PhEST 2026 in Monopoli Explores War, Landscape, and Digital Dystopia
The PhEST photography and art festival is taking place in Monopoli, Puglia, marking its 11th anniversary this year. The event runs through November 1, 2026, under the theme "What if?" This edition focuses on the effects of war on humanity and the environment. Key attractions include Roger Ballen's 'Inferno' showcased at Carlo V Castle, and Victorine Alisse’s exhibit at the Monastery of San Leonardo. Other notable works include Juno Calypso’s 'What to do with a million years' and Sergey Melnitchenko’s 'Along the Dnipro', among various other innovative presentations.
Key facts
- PhEST 2026 is the 11th edition of the international festival of photography and art in Monopoli, Puglia, running until November 1, 2026.
- The festival theme is 'What if?' and focuses on the relationship between war, landscape, and human bodies.
- Roger Ballen's 'Inferno' is exhibited at the Carlo V castle-bastion in Monopoli, created with Marguerite Rossouw.
- Victorine Alisse's series 'We will stay here as long as there will be thym and olives' documents Palestinian communities in Wadi Fukin.
- Horst von Harbou's photographs from Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis' are shown at the church of San Salvatore.
- Nina Pacherová's installation 'We Won't Tell Daddy!' critiques TikTok's #bathroomchallenge and uses deepfake to protect children.
- Juno Calypso's 'What to do with a million years' at Casa Santa is inspired by a bunker built by Jerry Henderson, former CEO of Avon Cosmetics.
- Sergey Melnitchenko's 'Along the Dnipro' features photos taken by Ukrainian soldiers with disposable cameras in 2025, in collaboration with FOTOVRAMCI.
- Marek Kita's 'FUNFUN/GUN' documents military training camps for children in Poland.
- Julian Germain's 'Classroom Portraits' are displayed at the Porto Vecchio of Monopoli.
Entities
Artists
- Roger Ballen
- Marguerite Rossouw
- Victorine Alisse
- Horst von Harbou
- Fritz Lang
- Thea von Harbou
- Nina Pacherová
- Juno Calypso
- Sergey Melnitchenko
- Marek Kita
- Julian Germain
- Jerry Henderson
- Jacques Le Goff
Institutions
- PhEST
- ATP Diary
- FOTOVRAMCI
- Avon Cosmetics
- Monastero di San Leonardo
- Casa Santa
- Carlo V castle-bastion
- Church of San Salvatore
- Porto Vecchio
Locations
- Monopoli
- Puglia
- Italy
- New York
- Paris
- Wadi Fukin
- Palestine
- Nowa Huta
- Potsdam
- Slovakia
- London
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Seaham
- County Durham
- United Kingdom
- Saar
- Bahrain