The market trajectory of Laugh Now unsigned presents one of the clearest examples of speculative expansion and normalization within the Banksy print market. More than many other unsigned editions, Laugh Now benefits from the extraordinary recognizability of its image. The monkey motif became one of Banksy’s most enduring visual signatures, functioning simultaneously as satire, social criticism, and self-portrait of the outsider artist.
Before 2020, the market remained relatively stable. Prices generally fluctuated between approximately $18,000 and $40,000, positioning the work as an important but still accessible Banksy edition. The dramatic acceleration began during the second half of 2020. As global liquidity increased and online auctions expanded aggressively during the pandemic, Banksy prints became highly speculative assets. Laugh Now emerged as one of the strongest beneficiaries of this market frenzy. The December 2020 Phillips Hong Kong result at approximately $113,645 marked the symbolic peak of this euphoric period. Multiple additional sales above $90,000 confirmed that the phenomenon was broad rather than isolated.
The market remained elevated throughout 2021 and most of 2022, with median prices frequently exceeding $70,000. However, the correction progressively accelerated afterward as supply increased and speculative demand faded. From 2023 onward, the market entered a normalization phase. Prices compressed into the $25,000–$50,000 range before stabilizing closer to $20,000–$32,000 in 2024 and 2025.
Importantly, liquidity remains strong. Laugh Now continues to trade regularly through Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Phillips, Bonhams, Forum Auctions, and regional auction houses, indicating continued collector interest despite the correction.
Several important conclusions emerge:
Laugh Now experienced one of the strongest pandemic-era speculative cycles among major Banksy unsigned editions.
The monkey image retains exceptional cultural and market recognition.
The current market appears substantially healthier and more rational than the speculative conditions observed during 2020–2021.
Even after correction, valuation levels remain structurally above pre-pandemic prices.
Laugh Now remains one of the cornerstone unsigned Banksy editions and continues to function as a key market barometer for Banksy prints overall.
Laugh Now (signed)
The market for Laugh Now (signed) occupies a very different position from its unsigned counterpart. While both editions benefited from the extraordinary Banksy market expansion during the pandemic years, the signed version established itself as one of the strongest and most desirable signed Banksy editions overall. The image itself plays a central role in this valuation dynamic. Laugh Now is widely considered one of Banksy’s definitive compositions: the monkey carrying the phrase “Laugh now, but one day we’ll be in charge” became one of the artist’s most recognizable and historically important motifs. The work combines humor, political cynicism, anti-authoritarian commentary, and self-referential irony in a single instantly legible image.
Before 2020, the market remained relatively stable. Signed impressions generally traded between approximately $40,000 and $65,000. Already at this stage, Laugh Now (signed) was viewed as a major Banksy edition rather than merely an accessible print. The speculative acceleration that transformed the Banksy market during 2020 and especially 2021 pushed Laugh Now signed into an entirely different valuation category. Prices rapidly moved into six-figure territory, culminating in the extraordinary Bonhams London result from February 2021 at approximately $282,720. This sale remains one of the clearest symbols of the speculative exuberance that defined the Banksy market during the pandemic era. Importantly, however, multiple additional results above $180,000 and even above $200,000 confirm that the work possessed exceptional market momentum at the time.
Compared with the unsigned version, the signed edition demonstrated significantly greater resilience after the market correction began. While prices gradually normalized during 2022, 2023, and 2024, the decline was substantially less severe than for many secondary Banksy editions.
Recent results between approximately $66,000 and $95,000 suggest that Laugh Now (signed) has entered a more stable collector-driven valuation phase. This is particularly significant given the broader correction observed across the Banksy print market.
Several conclusions emerge clearly from the data:
Laugh Now signed remains one of the most important and culturally recognizable signed Banksy editions.
The work experienced an extraordinary speculative expansion during 2020–2021, but retained stronger long-term value support than many other Banksy prints.
Collector confidence appears materially stronger in the signed market than in the unsigned market.
The image’s iconic status within Banksy’s mythology contributes directly to its resilience.
Even after correction, prices remain dramatically above pre-pandemic levels, confirming the structural expansion of the Banksy collector base.
