With the art world continuing to expand its global reach and scope, new destinations are emerging as thriving hubs of artistic activity. As we spotlighted last year, a growing crop of cities worldwide are becoming homes to new scenes of galleries, collectors, and exciting initiatives.

This year, we spotlight five more emerging art world capitals for collectors and art lovers alike to keep their eyes on in 2025—from global metropolises bolstering their art world clout to newly buzzing art.

Milan, Italy

Long established as a design stronghold in Europe, Milan is carving an increasingly strong niche in the contemporary art world. Located just two and a half hours from Venice by train, this Italian city annually hosts a prominent array of international art and design events, including the contemporary art fair Miart and the renowned Salone del Mobile, which has celebrated design for over six decades.

Milan has all the makings of an influential art capital. The city is home to prestigious galleries, including stalwarts Cardi Gallery and MASSIMODECARLO, as well as international newcomers like the London-founded Cadogan Gallery and Robilant+Voena as well as Lehmann Maupin, which debuted a “seasonal” gallery in the city last year. Most recently, European powerhouse Thaddaeus Ropac announced that it will open a space—its first in Italy—this fall.

Collectors and galleries are also being increasingly drawn to Milan thanks to Italy’s favorable tax system, which offers a flat annual tax of €200,000 ($207,800) on foreign income for wealthy individuals relocating to Italy. Gallerist Ben Brown, who is set to open a branch in the city, credited Milan’s status as a “fiscal paradise” in a recent interview with Artsy.

Milan’s buzz in the commercial sector is also undergirded by a formidable institutional network, from the grand Fondazione Prada to expansive spaces like Pirelli HangarBicocca. In the heart of the city, Palazzo Citterio—a museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art housed within an 18th-century building close to the Pinacoteca di Brera—finally opened its doors in December 2024 after 50 years of planning.

As more collectors and gallerists make Milan a key destination, Soho House is also poised to capitalize on this surge of interest. The members-only creative sanctuary recently announced plans to revitalize a six-story 1930s building, formerly the home of Cinema Art.