Istanbul / Munich – Contemporary Istanbul, Türkiye’s most important international art fair, will hold its 20th edition from 24 to 28 September 2025 at Tersane Istanbul.

This edition reflects two decades of growth that have made the fair a key meeting point for collectors, artists and art institutions from the region and beyond. This year’s programme includes a selection of international galleries and prominent institutional collaborations. As part of the BMW Art Car World Tour, the first BMW Art Car, designed by Alexander Calder, and the newest in the collection — Art Car No. 20 by Julie Mehretu — will be on display.

The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of the iconic BMW Art Car collection, which will be shown on five continents and links Istanbul to the world’s art capitals. The two Art Cars will be shown together for the first time in Türkiye in the “BMW Lounge” in a special section of the fair. In a special BMW Art Talk as part of CIF Dialogues, Thomas Girst, head of cultural engagement at the BMW Group, will speak about the history and stories behind these 20 rolling sculptures.

Background and artists

  • Alexander Calder (1898–1976): created the first BMW Art Car in 1975 by redesigning a BMW 3.0 CSL in red, yellow, blue and white, which raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The American sculptor, a leading figure of classical modernism, is best known for his “mobiles” (kinetic sculptures) and “stabiles” (static metal sculptures).
  • Julie Mehretu: the New York-based abstract painter of Ethiopian origin designed the latest Art Car (No. 20) in 2024 based on the BMW M Hybrid V8. It was unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris before racing at Le Mans. Mehretu turned a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional expression of dynamism, space and energy, drawing on the colours and forms of her monumental work “Everywhen” (2021–2023) and layering digital photographs, dot grids, neon veils and her signature black marks into a new structure.

The tour’s global route

The BMW Art Car World Tour stops at events such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Le Mans Classic in France, the Zoute Grand Prix in Belgium, the Shanghai Auto Show and Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy. The tour puts the 20 BMW Art Cars on public display and reflects the company’s deep commitment to cultural engagement worldwide.

Highlights of Contemporary Istanbul 2025

  • Institutional collaborations: special partnerships with international museums and foundations such as the UBS Digital Art Museum (Hamburg) and the Fondazione Sigg (Lucca Castle).
  • Focus America: this year’s special section focuses on the contemporary art scene of the US, particularly New York, exploring America’s role in shaping global cultural narratives, with leading US museum directors taking part in talks, exhibitions and networking events.
  • Annual “CIF Dialogues” conference: titled “Dispersed Coordinates: Istanbul and the Shifting Map of Art”, it addresses global cultural shifts and Istanbul’s growing place in the art world. Confirmed speakers include Jennifer Stockman (President Emerita of the Guggenheim) and Anne Pasternak (Director of the Brooklyn Museum).