Overview
- Mid‑July reporting shows H1 2026 sales at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips rose about 70% year‑on‑year to $6.8bn, driven by major estate and evening sales.
- Phillips reported $507m in H1 sales, a roughly 60% increase from spring 2025, with watches accounting for $235m of that total.
- Phillips sold nearly 70% of lots online, drew many new buyers and younger collectors through Dropshop and priority bidding, and recorded a roughly 90% sell‑through rate by lot.
- ArtTactic and house data show broader market improvement with a c.91% industry sell‑through rate, a record 33,474 online lots sold, and stronger day‑sale performance in the $50k–$500k band.
- The rebound remains uneven: Christie’s and Sotheby’s gains are concentrated in blue‑chip single‑owner masterworks while Phillips’s recovery leans on luxury collectibles, signalling a diversification of demand that could reshape mid‑market activity.