Sotheby's Announces Record First Half 2026 Results

SOTHEBY’S ANNOUNCES RECORD FIRST HALF 2026 RESULTS
WITH CONSOLIDATED SALES OF $4.4 BILLION, UP 58% YEAR OVER YEAR

“It has been a record first half at Sotheby’s, continuing and accelerating the momentum from the second half of 2025. Our results reflect broad-based buyer demand across our categories and locations globally, landmark single- owner sales in both fine art and luxury, and significant growth in private sales. Beyond the auction and private sales rooms, Sotheby’s Financial Services has experienced strong demand, and the opening of our New York restaurant Marcel marks yet another milestone in our move to the Breuer. Our record performance over the past twelve months has further enhanced our profitability and capital position and our pipelines for the second half of 2026 are strong and healthy. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional services to our clients and deliver outstanding results in the second half of the year.”

Charles F. Stewart, Sotheby’s Chief Executive Officer

NEW YORK, 14 July 2026 -

SELECTED RESULTS:

Consolidated sales of $4.4 billion, a 58% increase vs. 1H 2025 and an all-time high Auction sales of $3.4 billion, a 59% increase vs. 1H 2025 Private sales of $826 million, a 52% increase vs. 1H 2025 and an all-time high 90% sell-through rate, the strongest for Sotheby’s since at least 2010 4.9 bidders per lot sold, a 6% increase from 1H 2025 and an all-time high Bidding from 119 countries across 170 auctions The Breuer effect: drawing crowds with more than 2x the visitors year over year to 945 Madison Avenue vs.

former York Avenue location. April marked the opening of Marcel restaurant which has received strong reviews and high demand. Completed an $825 million bond issuance in April to refinance existing debt, building on record performance and reinforcing the company’s strong financial position. Sotheby’s Financial Services (SFS) completed a new $900 million securitization issuance in January, with the transaction significantly oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor demand.

"What we have seen this year is a market defined by conviction. Collectors are responding decisively to quality, rarity, and provenance. The exceptional performance of major single-owner collections and the continued growth of private sales reflect a healthy market environment, with sophisticated collectors actively seeking opportunities and engaging across categories with confidence. Over the past year, Sotheby’s has also demonstrated that market- defining collections can achieve extraordinary results when presented with ambition and imagination. At the same time, our continued investment in museum-quality exhibitions and cultural programming at the Breuer continues to broaden engagement with art and collecting."

Madeline Lissner, Sotheby’s Head of Global Fine Art & Major Collections
GLOBAL FINE ARTS SALE HIGHLIGHTS:

Delivered $908.6 million in sales during the New York Marquee season, with a record sell-through rate of 92.5%, the highest combined sell-through rate for a marquee sales series at Sotheby’s New York. Works emerging from single-owner collections with storied provenance achieved a strong sell- through rate of 96%, including Robert Mnuchin: Collector at Heart, which achieved $173 million. London June Marquee sales brought $556.5 million, the highest total for any season of sales ever staged in Europe.

Led by Masterpieces from The Lewis Collection, which soared above high estimate to realize $406.2 million, the highest value single-owner sale ever staged in the UK, and the highest value sale of Impressionist & Modern and Contemporary art ever staged in Europe. The Collection of Jean & Terry de Gunzburg, Design Masters, the very first single-owner Design sale held at the Breuer, totaled $96 million in a white glove sale, establishing the most valuable design auction in US auction history. Modern and Contemporary art from the collection sold during the New York Sales in May brought the collection total to $157.6 million.

Claude Lalanne’s ensemble of fifteen mirrors achieved $33.5 million, a new auction record for the artist and the highest price ever achieved for a work of design at auction.

First Old Masters season at the Breuer realized $94.8 million, led by the $18 million auction record for a Rembrandt drawing during the most valuable Old Master Drawings auction staged in Sotheby’s history.

‘ White-glove’ result for Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art in New York: $22.1 million, the second highest total achieved for the category in Sotheby’s history. ‘ White-glove’ Modern & Contemporary Evening sale in Hong Kong, with combined total of $91.3 million for evening and day sales, and a new benchmark set for the most valuable work by a woman artist sold in Asia (Joan Mitchell’s La Grande Vallée VII at $17.6 million).

New $12.1m auction record set for Monet in France, during the $41 million Modern and Contemporary sale, up more than 84% on the same sale held in 1H 2025, and the company’s second highest total in France for an auction in the category.

Origins II, Sotheby’s second auction in Saudi Arabia, delivered $19.6 million, including a landmark auction record for a Saudi artist ($2.1 million for Safeya Binzagr’s Coffee Shop in Madina Road).

