After nearly two decades of growth, when every city wanted a photography festival as a relatively straightforward way of bringing in visitors and culture, and smart photographers realised the potential rewards of getting involved, what does 2022 bring? Is this year a return to something like normal? A crucial test to see if festivals can keep ahead in an era of pandemics and climate change? Perhaps a flowering of new ideas and liaisons for people desperate for warmth and connection after two years of lockdown - “the roaring 20s”?
It does seem that some festivals are keeping their options open, planning late and staying flexible; others have rescheduled. Here are the ones we know about in Europe (plus a couple further afield) in 2022. Some are called festivals, some fairs - the latter more focussed on art sales - but we’ve put them all together as there is so much overlap.
We always recommend that photographers visit festivals if they can. If you've never been you can expect lots of exhibitions, books, events and happenings, plus the chance to meet other photography lovers, especially if you can get along at the opening week or weekend. Some also have attached portfolio reviews and conferences.
Any we have missed? Please let us know!
MARCH
- 18th March (to 22nd May) Biennale für aktuelle Fotografie, Germany
- 19th March (to 3rd July) Format Festival, Derby, UK
- 22nd March (to 22nd May) Jeu de Paume Festival, Paris, France
APRIL
- 1st April to 28th May, Encounters of Young International Photography, Niort, France
- 1st to 27th July Brescia Photo Festival Milan, Italy
- 2nd till 29th May Circulations Festival, Paris, France
- 7th – 10th April, Art Paris, Paris, France
- 20th – 24th London Art Fair, London, UK
- 22nd April - 10th July Riga Photography Biennial, Latvia
- 23rd April – 27th November Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
- 28th - to 1st May, MIA (Milan Image Art) Fair, Milan, Italy
MAY
- 1st – 31st ScotiaBank Contact Photo Festival, Toronto
- 5th – 15th Biennial Pipas, Geneva, Switzerland
- 6th – 29th Bienne Festival of Photography, Switzerland
- 7th – 9th Photo North Festival, Manchester
- 12th – 15th Photo London, London
- 7th – 29th RiAperture Ferrara Italy (weekends)
- 18th – 22nd Rotterdam Photo Festival Netherlands
- 20th – 22nd May Photo Doc fair, Paris
- 20th – 29th Eat It - environmental Photo Festival, Zingst, Germany
- 21st May to 12th June Photolux Festival, Lucca Italy
- 20th May to 18th September Hamburg Triennial of Photography, Germany
JUNE
- 2nd – 12th Copenhagen Photo Festival, Denmark
- 2nd – 30th Belfast Photo Festival, Northern Ireland
- 8th June – 24th July, Athens Photo Festival, Greece
- 9th June – 16th October, Festival La Gacilly-Baden Photo, Austria
- 14th – 19th June Photo Basel, Switzerland
- 25th June – 4th July F/Stop Festival, Leipzig Germany
JULY
- 1st – 31st Photo Ireland Festival, Ireland
- 4th – 25th September Arles Les Recontres de la Photographie, France
- 6th – 12th Chania International Photo Festival, Greece
- 14th July to 4th Sept LOOK Liverpool
- 20th – 24th Experimental Photography Festival Barcelona
AUGUST
- 27th August – 11th September Visa Pour L’Image Perpignan, France
SEPTEMBER
- 2nd – 4th Berlin Photo Week, Germany
- 12th – 16th iPres 2022 (conference), Glasgow
- 15th – 18th Unseen Photography Fair, Amsterdam
- 8th September – 23rd October, Breda Photo, Netherlands
- Date TBC - Photo España, Spain
- Date TBC - Vintage Photo Festival, Poland
OCTOBER
- 1st – 2nd Hull International Photography Festival
- 7th – 9th Books On Photography (BOP) Bristol photobook festival
- 7th – 9th The Eye Festival, Aberystwyth
- 20th October – 20th December Rencontres De Bamako, Mali
NOVEMBER
- 3rd – 20th Photo Saint Germain, France
- 10th – 13th Paris Photo, France
- 17th – 27th Photo Is:rael, Tel Aviv
- 18th – 21st Photo Vogue Festival, Milan
- date TBC - Lagos Photo Festival, Nigeria
Photo: Polycopies at Paris Photo, November 2021