The comparison between signed and unsigned editions is especially revealing. While the unsigned market corrected sharply back toward the $20,000–$30,000 range, the signed version continues to maintain values often exceeding $70,000. This demonstrates the growing importance collectors place on rarity, signature authentication, and blue-chip positioning within the Banksy market. Overall, Laugh Now (signed) now appears less like a speculative print and increasingly like a mature trophy edition within the contemporary print market.
Key market statistics
Unsigned51 transactions since 2018
Most recent sale
£19,664
Jul 2026 · Forum Auctions · XXX/600
2026 median price
£19,260
over 7 qualifying sales
2025 median price
£18,000
over 3 qualifying sales
2025–2026 performance
+7%
change between the two published medians
Peak price since 2018
£84,810
Dec 2020 · Phillips HK
Value retention
23%
most recent sale as a share of the peak price
Signed20 transactions since 2018
Most recent sale
£47,500
Dec 2025 · Tate Ward Auctions · XXX/150
2026 median price
Not enough sales
0 sales so far — fewer than three, no median published
2025 median price
Not enough sales
1 qualifying sale
Peak price since 2018
£200,250
Feb 2021 · Bonhams London
Value retention
24%
most recent sale as a share of the peak price
Laugh Now (unsigned)
2026 Auction Results
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
15 July 2026
UK
Est. GBP 14,000 – 16,000
GBP 14,500 (Hammer)
GBP 19,664
USD 26,620
Heritage Auctions160/600
14 July 2026
USA
Est. USD 20,000 and up
USD 32,500
GBP 24,000
USD 32,500
SBI Art AuctionXXX/600
11 July 2026
Japan
Est. JPY 1,000,000 – 1,500,000
JPY 4,140,000
GBP 19,260
USD 26,010
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
24 June 2026
UK
Est. GBP 12,000 – 16,000
GBP 18,750
USD 25,120
Artnet Auctions372/600
29 May 2026
USA
Est. USD 15,000 – 20,000
USD 18,750
GBP 13,885
USD 18,750
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
19 March 2026
UK
Est. GBP 12,000 – 15,000
GBP 11,500 (Hammer)
GBP 15,148
USD 20,255
Heritage Auctions160/600
29 January 2026
USA
USD 33,750
GBP 24,435
USD 33,750
2025 Auction Results
Deutscher & Hackett468/600
26 November 2025
Australia
Est. AUD 30,000 – 40,000
AUD 36,818
GBP 18,000
USD 23,830
Christie's online272/600
30 September 2025
UK
Est. GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 15,240
USD 20,485
Sotheby's London76/600
24 September 2025
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 19,050
USD 25,630
2024 Auction Results
Heritage Auctions284/600
19 November 2024
USA
USD 23,750
GBP 18,720
USD 23,750
Julien's AuctionsAside
31 October 2024
USA
Est. USD 30,000 – 50,000
Aside (Lazarides Proof)
USD 39,000
GBP 30,240
USD 39,000
Sotheby's online554/600 DN
26 September 2024
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 20,400
USD 27,150
Leonard Joel488/600
25 June 2024
Australia
Est. AUD 30,000 – 40,000
AUD 26,000 (Hammer)
GBP 17,010
USD 21,585
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
30 April 2024
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 13,000 (Hammer)
GBP 17,420
USD 21,775
Roseberys London493/600
23 April 2024
UK
Est. GBP 12,000 – 15,000
GBP 26,240
USD 32,800
2023 Auction Results
LA Modern281/600
12 October 2023
USA
Est. USD 30,000 – 40,000
USD 27,720
GBP 22,790
USD 27,720
Sotheby's online406/600
26 September 2023
UK
Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 31,750
USD 38,620
Roseberys London302/600 DN
5 September 2023
UK
Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 20,800
USD 26,165
Intl Art Center311/600
25 July 2023
New Zealand
Est. NZD 80,000 – 100,000
NZD 81,855
GBP 39,500
USD 50,940
Sotheby's online545/600
20 April 2023
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 40,000
GBP 50,800
USD 63,240
Bonhams London258/600
19 April 2023
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 38,100
USD 47,400
Christie's online457/600
14 March 2023
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 40,320
USD 49,595
Phillips London325/600
19 January 2023
UK
Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 75,600
USD 92,990
