Gen Z is spending more on art than any other generation A new Arts Economics report on global collecting reveals the trend

Gen Z is the generation that spends the most in the art market, according to the Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2026, a new study conducted by Arts Economics and based on the collecting habits of 3,100 high-net-worth collectors across ten international markets. According to the report, the youngest segment of high-net-worth collectors is having a particularly significant impact on the rules of art collecting. This while the rest of their peers are portrayed as a generation grappling with economic hardship, digital culture, and trends destined to burn out quickly.

In 2025, Gen Z's average spending on artworks reached $347,460, representing a 19% increase over the previous year. That figure is more than double that recorded by any other generation surveyed, and the trend continued into the first half of 2026. The figure becomes even more significant when one considers that, within the same sample, overall average spending on fine art rose to $124,265 in 2025, a 13% year-on-year increase.

Unlike the image associated with ostentatious luxury and social media sharing, interest in art does not hinge on public visibility: Gen Z proves to be the most private generation when it comes to their collections, with 39% of this age group limiting physical access to their works to close family and friends, while 36% keep their online content related to their collection private. A further 42% prefer to share information in closed or invite-only groups.

The report also reveals interesting insights into young collectors' approach to purchasing. Eighty percent of Gen Z buyers conduct thorough research before buying, compared to 72% of the overall sample, and they use both social media and artificial intelligence to discover new artists and works. For 40% of Gen Z collectors, family influence has been a decisive factor, with nearly 90% keeping inherited works.

Gen Z invests across more categories than other collectors: from fine art to jewellery, design, and other collectibles, while maintaining a significant interest in painting and sculpture as well. This confirms that, even as digital arts become an increasingly prominent presence in the market, physical and historical works continue to represent the most significant assets even for Gen Z — today the leading force in the art world.