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photography festival in Barcelona 2025
photography events in Barcelona
international photography festival
Barcelona photography event July 2025

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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 600 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 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. 
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!

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Be Part

This questionnaire aims to gather information on the current state of photography festivals globally. The data provided will be treated confidentially, and no sensitive information will be disclosed under any circumstances. The results will be used exclusively to produce an anonymous report that will help understand the current situation of these festivals. We sincerely appreciate your participation and collaboration in this collective effort. Your contribution is highly valuable for the analysis and improvement of the sector!

Tickets

Secure your place at the first major professional gathering of photography festivals from around the world!
This is an incredible opportunity to connect with sector leaders and innovators shaping the future of the photography world. Whether you're a festival director, curator, producer, manager, programmer, or an expert in communication, marketing, or education, this event is the place to be!

3 Days and more than 25 Unmissable Activities:

  • Networking sessions to meet global professionals in the field

  • Debates that will shape the next generation of photography festivals

  • In-depth discussions on trends, challenges, and the future of photography festivals.

The Opening of 12 Captivating Exhibitions:

  • Immerse yourself in inspiring photographic works and discover new talent from around the world.

Daily Lunch Included, with vegetarian and vegan options available!

  • Enjoy delicious meals with fellow participants, providing the perfect opportunity to network and collaborate.

Two Milestones will make this event unforgettable

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Presentation of the First Report on the Current State of Photography Festivals Worldwide:

  • Get an exclusive first look at the findings and trends from the global photography festival landscape. This is essential insight for anyone looking to stay ahead in the industry.

 

Foundation of the International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA):

  • Be part of the moment when a new, innovative, and inclusive global community is born. The IPFA marks a critical step toward a more sustainable, collaborative, and forward-thinking future for the photography sector.

 

This is more than just an event—it's an historic opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of photography festivals globally.

Full
Program

Day 0: July 3 Thursday 

Institut d'Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya

19:30hs Exhibition Opening On Ecology

 

Day 1: July 4 Friday - Centre Cívic Pati Llimona

9:30-10hs Registrations

10-10:30hs Welcome and Opening: Introduction to the International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA)
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

13-13:30hs Picter presentation with Emily McSweeney
13-15hs Collective Networking Lunch
15-16:30hs The importance of Gender Equality, Diversity, Ecology and Economical Transparency in the Modernization of Photo Festivals with João Kulcsár, Alessia Locatelli, and Pablo Giori
17-18hs Roundtable: Opportunities and Challenges in Organizing Festivals moderated by Ioana Cobzaru

18-19hs Presentation of the First Report on the Current State of Photography Festivals Around the World
19:30-21hs Exhibition Opening in Centre Civic Pati Llimona

21-23hs Dinner at George Orwell Square

 

​Day 2: July 5  Saturday - Centre Cívic Pati Llimona

9:30-10hs Registrations

10-11:30hs Thematic Networking Meeting: Documentary, Analog, Nature, Photobooks, Street, Contemporary, etc. 
12-13:30hs Countries, Continents and Languages Networking Meeting + Networking Meeting by profession: Directors, Communication-Graphic Design, Accounting-Fundraising, Producers, and Curators
13:30-15:00hs Collective Networking Lunch
15-16hs Pioneers of Connection: Celebrating the Legacy of Collaboration: The Festival of Light with Elda Harrington and PHEN (Photo Europe Network) with Sebastian Vaida
16-17:30hs United by Vision: Present and Emerging Networks of Photo Festivals with Réseau Lux, Territorio Photo, Futures (with Menno Liauw), European Month of Photography, European Photo Festivals Network and Analog Photo Festival Network
18:00-19hs Signing the Foundation of the International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA)
19-21hs Exhibition Opening at BienCuadrado Gallery

21-23hs InPhoto Appetizer and Cocktail at Plaça Real

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Day 3: July 6 Sunday - Experimental Hub

10-11:30hs Meeting of each Festival Association with its Members + Networking Meeting by profession: Directors, Communication-Graphic Design, Accounting-Fundraising, Producers, and Curators

12-13hs Next Steps: Setting the Agenda for the Association’s Annual and Monthly Activities
13-15hs Collective Networking Lunch
15-16:30hs Festivals of the Future: Best Practices, Open Calls, and Opportunities for Emerging Artist moderated by Ioana Cobzaru

17-18hs 2 Minutes video presentations of Festivals

18-19:30hs Roundtable: The Economics of Festivals: Strategies for Long-Term Sustainability

19:30-21hs Mecal Festival Cinema Night

21-23hs Free Picnic at the Beach

Official Accommodation

We have worked hard to offer you a comfortable option at the best price. Thanks to this collaboration with the University of Barcelona, attendees can stay at the Colegi Mayor Penyafort-Montserrat. During the summer, this student residence transforms to host participants of major cultural events in the city, making it the ideal place to stay alongside the Meeting community. It consists of two large identical buildings, each with five floors: the basement houses the gym, cinema, and conference room; the ground floor includes the entrance, cafeteria, terrace, and breakfast lounge. It will be a great space to share among all.

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  • Rooms: Single or double with a shared bathroom (no air conditioning) and breakfast included.

  • Check-in: Friday, July 4th, from 12:00 PM

  • Check-out: Sunday, July 6th, before 12:00 PM

  • 24-hour reception so you can arrive and leave worry-free.

  • Optional! You can add extra nights for 48€.

To get to the meeting venue, the Centre Cívic Pati Llimona is 29 minutes away by metro on the green line L3.

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Other conditions:

  • The accommodation reservation is separate from the purchase of the meeting ticket.

  • People who are not attending the meeting can stay at the residence if they accompany someone who is attending.

Confirmed
Participants

Worldwide Festivals!

Actives

Inactives

There are more than 600 photography festivals spanning 87 countries and 476 cities across all five continents, with the largest number taking place in  France (93), Spain (66), Italy (56), Brazil (37), the United States (32), Germany (27), and England (20). 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.

Calendar

The Festival Calendar is based on the information collected through the First Report on the Current State of Photography Festivals, which we are promoting to provide a global view of the sector. This calendar responds to the growing need for a comprehensive and updated registry of photography festivals worldwide. Here, you will find well-established events as well as new initiatives. Additionally, this calendar is built collectively, allowing the photography community to contribute valuable data to keep it updated. If you wish to include your festival, you can participate by filling out the report's form.

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open calls

Festivals Open Calls

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