Nairobi is preparing to host one of the region’s major contemporary art events as the 14th annual Art Auction East Africa brings together 67 works by artists from across the continent.

The auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026, at Circle Art Gallery in Nairobi, with the collection featuring an equal split between modern and contemporary artworks.

Artists from nine countries are represented, including Kenyan artists Samuel Wanjau and Meek Gichugu, alongside leading artists from Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Nigeria.

The exhibition preview will begin ahead of the auction, giving collectors and art enthusiasts an opportunity to view the works before bidding begins. A preview event is scheduled for October 14.

The auction also highlights the growing importance of Nairobi as a regional centre for African art, collecting and creative investment.

With works spanning established and contemporary African artists, the event could attract collectors while giving greater international visibility to East Africa’s expanding art market.