TEFAF and MECC Maastricht Commit to Another Decade Together

© Gerlach Delissen Photography

TEFAF Maastricht will remain at MECC Maastricht through 2036, extending a relationship that has linked the international art fair with the Dutch city since 1988.

MECC Maastricht has reached an agreement with TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation), with the Province of Limburg and the Municipality of Maastricht also involved, laying the foundations for a new agreement covering the period from 2027 through 2036. The current agreement remains in force through the 2027 edition, but the parties have chosen to establish the fair’s longer-term future ahead of its 40th anniversary.

For Maastricht, the decision secures one of the city’s most internationally recognised events for another decade. For TEFAF, it provides continuity for an event that has developed from its Maastricht roots into one of the leading international fairs for art, antiques and design.

“With our fortieth anniversary on the horizon, we are proud that Maastricht will remain our home base for the next ten years as well. We are grateful to MECC Maastricht, the Province of Limburg and the Municipality of Maastricht for their long-term vision, especially in an international arena where accessibility, infrastructure, hospitality and image are becoming ever more decisive,” said Maarten ten Holder, Managing Director of TEFAF.

“This partnership gives TEFAF the space to keep developing, firmly rooted in Maastricht. At the same time, our significance extends beyond the city and the region: TEFAF is an international flagship for the Netherlands in the global art world.”

The decision follows discussions initiated by MECC Maastricht about the fair’s future. With international cities showing interest in hosting TEFAF, Maastricht’s continued position as its home could not be taken for granted.

“TEFAF has been part of MECC Maastricht’s DNA for nearly forty years. Based on our convictions that the fair is of great value to Maastricht and the region, we took the initiative at an early stage to enter into discussions with TEFAF about the future,” said Rob van de Wiel, Managing Director of MECC Maastricht.

“Given the keen interest shown by international cities to host TEFAF, it was not a foregone conclusion that the fair would remain in Maastricht. This is why we are proud that, thanks to the collective efforts of all those involved, we have laid the foundation for another ten years of TEFAF in Maastricht.”

The scale of TEFAF’s international reach helps explain the significance of the agreement. Its 2026 edition, held over eight days, attracted more than 50,000 visitors from 75 countries, while 277 international gallery owners presented their collections at MECC Maastricht. The audience includes collectors, museums, curators, art professionals and art lovers, reinforcing the fair’s role as an international meeting point for the art market and cultural institutions.

The economic dimension is equally significant. Research by Deloitte found that TEFAF generated an economic impact of €86.4 million for the Netherlands in 2025, including €37.9 million in Maastricht alone. The benefits extend across hotels, restaurants, shops and transport providers, as well as specialist suppliers involved in stand construction, transportation, technical services, catering and security.

The renewed commitment therefore extends beyond securing a venue for an established fair. It reinforces Maastricht’s role within an international cultural and business-events ecosystem in which accessibility, infrastructure, hospitality and international visibility are increasingly important considerations.

The next edition of TEFAF Maastricht will take place from 13–18 March 2027, marking the fair’s 40th anniversary and the beginning of the next chapter in its longstanding relationship with the city.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.