One sure sign that spring is around the corner: the annual Armory Art Fair and its attendant galaxy of smaller fairs, events and parties. Art dealers from around the world as well as art lovers, gallerists and artists converge to get a peek at what’s new in the world of contemporary art.

Midtown West

Park Avenue Armory: The Art Show
The anchor of Arts Week, this annual gathering of dealers, galleries, art aficionados and hangers-on is one of the most important art events in New York. With this year’s Focus on China, the number of foreign attendees promises to exceed that of previous years. Galleries set up shop, and visitors get a chance to check out the latest works from contemporary artists from around the world. Officially–and unofficially–affiliated public and private events happen throughout the city as well, with a different neighborhood highlighted each day.
March 6-9, 12-7 PM; see site for additional events and venues
Piers 92 & 94, Twelfth Avenue at 55th Street
Tickets: $40-60 for Armory Show; private tours also available.

The Armory Party 2014
A standout in a whirl of parties, MoMA’s kickoff bash features top talent and a galaxy of art stars and those who love them. This year’s entertainment includes music by Blood Orange plus a DJ. Tickets include MoMA Vernissage Access to the Armory Show; VIP tickets offer a sneak preview of MoMA’s newest exhibition, Robert Heinecken: Object Matter.
Wednesday, March 5, 8PM
The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street
Tickets: $150 (advance ticket purchase) and up.

SoHo

Volta NY
Volta NY is an invitational show of emerging solo artists’ projects and the American incarnation of the successful young fair founded in Basel in 2005. This tightly-focused boutique event serves as a showcase for relevant contemporary art regardless of the artist's or gallery’s age. The strict solo format gives the New York fair its unique character, which curators and collectors often compare favorably to experiencing a series of intense studio visits.
March 6-9; see site for events and hours.
82 Mercer Street, SoHo
General admission: $15 (Armory Show passes recognized)

Chelsea

New City Art Fair
With the aim of presenting Japanese contemporary art to art fans worldwide, the New City Art Fair is in its third year.
March 6-9; see site for gallery hours
hpgrp gallery NY, 529 West 20th Street 2W
Free

Moving Image New York: A Contemporary Video Art Fair
Located in the Waterfront Tunnel event space between 27th and 28th Streets, Moving Image was conceived to offer a viewing experience with the excitement and vitality of a fair, while allowing moving image-based artworks to be understood and appreciated on their own terms. A selection of commercial galleries and non-profit institutions will present single-channel videos, single-channel projections, video sculptures, and larger video installations.
March 6-9; see site for events and hours
Waterfront New York Tunnel, 269 11th Avenue between 27th and 28th Streets
Free to the public

Gramercy Park

Fountain New York Art Fair
Since it was founded in 2006, Fountain has grown to represent over 80 international avant garde galleries and projects, showcasing progressive primary-market works. Celebrated as the first of a new influential generation of alternative fairs, Fountain is paving a new path for the future of contemporary art.
March 7-9; see site for hours and special events, including an opening night reception featuring a DJ set by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a Saturday night bash.
69th Regiment Armory, Lexington Avenue at 26th Street
Tickets: $10-50