ERCO becomes official Lighting Partner of Art Basel

ERCO is now the official lighting partner of Art Basel. Starting with Art Basel in Basel in June 2026, the German lighting specialist ERCO will provide the lighting infrastructure for one of the world’s leading art fairs. ERCO developed a lighting solution specifically tailored to the requirements of a global fair format together with Expomobilia, Art Basel’s production partner within MCH Group. In the future, this infrastructure will be used not only in Basel but also at other international Art Basel shows.

“For a project of this scale, we were looking for a partner capable of combining the highest standards of lighting quality with the operational requirements of a global traveling event,” explains Jessica Gauvin, managing director of Expomobilia. “ERCO convinced us not only technologically, but also supported the process collaboratively from the beginning.” 

At art fairs, lighting plays a decisive role in how artworks are perceived. It directs attention, supports spatial orientation, and influences the appearance of colors, materials, and surfaces. Particularly in the context of commercial galleries, the demands are exceptionally high: exhibitions change frequently, presentations need to remain flexible, while consistently ensuring the highest quality of light. ERCO contributes decades of experience in lighting galleries, museums, and cultural institutions worldwide. At the core is a lighting approach that combines precise optics, flexible light distributions, and high efficiency.

The requirements of Art Basel extend far beyond conventional exhibition lighting. The infrastructure must operate reliably at different venues worldwide, allow for rapid installation, and withstand the logistical demands of an international fair operation. Together with Expomobilia, ERCO therefore developed a modular lighting system featuring spotlights with interchangeable optics and durable LED technology. In addition, a dedicated transport and logistics concept with specially developed flight cases was created for repeated worldwide use. “Art Basel is not a static venue, but a global platform,” says Jessica Gauvin. “The solution therefore had to be equally flexible, robust, and efficient.”

Sustainability considerations also played a key role in the development of the new lighting infrastructure. The luminaires are designed for long-term use over a period of more than 20 years and across multiple international editions of the fair. ERCO follows an approach that focuses not only on energy efficiency, but also on high lighting effectiveness with minimal spill light. Precise light distribution directs the light specifically onto the artworks, enabling the applied light output to be used efficiently. “Reducing our ecological footprint is an important objective within our sustainability strategy,” explains Lea Matern, Sustainability Manager at MCH Group.

The partnership with Art Basel further underlines ERCO’s expertise in the field of commercial gallery lighting. Unlike traditional museum settings, lighting solutions in this sector must respond to changing exhibitions, variable hanging arrangements, and short conversion cycles. ERCO’s current “Guide to Lighting Design for Art Galleries” demonstrates how lighting can be strategically used to support curatorial quality, flexibility, and efficient operation. Following Art Basel in Basel 2026, ERCO will document the project in a detailed case study, offering further insights into technical implementation, logistics, and global fair operations.

Image © ERCO GmbH, www.erco.com; photography: Gavriil Papadiotis.