Athens Photo Festival Showcases Global Photography at Benaki Museum with 70 Artists from 30 Countries

The Athens Photo Festival, Greece’s most prominent international photography event, features 70 artists and collectives from 30 nations in its latest edition. Running until 26 July at the Benaki Museum on Pireos, the exhibition spans 3,000 square meters, utilizing all available spaces to present a diverse array of contemporary photographic works.

With a focus on contemporary photographic expression, the festival examines pressing social, political, and intercultural themes. The program includes photographic installations, interactive exhibits, screenings, archival materials, and art publications, reflecting current concerns in the field.

Manolis Moresopoulos, Artistic Director of the Athens Photo Festival, explains:

“We encourage visitors to explore the exhibitions as a cohesive experience. There is no single overarching theme, nor thematic divisions. Instead, we invite audiences to observe how photography gains meaning in context—how individual works engage in dialogue, creating connections or contrasts that provoke thought.”

“Beyond technical excellence, we ask: When does a photograph become an archive? A testament? A fictional narrative? A political statement or act of resistance? These questions intertwine throughout the exhibition, addressing themes like displacement, conflict, climate change, memory, identity, and self-determination.”

The main exhibition is enhanced by screenings, educational programs, talks, guided tours, and parallel events, fostering public engagement. The festival also hosts year-round platforms supporting emerging artists, publishing practices, urban collaborations, and artistic research.

Festival Director’s Perspective

“Photography’s evolving nature—driven by technological shifts and artistic innovation—is central to our mission. Visitors need not decode each photograph in isolation; the interplay between works invites personal interpretation and reflection on how imagery shapes and reflects society.”

Organized by the Hellenic Centre of Photography, the 2026 edition honors the legacy of Stavros Moresopoulos, the festival’s founder and longtime curator.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Young Greek Photographers Programme

Curated by Marilia Fotopoulou, this parallel show at the Benaki Museum highlights emerging Greek talent. Selected from 400 applicants, 14 artists under 35 are featured:

• Asterianna Arvaniti Apsokardou, Danae Danika, Kalliopi Dimitrakopoulou, Marianthi Efthymiou, Mandalena Georgatou, Konstantinos Gonis, Nikos Koutouzos, Nikos Motsiopoulos & Lambros Tyrlis, Alexandra Paputsi, Chrysanthi Pipini, Valerie Roumeliotis Ottavy, Elisabeth Sikalou, Ioanna Spentzou.

Book Program

Curated by Sylvia Sachini, this initiative celebrates photobooks as artistic and narrative forms through exhibitions, talks, and awards focused on independent and experimental publishing.

Satellite Program

Curated by Sylvia Sachini, this network extends the festival beyond the Benaki Museum through partnerships with Athens’ cultural institutions, creating a citywide platform for photography and discourse.

Athens Photo Research Center

Established to advance research in photography and visual culture, this center hosts residencies, educational initiatives, and international collaborations, linking artistic practice with scholarly dialogue.

Main Exhibition Artists

Sara Abbaspour, Verdiana Albano, Sama Alshaibi, Katerina Angelopoulos, Taysir Batniji, Hicham Benohoud, Olga Cafiero, Frida Lisa Carstensen Jersø, Giorgos Giatromanolakis, Sean Cham, Sara De Brito Faustino, Colin Delfosse, Mathias Depardon, Antone Dolezal Police Station Faroq, Francesca Giaitzoglou Watkinson, Florence Goupil, Mohamed Hassan, Sadie Cook & Jo Pawlowska, Lisa Karnad, Abhishek Khedekar, Viktor Koen Elliott Kreyenberg, Laurence Kubski, Camille Lévêque, Morgan Levy, Jinyong Lian, Nicos Markou, Justin Maxon & Dr. H. “Herukhuti” Sharif Williams, Serhii Melnychenko, Randa Mirza, Demetris Mytas, Alvin Ng, Musuk Nolte, Laura Pannack, Alana Perino, Maria Quigley, Hashem Shakeri, Arhant Shrestha, Bharat Coin, Christina Tasheva, Tanya Traboulsi, Varvara Uhlik, Eva Wei, Sasha Velichko, Joselito Verschaeve, Carmen Winant, Cemre Gönülli, Tereza Zelenkova.

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