"The market momentum we saw building in the second half of last year has only continued to rise, driving a record first half for the Luxury Division. Importantly, we're seeing that strength across a remarkable breadth of categories and geographies, from a record performance in cars to watches up 64%, including the highest total ever for a watch sale at Sotheby's this April in Hong Kong. We're heading into the second half with real confidence, kicking off with Sports Week and Geek Week in New York, anchored by Gus the T. Rex, and a stellar lineup for Monterey Car Week."

Josh Pullan, Global Head of Sotheby's Luxury Division
LUXURY SALE HIGHLIGHTS:

RM Sotheby's delivered record first-half sales, up 61% year over year versus 1H 2025. Performance was fueled by several landmark auctions, highlighted by the sale of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider for €16.7 million at the €87 million Monaco sale, which became the highest-grossing collector car auction ever held in Europe.

Achieved an 18% increase in sales for Concierge Auctions, buoyed by the sale of 340 Biscayne Boulevard for $95.9 million. Global sales of Watches up 64% vs. 1H 2025, with a 90% sell-through rate.

Hong Kong Important Watches delivered $52.9 million, highest total ever realized for a Watch sale at Sotheby’s & most valuable Watch auction ever held in Asia (across all auction houses).

The Shapes of Cartier, the largest and most comprehensive collection of vintage Cartier watches in auction history was 100% sold, combining a total of $17.2 million with more sales to come this year.

Global sales of Jewelry up 13% v. 1H 2025, with a 90% sell-through rate.

An extraordinary cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant Fancy Intense Blue diamond weighing 10.02 carats achieved an impressive $8.7 million. Result represents the top jewel sold across all auction houses in New York this year. Hong Kong High Jewelry sale saw highest sell through rate for a sale in the category held by Sotheby’s in the region (89%), led by an Impressive Coloured Stone and Diamond Cartier 'Tutti Frutti' Pendant Necklace which achieved $2.8 million. Strong results for Global sales of Wine & Spirits, with a combined 94% sell-through rate.

‘ White-glove’ result for Immortal Vintages | 200 Years of Bordeaux in New York, totaling $2.1 million (more than double pre-sale estimate) and with ten world records set.

Debuted inaugural Wine & Spirits Festival in Hong Kong in March, a new global initiative for the category, bringing together tasting masterclasses, exclusive collector dinners, and a series of high- profile, curated auctions, with plans to continue this September in New York.

The Hospices Civils de Beaune and Sotheby’s continue their collaboration for the next five years, with the renewal of Sotheby’s appointment as the host of the annual Domaine des Hospices de Beaune wine auction. The 166th edition will take place on 15 November 2026. Record for most valuable American whiskey collection, The Great American Whiskey Collection delivered $2.5 million, including record for most valuable bottle of American whiskey ever sold at auction (Old Rip Van Winkle 20 Year Old Single Barrel "Sam's" (1982), sold for $162,500). New record for Tequila: Bottle of Clase Azul Tequila Dia de Muertos sold for $35,000.

Sotheby’s and The Distillers’ Charity extend partnership for the biennial Distillers One of One Auction through to 2033; the fourth edition will take place in Scotland in October 2027.

LOOKING AHEAD:

As part of Sotheby's New York Summer season, 250 Years of American Art & Culture is currently on view through August 16. Starting July 22, Sotheby’s will also present Botero In New York, a selling exhibition dedicated to the artist Fernando Botero, created in partnership with The Fernando Botero Foundation. The exhibition will bring together paintings and sculptures directly from the Botero family and other private collections, many of which will be on public view in New York for the very first time.

In London this July and August, Sotheby’s will present The South Asia Edit, a series of exhibitions celebrating six distinct voices in the history of South Asian modern and contemporary art.

RM Sotheby's The Monterey Auction this August is the largest ever for the company, with a low estimate of $314 million and 75 cars with a low estimate of over $1 million.

Beginning in October, Sotheby's will present Magnum Opus: A Private Collection of Exceptional Art and Objects Through the Ages, one of the most consequential assemblages of art and objects from the ancient to modern era to appear on the market. Over 900 works across more than 25 categories will be offered across a historic series of single-owner sales. Also in October, Sotheby’s Paris will stage Château Haut-Brion, Domaine Clarence Dillon: Celebrating Our 10th Decade of Family Stewardship, a momentous auction of wines sourced exclusively and directly from the legendary cellars of Château Haut-Brion. The first auction dedicated entirely to the estate’s wines.

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