We round up the best art fairs, events and exhibitions to mark the capital’s annual celebration of contemporary art.

Since the format first emerged in two cities without an established art scene – Cologne in 1967 and Basel in 1970 – art fairs have become a global phenomenon, drawing high-profile visitors, and their money, to blockbuster events in Hong Kong, Miami and New York.

In London, Frieze week kicks off today, and runs to 7 October. It is the most significant art event in the capital’s calendar. But there is more to art in London than Frieze in the next few days. From now until Sunday, the city will be transformed by satellite events and exhibitions, alternative art fairs and talks to become a haven for art, artists and art lovers. Here, we take a closer look at the fairs opening this week that are worth your attention, and single out the best things to see, and, if your pockets are deep enough, shop.

Founded in 2003 and now a major institution on the London art scene, Frieze split into two separate events in 2012, both still held in the leafy surrounds of Regent’s Park – Frieze London, a vast tented city of 160 galleries and over a thousand contemporary artists, and Frieze Masters, which focuses on modern and historical art.

This year at Frieze London, the themed gallery section, Social Work, will feature women artists who challenged the status quo in their work during the 1980s and 1990s. Liberated from the booths where galleries are exhibiting, American artist Ms Julia Scher will be showing a roving performance of elderly female security guards, who will be interacting with visitors to explore themes of state control and surveillance. And for the first time, the Camden Arts Centre Emerging Artist Prize will be awarded, offering an artist from the fair’s Focus section the opportunity to mount a major exhibition at the London institution – a crucial marker of success for any artist.

Top pick: Ms Julia Scher, Frieze London, Regent’s Park, London NW1, various times, 4-7 October

Moniker has grown to become the world’s largest fair for urban art since it was established in 2010. Predicting the death of traditional forms of urban art, this year’s event is offering bespoke studios to selected artists in the fair’s space at The Old Truman Brewery in east London. It’s a move that marks a milestone in both the rise in popularity of urban art and its acceptance by established institutions, which recognise the impact urban art has had on mainstream culture.

Of note this year, the young Netherlander artist Mr Kaili Smith is exhibiting a series of works entitled “Le Petit Prince”, which explores the experience of children growing up in lawless environments. Invited to create original work for the fair, the Berlin-based Spanish artist Vermibus has created an installation that reflects on how our self-image is formed through repetitive messages in advertising. And elsewhere, graffiti art favourite Ms Ann J Lewis will displaying a moving, immersive installation that highlights the ongoing Syrian Refugee Crisis – 25 pairs of porcelain baby shoes will be hung from the ceiling, representing the number of children expected to lose their lives in Syria over the course of the exhibition.

Top pick: Ms Ann J Lewis’ “…and counting (Syria)”, Uncensored Installation Hall, The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London EC1, 4-7 October

The 30th edition of The Other Art Fair is split for the first time over two spaces in London. Founded in 2011, with events since held in Chicago, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Sydney, the fair is dedicated to highlighting the work of emerging artists, with a special section this year at the old Central Saint Martins building in London dedicated to women artists. Titled Not 30%, the project aims to address the disparity between the 60 per cent of women that graduate from art school and the 30 per cent that follow art as a career.

In the main space across the road, visitors will enter through a portal created by the much-discussed “doodlebombing” artist Ms Hattie Stewart. Inside, guest artists The Connor Brothers will be exhibiting 12 large works and 84 smaller works, reflecting the number of men who kill themselves every day and week in the UK. Accompanied by an interactive installation inviting visitors to the fair to write positive messages on a postcard, which are then sent to strangers, proceeds from the project will be donated to the Campaign Against Living Miserably, a charity working to prevent male suicide.

Top pick: The Connor Brothers’ “Postcards To Strangers”, The Other Art Fair, Victoria House, Southampton Row, London WC1, 4-7 October