Imagine stepping beneath a grand marquee in London’s Berkeley Square, where chandeliers glimmer above rows of gilded frames and rare porcelain. Or wandering through the vast halls of Parma, where the scent of espresso mingles with the gleam of Italian design. In Maastricht, a single booth may hold an Old Master beside a cutting-edge contemporary work, while in Paris, antiques stand shoulder to shoulder with tomorrow’s design icons.
Across Europe, antiques fairs are more than markets — they are immersive worlds where history, artistry, and commerce collide in unforgettable ways. In historic squares, gilded exhibition halls, and even sprawling fields, these gatherings mix heritage, scholarship, and commerce in settings that feel as theatrical as they are transactional.
For US dealers and designers, they’re also essential gateways into international audiences, setting the pace for what designers, collectors, and clients will covet next season.
LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair – London, UK
When: September | Autumn 2025: October 28-November 2 | Location: Berkeley Square, Mayfair
Few fairs capture London’s elegance like LAPADA’s annual takeover of Berkeley Square. Beneath its luminous pavilion, more than 100 dealers present museum-quality objects in an atmosphere that feels part salon, part showcase. Period furniture, fine art, and objets d’art create an atmosphere that draws collectors and designers from around the world.
As Homes & Antiques observed, the fair “brings together over 100 dealers … an interactive museum where you can see and touch the finest craftsmanship.” Interior designer Louise Bradley frames the experience through a creative lens: “Attending an antiques fair such as LAPADA is akin to visiting a meticulously curated museum.”
Insider Tip: Preview day is a must — prime pieces are snapped up early by London’s design elite.
For full details, visit: lapadalondon.com.
The Decorative Fair – Battersea Park, London, UK
When: January, May, October | Autumn 2025: September 30-October 5 | Location: Battersea Park
If LAPADA is a jewel box, The Decorative Fair is a kaleidoscope. Held three times a year, it is where designers come to be inspired, and where the spectacle rivals the objects themselves. Imagine Swedish Gustavian chairs beside industrial French lighting, or mid-century Italian glass shimmering next to rustic country tables.
As interior designer Rita Konig shares: “I’m regularly up and down Lillie Road and always go to The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in Battersea.”
Designer’s Edge: More than any other UK fair, Battersea captures the eclectic spirit of contemporary design, where a piece may leap from a stall into a high-profile project.
For full details, visit: decorativefair.com.
Mercanteinfiera – Parma, Italy
When: March and October | Autumn 2025: October 11-19 | Location: Parma Fiere Exhibition Centre
Mercanteinfiera is defined by its sheer scale. Twice a year, Parma’s exhibition halls transform into a labyrinth of more than 1,000 dealers. Walking Mercanteinfiera is like stepping through centuries of Italian design — Renaissance tables, radical mid-century lighting, Art Deco jewelry, and experimental contemporary art.
The fair is as much pilgrimage as marketplace, drawing curators, gallerists, and private buyers. What sets it apart is the distinctly Italian flair: stands styled like studios, conversations spilling into espresso bars, and discoveries that range from museum-worthy masterpieces to playful design curiosities.
Pro Tip: Bring comfortable shoes and plenty of time — Mercanteinfiera is as much an education as it is a marketplace.
For full details, visit: mercanteinfiera.it.
TEFAF Maastricht – Netherlands
When: March | Winter 2026: March 14-19 | Location: Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre
TEFAF Maastricht is the benchmark — the fair against which all others are measured. In its 38th edition in March 2025, the fair brought together more than 260 leading dealers from 20+ countries, showcasing 7,000 years of art history under one roof. Stands here feel more like private museums, where antiquities converse with contemporary works and Old Masters share space with modern design.
The fair opens with two VIP preview days (March 13-14), reserved for collectors, curators, and insiders, before the public visits begin. Alongside the main galleries, TEFAF’s 2025 program included the Showcase section (for galleries less than ten years old), a loan exhibition from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, and programming such as TEFAF Talks, Meet the Experts, and the Art Business Conference. Visitors encountered dramatic floral installations overhead, rare rediscoveries (including a long-lost Titian), and curated pairings bridging centuries and artistic genres.
As gallery owner Robert Bowman remarked: “If there’s one fair I’m going to go to, it’s TEFAF.”
Insider Knowledge: Many works go straight from TEFAF into museum collections, making this fair as culturally influential as it is commercially powerful.
For full details, visit: tefaf.com.
BRAFA Art Fair – Brussels, Belgium
When: January | Winter 2026: January 25-February 1 | Location: Brussels Expo
Steeped in history yet attuned to the present, BRAFA has been a fixture since 1956. Its defining feature is diversity: tribal art beside modernist paintings, rare antiquities alongside contemporary ceramics. This breadth makes BRAFA especially appealing to collectors with eclectic tastes.
Special programming underscores BRAFA’s depth. The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) has its own space to share its work in conservation, restoration, and scientific analysis, with interactive workshops offered daily. The Guest of Honour, Joana Vasconcelos, brings monumental sculptures and installations that contrast beautifully with antique forms. Guided Art Tours and daily Brafa Art Talks round out the experience.
BRAFA chairman Klaas Muller explains: “Young collectors today have more eclectic tastes — they might buy contemporary or modern art and pair it with an African sculpture or an Old Master painting.”
Collector’s Edge: BRAFA is where discovery lives — where ancient artifacts and modern statements meet, where new voices are welcomed, and where you’re as likely to come away inspired by a rare tapestry or a giant textile sculpture as you are by a classic painting.
For full details, visit: brafa.art.
Maison&Objet – Paris, France
When: January and September | Winter 2026: January 15-19 | Location: Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte
At Maison & Objet, antiques are reimagined — placed alongside cutting-edge design to show how past and present can live together. The event functions as a crystal ball for emerging trends, showing how vintage and antique pieces work within forward-looking design schemes.
Strategic Value: For dealers, Maison & Objet offers insight into what designers will be asking for next, a valuable cue for stocking inventory and shaping presentations.
For full details, visit: maison-objet.com.
Image courtesy of LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair
The Enduring Power of Europe’s Fairs
European fairs remain essential for dealers seeking discerning buyers, inspiration, and connection. These gatherings present more than selling opportunities: they are places to spot emerging trends, discover unexpected treasures, and strengthen ties with the collectors, curators, and designers shaping the future of the trade.
In the bustle of an opening day, conversations at the stands can be as valuable as the sales themselves. Dealers compare notes on what’s moving in different regions, gauge pricing shifts, and build relationships that often lead to collaborations far beyond the fair. For many, these events provide a rare chance to step back from day-to-day business and see the market as a whole — to understand what clients will want months, even years, from now.
Participating in these fairs requires preparation: well-organized inventory, professional presentation materials, and a clear digital presence so international buyers can follow up after the event. That’s where Ronati comes in. By helping dealers digitize inventory, create branded tear sheets, and market across channels, Ronati ensures that when opportunity strikes in London, Parma, Maastricht, or Paris, dealers are ready to meet it — and shine on the world’s most important stages.
Want to explore other fairs in the US, UK, and EU? Download the Autumn | Winter 2025 Guide to Trade Fairs + Shows for Sellers of Art, Vintage and Antiques free of charge.
