Athens Photo Festival is a leading international biennial dedicated to photography and contemporary visual culture, positioning itself as one of the most significant photography events in Southeast Europe. Established in Athens, the festival functions as a dynamic platform for artistic exchange, presenting a wide range of photographic practices, lens-based media, and interdisciplinary visual works. It brings together emerging and established photographers, visual artists, curators, and cultural professionals from around the world, fostering dialogue around current social, political, and aesthetic issues through the medium of photography.
The 2026 edition of Athens Photo Festival is scheduled to take place during June and July 2026 and will be hosted at major cultural venues in Athens, including the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138, alongside multiple satellite locations throughout the city. The festival’s programme typically features curated exhibitions selected through an international open call, invited projects by renowned artists, site-specific installations, screenings, talks, workshops, and portfolio reviews. Through this multi-venue approach, the festival actively engages both local and international audiences, transforming Athens into a vibrant hub for contemporary photography during the festival period.
With a strong emphasis on experimentation, critical thinking, and cross-cultural perspectives, Athens Photo Festival aims to reflect and respond to global developments in visual culture. It supports innovative photographic narratives and new forms of image-making, encouraging artists to explore themes such as identity, memory, environment, technology, and social change. By combining exhibitions with educational and professional development activities, the festival plays a key role in supporting artistic careers, expanding professional networks, and strengthening the international photography community.
The standard entry fee is €25 for the first project and €15 for each additional project submitted by the same applicant.
Eligibility
Open to artists and photographers from around the world across a wide spectrum of photographic media.
Prize
Selected works from the open call will be included in the festival’s main exhibition programme, offering international visibility in one of Europe’s leading photography festivals alongside opportunities for participation in portfolio reviews, artist talks and public programmes, fostering professional exposure and engagement within the global photographic community.
