France Celebrates Photography Bicentennial with 12 Regional Exhibitions
From autumn 2026 to early 2027, Burgundy, France, will celebrate the 200th anniversary of photography with a series of twelve exhibitions. Deauville's 17th festival will showcase the works of sixteen photographers, featuring talents such as Bruce Gilden and Cristina de Middel. The Musée Nicéphore Niépce will host 'Niépce, et après?' from November 21, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Gerhard Richter's 'Overpainted Photographs' will be on display at LUMA Arles until January 10, 2027. Frac Grand Large will present 'Je rêvais d'un autre monde' from October 10, 2026, to January 3, 2027, while Théâtre du Nord's 'République' continues until January 16, 2027. Additionally, exhibitions such as 'Plein les yeux!' at Centre photographique Rouen Normandie and Michael Kenna's 'Constellation' in Vannes will be featured. Paris will host 18 exhibitions across Île-de-France.
Key facts
- The bicentennial of photography marks 200 years since Nicéphore Niépce fixed the first image in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, Burgundy.
- Twelve regional exhibitions run from autumn 2026 to early 2027 across France.
- The 17th Deauville festival features sixteen photographers in residence in Normandy, including Bruce Gilden, Cristina de Middel, Lise Sarfati, and Tom Wood.
- Musée Nicéphore Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône presents 'Niépce, et après?' from November 21, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
- LUMA Arles shows Gerhard Richter's 'Overpainted Photographs' until January 10, 2027.
- Frac Grand Large - Hauts-de-France in Dunkerque exhibits over a hundred works from October 10, 2026, to January 3, 2027.
- Musée d'Histoire de Marseille displays 'Marseille vue par les Detaille, 164 ans de photos' until June 20, 2027, with free entry.
- Le Kiosque in Vannes presents Michael Kenna's 'Constellation' from November 27, 2026, to March 7, 2027, featuring prints donated to the State in 2022.
Entities
Artists
- Nicéphore Niépce
- Bruce Gilden
- Cristina de Middel
- Lise Sarfati
- Tom Wood
- Newsha Tavakolian
- Robert Capa
- Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Gerhard Richter
- Lee Friedlander
- Daniel Buren
- Bérangère Fromont
- Rodtchenko
- Doisneau
- Gregory Crewdson
- Tilda Swinton
- Julianne Moore
- Fernand Detaille
- Jean Tourane
- Sarah Moon
- Tana Hoban
- Michael Kenna
- Talbot
Institutions
- Magnum
- Musée Nicéphore Niépce
- LUMA Arles
- Frac Grand Large - Hauts-de-France
- Théâtre du Nord
- Centre photographique Rouen Normandie
- Fondation Francès
- Stimultania
- Le Château d'Eau
- Musée Paul-Dupuy
- Musée Georges-Labit
- Musée d'Histoire de Marseille
- Musée de l'Illustration Jeunesse
- Le Kiosque
- Arts in the City
Locations
- Saint-Loup-de-Varennes
- Burgundy
- France
- Chalon-sur-Saône
- Arles
- Deauville
- Strasbourg
- Normandy
- Dunkerque
- Lille
- Paris
- Rouen
- Senlis
- Toulouse
- Marseille
- Moulins
- Vannes
- Île-de-France