2022 Auction Results
New Auction197/600
26 November 2022
Japan
Est. JPY 4,500,000 – 6,500,000
JPY 9,775,000
GBP 57,640
USD 70,300
SBI Art AuctionXXX/600
29 October 2022
Japan
Est. JPY 4,000,000 – 7,000,000
JPY 9,545,000
GBP 55,835
USD 64,725
Sotheby's online172/600
17 August 2022
UK
Est. GBP 24,000 – 35,000
GBP 37,800
USD 45,360
Sotheby's online264/600 DN
26 April 2022
UK
Est. GBP 35,000 – 45,000
GBP 52,920
USD 66,680
Christie's online99/600
15 March 2022
UK
Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 50,400
USD 66,530
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
3 March 2022
UK
Est. GBP 35,000 – 50,000
GBP 42,000 (Hammer)
GBP 56,280
USD 76,540
2021 Auction Results
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
17 November 2021
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 40,000
GBP 42,600
USD 57,510
Bonhams London341/600
11 November 2021
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 60,250
USD 81,340
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
29 September 2021
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 48,300
USD 67,135
Christie's online468/600
23 September 2021
UK
Est. GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 56,250
USD 78,190
Sotheby's online522/600
17 September 2021
UK
Est. GBP 35,000 – 45,000
GBP 56,700
USD 78,815
Forum AuctionsXXX/600 DN
23 April 2021
UK
Est. GBP 60,000 – 80,000
GBP 51,000 (Hammer)
GBP 68,340
USD 94,995
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
24 March 2021
UK
Est. GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 68,750
USD 95,565
2020 Auction Results
Bonhams London93/600
9 December 2020
UK
Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 75,250
USD 101,245
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
9 December 2020
UK
Est. GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 72,500
USD 97,545
Phillips HK279/600Auction Record
4 December 2020
Hong-kong
Est. HKD 120,000 – 180,000
HKD 882,000
GBP 84,810
USD 113,645
Intl Art CenterXXX/600
17 November 2020
New Zealand
Est. NZD 80,000 – 120,000
NZD 157,650
GBP 81,280
USD 107,640
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
27 October 2020
UK
Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 60,000 (Hammer)
GBP 80,640
USD 105,360
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
14 October 2020
UK
Est. GBP 55,000 – 75,000
GBP 72,500
USD 95,700
Bonhams London540/600
8 October 2020
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 68,812
USD 90,830
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
21 July 2020
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 38,000 (Hammer)
GBP 51,160
USD 65,145
Sotheby's online433/600
26 March 2020
UK
Est. GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 30,000
USD 36,370
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
25 March 2020
UK
Est. GBP 22,000 – 26,000
GBP 27,500
USD 32,285
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/600
18 February 2020
UK
Est. GBP 17,000 – 22,000
GBP 30,000
USD 39,085
2019 Auction Results
Sotheby's online459/600
19 September 2019
UK
Est. GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 16,250
USD 20,275
2018 Auction Results
Forum AuctionsXXX/600
28 November 2018
UK
Est. GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 11,000 (Hammer)
GBP 14,430
USD 18,415
Bonhams London365/600
28 March 2018
UK
Est. GBP 5,000 – 7,000
GBP 13,750
USD 19,400
Prior Years Auction Results
Shapiro Auctioneers541/600
27 April 2016
Australia
GBP 8,225
USD 11,955
Dreweatts394/600
31 March 2016
UK
GBP 6,200
USD 8,915
Dreweatts176/600
2 December 2015
UK
GBP 6,200
USD 8,915
Artnet AuctionsXXX/600
20 August 2015
USA
USD 12,600
GBP 8,030
USD 12,600
Dreweatts176/600
16 July 2015
UK
GBP 6,820
USD 10,640
Dreweatts305/600
2 July 2015
UK
GBP 5,580
USD 8,710
Phillips London239/600
11 June 2015
UK
GBP 6,250
USD 9,680
Dreweatts107/600
3 December 2014
UK
GBP 5,952
USD 9,345
Dreweatts342/600
13 October 2010
UK
GBP 2,546
USD 4,030
Dreweatts190/600
3 December 2009
UK
GBP 2,000
USD 3,330
Bloomsbury NY309/600
5 November 2008
USA
USD 4,020
GBP 2,690
USD 4,020
Phillips NYXXX/600
25 October 2008
