photography festival in Barcelona 2025
photography events in Barcelona
international photography festival
Barcelona photography event July 2025
1st Meeting
INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVALS
© Emily Akil
© Emanuele Occhipinti
© Grzegorz Wełnicki
The International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA) aspires to be a global network uniting more than 500 photography festivals existing in the world. Our goal is to establish this association to foster collaboration, innovation, and professionalization within the photography festival community. This initiative, currently led by the Experimental Photo Festival of Barcelona and supported by other key festivals, aims to provide a platform where directors, curators, producers, and artists can elevate their festivals through networking, knowledge sharing and best practices. Our goal is to create an inclusive and horizontal event where all photography and photobook festivals and fairs are invited to participate, from the most emerging to the most established and well-established.
About the Meeting
Save the place and the date of our upcoming event: Barcelona, July 4-6, 2025! The 1st International Meeting of Photography Festivals will mark a significant milestone for photography festivals worldwide. This pioneering event will gather festival professionals from all corners of the globe to engage in thought-provoking networking and professional workshops and panels, address pressing industry challenges, and share best practices. With a focus on collaboration, participants will have the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships and inspire new ideas. During the meeting, there will be two important moments: the presentation of the First Report on the Current State of Photography Festivals Around the World and the Foundation of the International Photography Festivals Association. This event will be a defining moment setting forth the vision and mission to support a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future for photography festivals.
Hosted in the vibrant city of Barcelona, Spain, this event aims to transform the global landscape of photography festivals by establishing a platform for international collaboration and shared growth. By connecting festival organizers with new resources and professional networks, the IPFA will foster continuous improvement and professionalization within the industry. Through the IPFA, we aim to create a resilient network of festivals that will enrich the global audience and support the evolving role of photography in contemporary culture. Join us!
Next Step: Sign the Manifesto to Support the 1st International Photo Festival Meeting! Photo festivals are more than events—they’re catalysts for creativity, culture, and connection. Now is the time to unite as a global network to amplify our collective voice, strengthen our impact, and inspire change. By signing this Manifesto, you show your support for this groundbreaking international meeting and the collective vision it represents. Every signature, whether from an individual or a festival, is a step toward securing the public funding necessary to make this event a reality. In January, these signatures will serve as powerful evidence of our shared commitment and pave the way to bring this meeting to life. Don’t wait—sign the Manifesto by December 31st and help build this international extraordinary movement. Every signature counts!
© Grzegorz Wełnicki
Complete Program
Day 0: July 3 Thursday
19:30hs Exhibition Opening
Day 1: July 4 Friday - Centre Cívic Pati Llimona
10-11hs Welcome and Opening: Introduction to the International Photography Festivals Association
11:30-12:30hs Roundtable: Local and International Festivals? Implications for Audiences, Artists, Accommodation and Financial Management.
12:30-13hs InPhoto App presentation with Valmont Achalme and Olivia Seigneurgens
13-15hs Collective Networking Lunch
15-16:30hs The importance of Gender Equality, Ecology and Economical Transparency in the Modernization of Photo Festivals
17:00-18:30hs Roundtable: Opportunities and Challenges in Organizing Festivals
19:30hs Exhibition Opening
Day 2: July 5 Saturday - Centre Cívic Pati Llimona
10-11:30hs Thematic Networking Meeting: Documentary, Analog, Nature, Photobooks, Street, Contemporary, Cultural Identity, Ecology, Art, etc.
12-13:30hs Countries, Continents and Languages Networking Meeting
13:30-15:00hs Collective Networking Lunch
15-16hs Presentation of the First Report on the Current State of Photography Festivals Around the World
16-17hs Pioneers of Connection: Celebrating the Legacy of Collaborative Photography Festivals: The Festival of Light and Asia Pacific Photoforum
17:30-18:30hs United by Vision: Present and Emerging Networks of Photography Festivals with Reseau Lux, Territorio Photo, European Month of Photography and Analog Photo Festival Network
18:30-19hs Signing the Foundation of the International Photography Festivals Association
19:30hs Exhibition Opening
Day 3: July 6 Sunday - Experimental Hub
11-13hs Next Steps: Setting the Agenda for the Association’s Annual and Monthly Activities
13-15hs Collective Networking Lunch and Visit to Exhibition
16-17hs Presentations of Festivals
17-18hs Final Networking Sessions and Closure
Worldwide Festivals!
We are
There are more than 500 photography festivals spanning 79 countries and 366 cities across all five continents, with the largest number taking place in France (71), Spain (57), Italy (45), the United States (30), Germany (25), England (20) and Brazil (18). These festivals collectively involve more than 6.000 professionals, including directors, curators, producers, artistic directors, project managers, exhibition coordinators, finance managers, volunteer coordinators, programmers, education teams, sponsorship managers, and experts in communications, marketing, press, and social media. This meeting represents a unique opportunity to bring these professionals together for the first time in Barcelona, creating a platform for collaboration and innovation on a global scale.
