For eight years, the Weserhalle Art Auction has been a core part of our programme; a place where new collectors discover emerging artists, and where many first exhibited their work in Berlin. It has grown far beyond what we ever expected. And now, it’s time for its next chapter.

Today, we’re announcing that from 2026 onwards, all future art auctions will move to a new platform called Openhalle.

This isn’t an ending. It’s an evolution; one that allows us to better support artists, respond to the realities of Berlin’s art ecosystem, and build a sustainable future for both our gallery and our auction programme.

Why this change is needed

Berlin is a city of extraordinary artistic production. Every year, thousands of new works are created, yet opportunities to exhibit them, especially for first-time or early-career artists, remain limited. The demand for exhibition space dramatically outweighs what the traditional gallery system can offer.

Our open-call auction was created to address this imbalance. But the more it grew, the clearer it became that:

• The programme needed more space to innovate.
• The format needed room to expand beyond an annual event.
• Weserhalle itself needed to refocus on its core mission: presenting the primary work of artists we represent or collaborate with closely.

After eight years, the auction has simply outgrown the gallery.

Why Openhalle?

Openhalle will become a dedicated home for experimental, frequent, and diverse auction programming. By separating the platform from the gallery, we can:

• Increase output: Rather than one large auction per year, we can run six to ten smaller, more agile auctions annually. This means more opportunities and better visibility for individual artists.
• Create space for experimentation: Openhalle will be able to test new formats, from hybrid live events to alternative sales mechanisms, without the constraints of a traditional exhibition calendar.
• Strengthen the open-call model: We can streamline selection processes, improve transparency, and create clearer entry points for artists seeking exposure.
• Sharpen Weserhalle’s focus: Weserhalle will continue presenting exhibitions, representing artists, and developing projects without the structural weight of hosting a large auction once a year.

The goal is simple: a healthier, more dynamic ecosystem for artists and audiences alike.

What stays the same

Some things won’t change:

• Primary Market Focus: We remain committed to the primary market, working directly with artists to sell new work, ensuring the proceeds support their active practice.
• The Mission: Openhalle will continue to champion emerging artists.
• The Community: The people who built these auctions stay at the heart of the project.
• Quality: The work will continue to be curated and reviewed thoughtfully.

What changes is the capacity: more room to grow, more opportunities, and a platform built specifically for the scale the auction has reached.

What happens next

Openhalle launches in 2026 The first Openhalle programming will be announced in early 2026. Submissions will be announced even sooner, with detailed guidelines, timelines, and criteria published well in advance at instagram.com/openhalle.

If you would like to stay informed about Openhalle’s launch, upcoming calls, and the developer diary for the new platform, you can sign up via our mailing list.

Looking forward

This transition allows Weserhalle to deepen its curatorial work while enabling the open-call auction to grow into a platform truly built for its scale and ambition.

Thank you to every artist, collector, curator, and supporter who has been part of this journey so far. We hope you’ll join us for the final auction, and for the beginning of Openhalle’s future.