USA
USD 4,750
GBP 3,180
USD 4,750
Laugh Now (signed)
2025 Auction Results
Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/150
10 December 2025
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 47,500
USD 63,510
2024 Auction Results
Tate Ward Auctions13/150
11 December 2024
UK
Est. GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 51,250
USD 66,625
Christie's online59/150
1 October 2024
UK
Est. GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 50,400
USD 67,030
Sotheby's online31/150
26 September 2024
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 60,000
USD 79,860
2023 Auction Results
Sotheby's online45/150
26 September 2023
UK
Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 76,200
USD 92,690
Forum AuctionsXXX/150
30 August 2023
UK
Est. GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 46,000 (Hammer)
GBP 61,640
USD 78,420
Sotheby's onlineAside
20 April 2023
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 40,000
Inscribed with a gift, heart and peace symbol, lower left
GBP 76,200
USD 94,855
2022 Auction Results
SBI Art AuctionXXX/150
12 March 2022
Japan
Est. JPY 8,000,000 – 14,000,000
JPY 15,525,000
GBP 100,240
USD 132,320
2021 Auction Results
Christie's online122/150
23 September 2021
UK
Est. GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 100,000
USD 139,000
Sotheby's onlineAside
17 September 2021
UK
Est. GBP 35,000 – 45,000
Inscribed ‘4 BRENDAN’ and with a peace symbol
GBP 100,800
USD 140,110
Bonhams London85/150
29 June 2021
UK
Est. GBP 70,000 – 100,000
GBP 100,250
USD 138,660
Phillips London56/150
14 June 2021
UK
Est. GBP 70,000 – 90,000
GBP 151,200
USD 214,705
Christie's online142/150
1 April 2021
UK
Est. GBP 120,000 – 180,000
GBP 137,500
USD 189,750
Sotheby's online76/150
18 March 2021
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 151,200
USD 210,170
Bonhams London86/150Auction Record
25 February 2021
UK
Est. GBP 60,000 – 80,000
GBP 200,250
USD 282,720
2019 Auction Results
Sotheby's online108/150
19 September 2019
UK
Est. GBP 8,000 – 12,000
USD 20,275
GBP 47,500
USD 58,190
Forum AuctionsXXX/150
29 January 2019
UK
Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 35,000 (Hammer)
GBP 47,140
USD 61,665
2018 Auction Results
Morgan O'Driscoll50/150
22 November 2018
Ireland
Est. EUR 30,000 – 40,000
EUR 32,000 (Hammer)
EUR 40,000
GBP 34,960
USD 45,015
Christie's online53/150
26 September 2018
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 35,000
USD 45,800
Phillips London20/150
7 June 2018
UK
Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 30,000
USD 40,280
Prior Years Auction Results
Artnet Auctions57/150
26 January 2017
USA
USD 37,200
GBP 29,535
USD 37,200
Bonhams London3/150
28 January 2015
UK
GBP 20,000
USD 30,330
Menzies119/150
8 August 2013
Australia
GBP 10,075
USD 15,655
Bonhams LondonAside
17 April 2013
UK
GBP 11,875
USD 18,115
Christie's London90/150
19 April 2011
UK
GBP 9,375
USD 15,295
Dreweatts35/150
14 October 2008
UK
GBP 8,400
USD 14,655
Bonhams LondonAside
16 April 2008
UK
GBP 10,800
USD 21,188
Laugh Now (signed AP)
2022 Auction Results
Sotheby's onlineAP/15Auction Record
17 August 2022
UK
Est. GBP 24,000 – 35,000
GBP 75,600
USD 90,720
2020 Auction Results
John MoranAP/37
18 February 2020
USA
Est. USD 35,000 – 45,000
USD 93,750
GBP 72,090
USD 93,750
Prior Years Auction Results
Bonhams LondonAP/27
18 December 2017
UK
GBP 30,000
USD 40,190
Artnet AuctionsAP/XX
18 December 2014
USA
USD 29,400
GBP 18,775
USD 29,400
Prices are inclusive of buyer’s premium unless stated otherwise, as reported by the auction houses. “DN” stands for “Duplicate Number”.
Prices are hammer plus premium, in GBP, not adjusted for inflation. Only standard editions are included: artist’s proofs, special proofs, colorways and other exceptional variants are excluded, and signed and unsigned impressions are never combined. Medians are preferred to averages, which exceptional results distort. Figures are drawn from sales documented by Banksy Explained and are not an exhaustive record of the market. Compiled 26 August 2026.
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