MAIN ART – International Art Fair Aschaffenburg

An International Art Fair for Lower Franconia

MAIN ART is the central platform for contemporary art in the Lower Main region — the economic and cultural landscape between Aschaffenburg, Hanau, and the Hessian Frankfurt hinterland. Since its first edition in 2019, the fair has established itself as an annual meeting point for art enthusiasts, collectors, and artists from Bavaria, Hesse, and beyond. In 2026, it will take place for the 7th time.

Three Curators, One Clear Program

The curatorial team — Brigitte Seiler-Rothfuss, Rita Stern, and Bianca Hambusch — sees MAIN ART as a place of encounter between artist and visitor: "Art has a special power in turbulent times," they state, defining their ethos. Bianca Hambusch adds: "A fair where thinking and feeling are inseparably linked." With this, the fair consciously positions itself alongside large, commercially oriented art fairs — as a curated space for dialogue.

53 Artists from 11 Nations

The 2026 edition brings together 53 artists from eleven nations: three galleries, two artist associations, and six newcomer positions. The disciplines are deliberately broad: painting, drawing, graphics, sculpture, photography, collage, mixed media, and digital works. Thus, the fair covers the entire spectrum of contemporary art — from classical easel painting to experimental media art.

Retrospective Ursula Ullrich-Jacobi

A central program point in 2026 is an extensive retrospective of the sculptor Ursula Ullrich-Jacobi (1926–2020), whose work impresses with "clarity and focus on the essential." The exhibition honors a significant artist from the Lower Main region, whose sculptures are represented in collections and public spaces.

Aschaffenburg — "Bavarian Nice"

The venue is the Grünewaldhalle in Aschaffenburg city center, directly on Schlossplatz and just a few steps from Johannisburg Castle and the city's museums. Aschaffenburg, the "Bavarian Nice," is a location rich in art and cultural history on the Main River: Johannisburg Castle, the Pompejanum, the Main riverbank, and the nearby Spessart forests form an unusual backdrop for an international art fair.

Audience Award and Dialogue

An annual Audience Award (Visitor's Choice Award) of €1,000 is presented on Sunday afternoon at 4 PM — a deliberate inclusion of visitors in the evaluation process. Free guided tours during the fair deepen the dialogue with the artists on site.