Gallery Weekend Beijing(GWBJ): A Gateway to the "Beijing Art Season"-GWBJ Announces Dates for Its 9th Edition

Since its founding in 2017, Gallery Weekend Beijing (GWBJ) has always been committed to building a professional, forward-thinking and international platform for dialogue and the promotion of contemporary art from around the globe. Over the past eight years, GWBJ has consistently delivered a rich array of exhibitions, artistic programmes and an unparallel experience of Beijing’s gallery scene with the vision to bring together galleries and non-profit institutions across Beijing and beyond. With its network radiating from the 798·751 Community and extending to other key cultural and art hubs such as the CBD Art Zone, Caochangdi Art District and Beijing Art Bonded Zone, GWBJ has evolved into one of China’s most prominent and representative platforms for contemporary art – a highlight on both the national and international art calendars. Beyond fostering and facilitating critical discourses on contemporary art, GWBJ actively fosters dynamic connections across different disciplines and amplifies Beijing’s role as a symbol of cultural identity.

As China’s cultural capital, Beijing has long been regarded as a pivotal nexus in the country’s art history, with the 798·751 Community playing a vital role in its ongoing evolution. Today, as the 798·751 Community continues to deepen public engagement with contemporary art, the non-profit institutions and galleries within it serve as crucial bridges between art and the broader public. This year, the 9th edition of GWBJ will shine a spotlight on the transformative power of art on the city’s cultural ecology. With the vision to establish a broader "Beijing Art Season"， GWBJ will join forces with ART021 BEIJING, Beijing Dangdai Art Fair – both of which features a deep root in the capital city – as well as local galleries and non-profit institutions across the city. Furthermore, its reach will extend beyond the capital city through collaboration with Aranya Art Center in Qinhuangdao, contributing to the creation of a dynamic and interconnected art ecosystem centered around Beijing.

Structural Shift: From Application-Based to Invitation-Only Participation

This year, GWBJ introduces a significant structural shift in its exhibitor selecting process: transitioning from a previously application-based system to an invitation-only model. The Selection Committee, comprising of five members, was elected by the 21 galleries that participated in last year’s Main Sector. The selected committee members are: Leng Lin (Founder,Beijing Commune), Luna Peng (Director,Galleria Continua Beijing), Qu Kejie (Founder,Magician Space), Tian Yuan (Founder,WHITE SPACE) and Xi Tao (Founder,A26 Space) – listed alphabetically by surname. The committee will review all galleries that have previously participated in GWBJ and vote on the final list of invited participants. Additionally, each committee member holds the right to nominate one newly established Beijing-based gallery (operating over a year) that has not yet participated in GWBJ. The committee members will also oversee the planning and implementation of the event. This structural shift aims to uphold the highest standards of programming while placing greater emphasis on academic depth and critical engagement with systemic issues in the art world. It reflects GWBJ’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its professional foundations while widening public engagement and cultural impact.

Sustained "Presence" of Art

In addition to participating galleries of the Main Sector, this year’s GWBJ will further expand the involvement of non-profit institutions to enrich Beijing’s contemporary art network. Key partners include UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, 798CUBE,MACA Art Center,HYUNDAI MOTORSTUDIO BEIJING,Wind H Art Center  - all located within the 798·751 Community - as well as prominent institutions in various art districts across Beijing such as the  Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum,Espace Louis Vuitton Beijing,Red Brick Art Museum,Song Art Museum,Taikang Art Museum and X Museum,Together, they form a dynamic urban cultural network.Beyond the capital and as an important extension of Beijing Art Season, the Aranya Art Center North in Qinhuangdao will host four parallel exhibitions during this period, featuring works by David Ostrowski, Vivien Zhang, Massinissa Selmani and Judy Watson.

Within the 798·751 Community, Antenna Space will present the GWBJ’s special exhibiton program,Between the highlight and the shadow, duo exhibition by Cheng Xinyi and Evelyn Taocheng Wang. Opening on May 10 at Building B02 (formerly Langkong Art Museum), the exhibition space will be designed by Tian Jun, a seasoned art collector with nearly 20 years of experience, who also actively contributes to art projects as a creator. 

"Art Store"： A New Hybrid Initiative

A major highlight of this year’s GWBJ is the introduction of the "Art Store" - an innovative model that blends exhibition, retail and social engagement. Set across various sites within the 798·751 Community, Art Store invites artists to take a lead in designing and transforming industrial containers into immersive art hubs. These multifunctional spaces will showcase collectible artworks, offer retail experiences and create an open and interactive environment for the public - bridging collectors, casual visitors, and the broader cultural community.

The 9th edition of Gallery Weekend Beijing will run from May 23 to June 1, 2025. With a Media Day on May 22 and VIP Days from May 23 to 25, it will be open to the public from May 27 to June 1. Through a multifaceted program of exhibitions, forums and special projects, GWBJ will bring together top global professionals and wide-ranging attention, celebrating the richness and innovation of Beijing’s cultural and art landscape. It will also continue to support 798·751 Community in its role as a key cultural landmark and "traffic driver" of the city’s art ecosystem, fostering new opportunities for cultural tourism and creative consumption, enhancing Beijing’s influence as an international art destination, and solidifying its position as a vital nexus for artistic innovation and cultural exchange.

The full lineup of participating galleries and more program highlights will be announced soon - stay tuned!