Journal

TEFAF Maastricht 2026 insights: Enthusiasm from collectors makes for a positive start to the year

Published 23/03/2026

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From 12-19 March, David Aaron returned to the enchanting Dutch medieval city of Maastricht for the 2026 edition of the acclaimed TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair), considered the world’s premier fair for fine art, antiques, and design.  
David Aaron joined a cohort of more than 260 leading international dealers at the fair and welcomed esteemed museums and collectors from around the world to the booth.  

 

Stele of Medeia highlight sale


The opening days of the fair brought a flurry of enthusiasm and activity to the David Aaron stand, most notably the sale of the gallery’s highlight exhibition piece, the Stele of Medeia, to a major US museum. A remarkable example of a rare Greek stele from the historic Attic region, dated circa 375-350 B.C., the piece is one of very few surviving examples dedicated to a Parthenos, a young Athenian woman of marriageable age who has not yet wed. The rare stele attracted media attention in premium art news outlets including The Art NewspaperObserverApollo magazine and Antiques Trade Gazette.  
 
Stele of Medeia on display in David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: Yosuke KojimaStele of Medeia on display in David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: Yosuke Kojima

Of the sale fair, Salomon Aaron, Director, David Aaron, said: “We had a strong TEFAF this year with the early sale of the Stele of Medeia to a major American museum. We were pleased to see one of the standout pieces from our TEFAF presentation attract early enthusiasm at the fair. The stele represents an interesting story of a young Parthenos women in Greek society and the rarity of this subject matter, accompanied by impeccable provenance, makes it a desirable museum quality piece.” 
 
David Aaron’s stand featured works spanning Classical Greek and Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern cultures, dating as far back as over 4,500 years. Highlights included a 1st-2nd century A.D., Roman Torso of a Youth, and an Egyptian Relief with a Harpist dated circa 1550-1069 B.C., 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom. 
 
Torso of a Youth on display in David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David Owens
Torso of a Youth on display in David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David Owens
 

Insights from the fair 

 
Overall, feelings of positivity from exhibitors and attendees was evident throughout the course of the fair. Enthusiasm from the first preview morning onwards indicated the community embracing the beautiful works of art exhibited at the fair as an escape from everyday life.  
  
Further, we saw a greater appetite from collectors for larger scale works of art than we have witnessed at international art fairs over the past few years, indicating an increased confidence from the market to acquire significant pieces.  
 
David Aaron thanks TEFAF and the fair team for their wonderful work in once again presenting an impressive, industry leading event, and look forward to joining TEFAF again at the New York edition of the fair this coming May.  
 
David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David OwensDavid Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David Owens
Cycladic Idols on display at David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David OwensCycladic Idols on display at David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David Owens
Limestone Baboon on display at David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David OwensLimestone Baboon on display at David Aaron's TEFAF Maastricht 2026 presentation. Image: David Owens