Judging by the exhibitions, art fairs and biennials of the past year, the art world has turned its gaze toward the Caribbean. Long underrepresented and even overlooked in institutional narratives, the region is gaining attention, with multiple shows and sections dedicated to its artists, while the colonial histories and maritime routes connecting its islands to the rest of the world are increasingly entering curatorial discourse. The Caribbean section was probably the best part of this year's Armory Show, and one of the few things people will remember about it. A large number of the artists in the 2026 Venice Biennale were from the Caribbean or connected to the region, and its curatorial framework was grounded in the writings of Caribbean philosophers Édouard Glissant and Patrick Chamoiseau, both from Martinique. The Bahamas' first National pavilion in over a decade was among the 10 most reviewed national pavilions.
