This year’s November art fair calendar is relatively unbusy—relative because the downtime art world insiders used to enjoy has been largely eaten up by a global market that never sleeps. That said, November’s lineup of fairs is widely distributed, which means it’s likely that only the most hardcore collectors and art enthusiasts will try to visit more than a couple. Think of this month not as a break but as a welcome lull between New York’s Armory Week in September and Art Basel Miami Beach in December (along with its many, many, many Miami Basel satellite fairs).

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Whether you’re staying close to home to prepare for next month’s art fair extravaganza or hitting the road on an international odyssey of art, Observer’s global guide to the art fairs in November can help you put together the perfect itinerary.

October 30 – November 2

In 2016, Observer correspondent Ryan Steadman posed a question in this attention-grabbing headline: Is the ADAA Secretly New York City’s Best Art Fair? His answer was that the Art Dealers Association of America’s annual fair, known simply as The Art Show, “clearly puts superior art ahead of style and glitz” even if it “is usually seen as a quiet, ‘insider’ affair.” Since 1989, the ADAA has mounted the fair at the historic Park Avenue Armory after reviewing booth proposals submitted by the organization’s 180-something member galleries. Pace Prints is bringing works by Chase Hall, Petzel is featuring Isabella Ducrot and Roberts Projects will showcase works by Suchitra Mattai. The 2024 edition introduces a new initiative titled “Spotlight On…” that will shine a light on the art scene in a city with a critical mass of ADAA members. This year, it’s Houston, and there will be a panel discussion led by prominent local art collectors and leaders of the city’s cultural institutions. As per usual, ADAA The Art Show is a philanthropic affair, and all admissions proceeds will go to Henry Street Settlement.

October 30 – November 3

Premium design and art fair DEFINE SEOUL is returning to S-Factory in Seongsu-dong. With Teo Yang at the helm as artistic director and host Art Busan Co. (the organizer of the premium Korean art fair, Art Busan), DEFINE SEOUL is mounting an ambitious event with a complex theme: “Understanding Simplicity – Attitude towards life in a Rational Era.” This year, Yang said in a statement that the fair, which aims to promote the artistic vitality of Korea, will “focus on the value of simplicity, symbolizing purpose and clear philosophy. We aim to create a space where we can understand the essence conveyed by objects created by artists and designers who work based on this value and contemplate a lifestyle that pursues simplicity.” Forty exhibitors will mount displays, and DEFINE SEOUL will host several public programs during the fair week, including Define Talk, which invites prominent people from the worlds of art and design to share insights.

October 31 – November 3

Founded in 2016, ART X Lagos in Nigeria is the leading international art fair in West Africa. Now approaching its ninth edition, the fair’s theme for 2024 is “Promised Lands.” While that might feel incongruous given the tensions in the country (between the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups rages on and between Christians and Muslims), ART X Lagos is focusing on places, real or imagined, that offer hope. “‘It’s a theme that resonates deeply with our collective journey—reflecting on where we are and envisioning where we aspire to be,” said Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, Founder of ART X Lagos, in a statement. “It was crucial for us to create a platform that not only anchors the African art movement but also drives........

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