In today’s fast-paced and visually driven world, photography holds immense power as a medium of storytelling, documentation and social change. Images transcend language, evoke deep emotions and shape collective consciousness. Whether through artistic expression, journalistic truth-telling, or experimental innovation, photographs serve as windows into different realities – both personal and global. The following list highlights some of the most significant festivals taking place this season, each offering a unique perspective on the human experience and the pressing issues of our time. These events celebrate the art of photography but also spark dialogue, question norms, and, ultimately, drive change.
The PhotoVogue Festival 2025, held from 6- 9 March at BASE Milano in Milan, Italy, has established itself as a significant event on the global stage by merging fashion photography with pressing global conversations. This year’s theme, The Tree of Life: A Love Letter to Nature, explores the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world. The festival features work from 45 artists and five video makers worldwide, selected through an open call. Visitors will engage with exhibitions and discussions that delve into human-animal relationships, environmental challenges, and sustainability. There’s also Latin America Panorama, offering a glimpse of the region through the lens of its talented artists. The festival is directed by Alessia Glaviano and co-curated by Caterina De Biasio and Daniel Rodríguez Gordillo. | vogue.com
The 15th edition of Circulations, the festival of young European photography, is at Centquatre-Paris from 5 April – 1 June. It celebrates 23 emerging photographers and aims to “reflect the richness, contrasts, trends and challenges of the contemporary world.” Amongst the line-up is Italian artist Claudia Fuggetti, whose bright chromatic interventions present nature from a new angle, reminding us that we are collectively responsible for protecting the environment in the midst of the ongoing challenges presented by the anthropocene. There is a special focus on Lithuania; Ieva Baltaduonyte, Agne Gintalaite, Visvaldas Morkevičius and Paulius Petraitis are all presenting work this year. | festival-circulations.com
The KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival 2025, taking place from 12 April to 11 May in Kyoto, Japan, is renowned for its unique blend of historical and contemporary exhibition spaces. This year’s theme, “humanity,” features works by 13 artists from 10 countries, exploring human nature and relationships. Notable participants include Pushpamala N, JR, Graciela Iturbide, Martin Parr and Eric Poitevin. Visitors will experience exhibitions addressing themes like colonialism, gender and community relationships, set against the backdrop of Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage. | kyotographie.jp
Photo Brussels Festival, running until 23 February, returns with a month of events that tap into the zeitgeist of contemporary photography. The ninth edition includes exhibitions like The Subtle Gesture, in which Rami Hara and Ugo Woatzi question the expectations tied to masculinities and explore plural identities. Elsewhere, there’s an exploration of generative images in AImagine, where visitors can explore the intersection of AI and photography through works like Pascal Sgro’s Cherry Airlines, plus several shows that dive into contemporary abstraction. Photojournalism is another topic under scrutiny; Géopolis pays tribute to Gazan correspondents working on the ground. Plus, there are exhibitions by Eikoh Hosoe, Anders Petersen, and Frederik Buyckx across various Belgian galleries. | photobrusselsfestival.com
New Photography 2025: Lines of Belonging, on view from 14 September to 17 January 2026 at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, marks the 40th anniversary of MoMA’s celebrated New Photography series. This exhibition brings together 13 international artists and collectives who explore sites of belonging and forms of interconnectedness. Featured artists include Sandra Blow, Tania Franco Klein, Lake Verea, Gabrielle Goliath, Lebohang Kganye, Sabelo Mlangeni, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Nepal Picture Library, Sheelasha Rajbhandari, Prasiit Sthapit, L. Kasimu Harris, Renee Royale and Gabrielle Garcia Steib. Visitors will encounter works that weave personal stories within broader political histories, offering perspectives on intergenerational memory and reimagined archives. | moma.org
These photography exhibitions exemplify the power of the image in shaping the way the world is seen and understood. Themes of humanity and belonging are explored alongside the wider implications of new technology and its impact on artistic expression. Photography has always documented, provoked and inspired, and now that we have 15-megapixel cameras in our pockets, and access to AI tools, we need to continue to ask the question – what is next? These festivals make us stop and think about the adage “seeing is believing” – a saying we might need to reframe as we enter a new era of photographic practice.
Words: Shirley Stevenson
Image Credits:
1. Tania Franco Klein. Mirrored Table, Person (Subject #14) from Subject Studies: Chapter 1. 2022. Inkjet print. 29 1/2 × 39 1/2″ (74.9 × 100.3 cm). © 2024 Tania Franco Klein. Courtesy the artist
2. Imraan Christian, Meta, 2023.
3. Claudia Fuggetti, from Metamorphosis.
4. The Artificial beach inside the Ocean Dome, Miyazaki, Japan, 1996 © Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
5. The Subtle Gesture © Rami Hara.
6. Gabrielle Goliath. Berenice 29–39 (detail). Eleven inkjet prints. Each 35 7/16 × 35 7/16″ (90 × 90 cm). © 2034 Gabrielle Goliath. Photo: Martin Parsekian
