Ten Photography Festivals to Light Up Summer 2026 in France
From September 2026 to 2027, France will commemorate the 200th anniversary of photography during the summer festival season. The 57th Rencontres d'Arles is scheduled from July 6 to October 4, emphasizing themes related to the Mediterranean and Africa, and will feature an exhibition dedicated to Ghana. Esteemed photographers such as Edward Steichen and William Klein will be highlighted. Vichy's Portrait(s) festival, taking place from June 19 to October 4, will present David LaChapelle's first major retrospective in France since 2009. The Photo La Gacilly festival runs from June 1 to October 4, showcasing works by Nadar and Sebastião Salgado. Additionally, L'été photographique de Lectoure is set for July 11 to September 20, alongside other festivals including Deauville Sport Images and Visa pour l'image in Perpignan from August 29 to September 13.
Key facts
- 2026 marks the bicentenary of photography, with celebrations from September 2026 to 2027.
- Rencontres d'Arles 57th edition runs July 6–October 4, 2026, theme 'Des mondes à relire'.
- David LaChapelle retrospective at Portrait(s) in Vichy is his first in France since 2009.
- Photo La Gacilly features Nadar, Willy Ronis, Pierre et Gilles, Sebastião Salgado, and others.
- L'été photographique de Lectoure theme is 'Au ras du réel', inspired by Georges Perec.
- Musée Albert-Kahn festival 'Mondes en commun' highlights Beninese photography by Léonce R. Agbodjélou.
- Deauville Sport Images focuses on women's sports with guest David Burnett.
- Les Mesnographies addresses incest with theme 'Je te crois'.
- Visa pour l'image opens with Raymond Depardon's war photography exhibition.
- All festivals are free except Rencontres d'Arles and Visa pour l'image.
Entities
Artists
- Edward Steichen
- William Klein
- Martine Barrat
- Harry Gruyaert
- Clément Cogitore
- Anne-Lise Broyer
- David LaChapelle
- Julia Gat
- Patrick Tourneboeuf
- Nadar
- Willy Ronis
- Pierre et Gilles
- Sebastião Salgado
- Jane Evelyn Atwood
- Vincent Munier
- Claudine Doury
- Lee Shulman
- Aline Bovard Rudaz
- Jonàs Forchini
- Coline Jourdan
- Lucas Leglise
- Léonce R. Agbodjélou
- David Burnett
- Virginia Morini
- Isabelle Serro
- Audrey Zaltron
- Bernard Biger
- Éric Laforgue
- Jean Gaumy
- David Těšínský
- Frank Deschandol
- Raymond Depardon
- Paolo Roversi
- Jérôme Gence
- Abdulmonam Eassa
Institutions
- Rencontres d'Arles
- Prix Découverte Louis Roederer
- Portrait(s)
- Grand Établissement thermal
- Musée Nicéphore Niépce
- Festival Photo La Gacilly
- Centre d'Art et de Photographie de Lectoure
- Musée départemental Albert-Kahn
- Archives de la planète
- Deauville Sport Images
- Les Mesnographies
- Festival photo du Guilvinec
- Festival photo Martagny
- ECPAD
- Visa pour l'image
- Magnum Photos
Locations
- Arles
- France
- Vichy
- Allier
- La Gacilly
- Brittany
- Lectoure
- Gers
- Boulogne-Billancourt
- Paris
- Deauville
- Les Mesnuls
- Yvelines
- Guilvinec
- Martagny
- Eure
- Perpignan
- Ghana
- Mediterranean
- Africa
- Benin
- India
- Japan
- Sudan