Sotheby’s Posts $4.4 Billion in First-Half Sales, a New Record
Sotheby’s reported a record $4.4 billion in first-half 2026 sales (January–June), up 58% from the same period in 2025, according to Artnet News on July 14, 2026. Auction sales rose 59% to $3.4 billion, while private sales increased 52% to $826 million, an all-time high for the company. Sotheby’s said its marquee New York sales totaled $908.6 million with a 92.5% sell-through rate, and the estate collection of late dealer Robert Mnuchin brought $173 million in May 2026. In London, June sales reached $556.5 million—Sotheby’s highest-ever seasonal total in Europe—driven largely by the $392.6 million Lewis Collection sale; CEO Charles F. Stewart also credited the firm’s move to the Breuer building on Madison Avenue (opened November 2025) with more than doubling foot traffic versus the prior year.
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This story was covered in Auction Fever, Museum Fallout, and Artworld Threats