Christie’s CEO on 2026 Art Sales Outlook

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 26, 2026 at 15:42  |  5:06  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Bonnie Brennan — CEO, Christie's

Summary

Bonnie Brennan, CEO of Christie's, discusses the 2025 art market performance and 2026 outlook with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld. She highlights strong luxury auction sales, the importance of storytelling and single-source collections, and Asia as a key gateway for new and younger buyers. Brennan also previews the Jim Irsay collection auction and outlines Christie's plans to innovate, expand into car auctions, and grow geographically including in Saudi Arabia.

  • Christie's 2025 sales reached $6.2 billion, up about 6%.
  • Luxury auction categories including jewelry, wine, watches, handbags, and cars rose 17%.
  • Asia represents just over 25% of Christie's business and is a key source of first-time and younger buyers.
  • New buyers initially spend about $22,000 and returning buyers spend 50% more, often moving into art categories.
  • Christie's will auction the Jim Irsay collection of 100 pop culture objects.
  • Christie's is pursuing innovation, car auction expansion, and geographic growth including Saudi Arabia.
  • Storytelling and single-source estate collections remain central to major art sales.
Ideas
Bonnie Brennan CEO, Christie's 1:57
Asia drives new and younger art buyers.
Asia accounts for just over 25% of Christie's business and is a key gateway for new and younger buyers, with first-time buyers increasingly coming from the Asian market, which should support regional art and luxury demand.
Asia art and luxury market HIGH
Bonnie Brennan CEO, Christie's 2:06
Luxury auction demand is strong and broadening.
Christie's luxury auction sales—comprising jewelry, wine, watches, handbags, cars and vintage cars—were up 17% last year even amid tariff talk, and new buyers are returning and spending 50% more across categories, supporting continued demand for luxury collectibles at auction.
Luxury collectibles HIGH
Bonnie Brennan CEO, Christie's 2:10
Collectible car demand backed by acquisition.
Christie's bought a car auction house, and its luxury auction sales included cars and vintage cars up 17%, signaling confidence in demand for collectible automobiles.
Vintage cars MED
Bonnie Brennan CEO, Christie's 3:10
New buyers cross over to art categories.
New buyers who enter through watches or jewelry are being exposed to prints and multiples, contemporary art, and 20th century design, and Christie's is seeing them transfer into those categories, supporting demand for these art segments.
Contemporary art Prints and multiples 20th century design MED
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This Bloomberg Markets video, published January 26, 2026, features Bonnie Brennan discussing Asia art and luxury market, Luxury collectibles, Vintage cars, Contemporary art, Prints and multiples, 20th century design. 4 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Bonnie Brennan  · Tickers: Asia art and luxury market, Luxury collectibles, Vintage cars, Contemporary art, Prints and multiples, 20th century design