10. Collectors’ Outlook

Sentiment about the fine art market’s future performance remained broadly positive: 57% expected growth over the rest of 2026, 58% over 12 months, and 60% over 10 years. Declines were anticipated by 15% or fewer collectors in any period. Gen Z were the most optimistic generation across every horizon, especially over the long term. Confidence in collectibles markets was also positive, with over half expecting growth for the remainder of the year, although optimism was slightly below fine art in most categories. Gen Z collectors’ long-term optimism was concentrated in fine art, while their expectations for other collectibles markets cooled over the longer-term outlook.

The top concern for HNW collectors in 2026 was art market transparency – covering opaque pricing, undisclosed fees, and conflicts of interest – which ranked highest in five of the 10 markets. The security of personal, financial, and collection data online ranked second overall, and was the top concern for Gen Z. Short-term fluctuations in demand – driven by market trends and the buying behavior of other collectors – ranked third overall and first among US collectors.