2nd International Photograhpy Festivals
Meeting
About the Meeting
The 2nd International Meeting of Photography Festivals will take place in Barcelona from 2 to 5 July 2026, bringing together professionals from across the global festival ecosystem for four days of collaborative learning, strategic discussion and international networking. Organised by the International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA), the meeting reinforces Barcelona as a key international platform for the professional development of photography festivals worldwide.
It arrives after the overwhelming success of the first edition, where more than fifty festivals from around the world came together to start something truly new. This year confirms it: we are building a movement that is transforming the future of photography festivals! For the first time, festivals are not only gathering to present their work, but to rethink the sector together, share resources, create common tools and define a long-term vision. This meeting is more than a programme. It is a turning point. A space where collaboration becomes action, where new alliances emerge, and where the foundations of a sustainable, innovative and interconnected future are being built.
Join us and be part of a movement that is reshaping the global festival landscape!
4 Days and More Than 30 Unmissable Activities:
-
Networking sessions that allowed participants to meet global professionals in the field.
-
Debates that helped shape the next generation of photography festivals.
-
In-depth discussions on trends, challenges, and the future of photography festivals.
The Opening of 15 Captivating Exhibitions:
-
Participants immersed themselves in inspiring photographic works and discovered new talent from around the world.
Porfolio Reviews to Connect Artists & Photographers with Curators and Directors
-
A dedicated space where artists and photographers engage directly with festival representatives from around the world to receive feedback, build connections and explore exhibition opportunities.
Get your Tickets!
Networking Ecosystem for Photography Festivals
Unique international meeting point to connect 50+ festivals to foster long-term collaborations, knowledge exchange and cross-border opportunities within the global photographic landscape.
Global Report on the Economic Anatomy of Festivals
Presentation of an unprecedented international study that maps how festivals operate financially to strengthen sustainability and long-term planning.
IPFA Best Practices Manual: Collective Debate and Approval
A collaborative process to refine, agree upon and officially adopt shared principles that will guide the governance, production and development of photography festivals worldwide.
Three Key Milestones
Full Program
Catalan Photography Festivals Meeting
09:30 – 17:00
Registration
Accreditations open at 9:30 am and will remain open until 5 pm. There is no need to register every day
10:00 – 11:00
Presentation of Catalan Photography Festivals
An overview of the diversity, missions, and current work of photography festivals across Catalonia, highlighting shared goals, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.
11:00 – 13:00
Presentation of the CLT080 Grant (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Technical staff from the Department of Culture present the Subvencions a l'organització d'activitats de difusió de les arts visuals i arts escèniques (CLT080). Detailed guidelines, eligible expenses, application strategies, and Q&A
13:00 – 15:00
Collective Lunch & Networking
A shared lunch to strengthen dialogue, exchange experiences, and build cooperative dynamics among Catalan festivals.
15:00 – 17:00
Transparent Budgets: How Festivals Manage Funding
Catalan festivals present their budgets, management models, and public funding structures. A practical, peer-to-peer session focused on transparency, financial sustainability, and best practices.
17:00 – 18:00
Presentation of the Catalan Photography Festivals Report
An overview of the first study mapping the structure, needs, and impact of Catalan photography festivals. Key findings, shared challenges, and strategic recommendations to strengthen cohesion, visibility, and international projection.
18:00 - 19:00
Roundtable: The Future of Catalan Photography Festivals
A collective debate on upcoming challenges and opportunities: funding ecosystems, audience engagement, internationalisation, sustainability, and the role of Catalonia in the global festival landscape.
19:00 - 21:00
Opening of an exhibition
21:00 - 23:00
Welcome Pizza, Dinner & Networking