The collapse of thin dust shells in (2+1)-dimensional gravity with and without a cosmological constant is analyzed. A critical value of the shell’s mass as a function of its radius and position is derived. For Λ<0, a naked singularity or black hole forms depending on whether the shell’s mass is below or just above this value. The solution space is divided into four different regions by three critical surfaces. For Λ<0, two surfaces separate regions of black hole solutions and solutions with naked singularities, while the other surface separates regions of open and closed spaces. Near the transition between a black hole and naked singularity, we find M∼${\mathit{c}}_{\mathit{p}}$(p-${\mathit{p}}^{\mathrm{*}}$${)}^{\mathrm{\beta }}$, where β=1/2 and M is a naturally defined order parameter. We find no phase transition in crossing from an open to closed space. The critical exponent appears to be universal for spherically symmetric dust. The critical solutions are analogous to higher dimensional extremal black holes. All four phases coexist at one point in solution space corresponding to the static extremal solution.

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