Arles 2026 photography festival highlights alien abduction photos and amateur works
The 2026 edition of Les Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles, the world's most prestigious photography festival, features a standout exhibition titled 'We Are Not Alone: Alien Images.' The show includes photographs by Paul Villa, a mechanic from Albuquerque who on June 16, 1963, claimed to have been invited via telepathic messages to photograph an alien spaceship. Also featured is Billy Meier, a Swiss man who saw his first flying saucer at age five and has since taken over 1,400 photographs of them. One of Meier's images appears in the famous poster from the X-Files, bearing the words 'I Want to Believe.' The festival is noted for its focus on eccentrics, amateurs, and unknown artists rather than big names, with cute animals and alien abductions drawing particular attention.
Key facts
- Les Rencontres de la Photographie is the world's most prestigious photography festival.
- The 2026 edition takes place in Arles.
- The exhibition 'We Are Not Alone: Alien Images' is a standout show.
- Paul Villa, a mechanic from Albuquerque, photographed a spaceship on June 16, 1963 after telepathic contact.
- Billy Meier is a Swiss man who has taken over 1,400 flying saucer photographs since age five.
- One of Meier's photographs is used in the X-Files poster with the words 'I Want to Believe.'
- The festival highlights works by eccentrics, amateurs, and unknowns.
- Cute animals and alien abductions are key themes this year.
Entities
Artists
- Paul Villa
- Billy Meier
Institutions
- Les Rencontres de la Photographie
Locations
- Arles
- Albuquerque
- Switzerland