general, signaling a positive development in the industry; however, it should not be overlooked that the mid-market segment continues to face challenges," said Barnebys co-founder Pontus Silfverstolpe. "It is evident that unique objects – or those of so-called museum quality – and especially pieces coming onto the market for the first time, almost always deliver positive surprises. Several of the major auction houses that also operate in the areas of private sales and consulting have increased their sales in these sectors; these results are reflected in the reported positive figures."
"Market trends are likely to remain positive, as a number of significant collections will be coming onto the market as a result of a generational shift," continued Silfverstolpe. "This will occur on a global scale, which is why the corresponding presence of auction houses will be of great importance. However, the general global political situation should not be ignored, as wars, tariffs, and stricter restrictions can negatively impact future prospects."
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Leading auction houses are increasingly acting as proactive players, not just reacting to market changes, but actively shaping them. They are marketing significant collections effectively, presenting innovative business models, and continuously expanding their online presence. The same applies to their luxury and collectibles divisions, which are attracting a new generation of collectors whom they aim to retain as long-term clients. The era of speculative purchases appears to be definitively over; the focus is now on quality and provenance, rarity, and lasting value.
