Beyond the Fair: A Frieze Week Studio Trail
16–17 October 2026
Hoxton · Cambridge Heath, London
Beyond the Fair is a new artist-led open studio trail founded by artist Alice Irwin and Nimi founder Anh, which launched across East London during Frieze Week 2026.
Spanning Hoxton and Cambridge Heath, the first edition invited audiences to step away from the pace of the fairs and into the working spaces of East London artists. Across two days, the trail offered an opportunity to encounter work where it was made, meet artists directly and discover the creative communities working across the area.
The programme launched on Friday 16 October with an intimate VIP breakfast and studio preview, bringing together participating artists, collectors, curators, gallerists, press and cultural leaders for a morning of conversations, introductions and new connections.
This was followed by the public open studio trail on Saturday 17 October, which welcomed over 50 visitors across the participating studios. Audiences were invited to explore the spaces, discover new work and engage directly with the artists behind it.
Bringing together artists and studios across East London, Beyond the Fair created a coordinated route through the city during one of the busiest weeks in the international art calendar, placing artists and their working environments at the centre of the experience.
At its heart, the initiative is about community: creating opportunities for artists to reach new audiences, strengthening connections within East London's creative ecosystem and bringing people together around the places where creativity happens.
The enthusiastic response to the inaugural edition highlighted the value of creating more direct and meaningful connections between artists and audiences.
Conceived as a collaborative, artist-led initiative, Beyond the Fair aims to become an annual part of London's Frieze Week programme, continuing to grow its network of artists, audiences and creative partners with each edition.
Beyond the Fair 2026
Friday 16 October
VIP Breakfast & Studio Preview
Saturday 17 October · 2–5pm
Public Open Studio Trail
Founded and organised by Alice Irwin and Nimi Collective.