Appennino Foto Festival

The seventh edition of the Appennino Foto Festival in 2026 is divided into several phases spread throughout the year and across the six municipalities of the Macerata area (Belforte del Chienti, Caldarola, Camporotondo di Fiastrone, Cessapalombo, Serrapetrona, Tolentino). The chosen theme, "Regenerate. Where the journey heals", links the Franciscan Year of journeys with the recovery of the Sibillini territory after the 2016 earthquake.

The artistic director is Stefano Ciocchetti, and the president of the Ph3 association is Marco Gratani. Among the new features of this edition is the launch of a School of Nature Photography in the former monastery of San Lorenzo in Belforte del Chienti, funded as part of NextAppennino.

Preview in Belforte del Chienti — January 31, 2026

• At the Ex Oratorio, Piazza Umberto I: institutional presentation of the seventh edition (5:30 PM) and conference "Artificial Intelligence and Photography" with journalist Alessandro Curti (6:00 PM).

Opening — April 2, 2026 (Ascoli Piceno)

• Inauguration of the retrospective exhibition "Nel segno della luce" by the Photonica3 collective at Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno, open until April 26.

Summer weeks — June 25-28 and July 2-5, 2026

The summer core of the festival, spread across the six municipalities of the Macerata area. Among the announced events in Belforte del Chienti and its surroundings:

• Friday, June 26 — "Marte Bianco" (White Mars), a meeting where Marco Buttu recounts expeditions to Antarctica
• Saturday, June 27 — "Racconti di convivenza" (Stories of coexistence), meetings with the festival photographers

The program for the two weeks includes: photographic exhibitions in the villages, workshops and photographic walks in the Monti Sibillini, meetings with the authors, and the awards ceremony for the international Asferico and IBC Photo Award competitions. The detailed schedule with precise times and locations for each exhibition in the villages is published on the official website appenninofotofestival.com.

Autumn session — Autumn 2026

• New exhibitions and in-depth discussions related to the Impressum competition.

How to get there

Belforte del Chienti can be reached by car from the SS77 Val di Chienti highway, exit Belforte del Chienti, in the hinterland of the Province of Macerata. The nearest train station is Tolentino, on the Civitanova Marche-Fabriano line. Reference airport: Ancona-Falconara.

Venues and Municipalities

The festival is spread across six municipalities in the Macerata area: Belforte del Chienti, Caldarola, Camporotondo di Fiastrone, Cessapalombo, Serrapetrona, and Tolentino. In Belforte, events are held in the historic center and the former Oratory of Piazza Umberto I; the School of Nature Photography is established in the former monastery of San Lorenzo.

Information and tickets

Detailed program, venues, and access methods are published on the official website appenninofotofestival.com and on the festival's social media channels. Most events are free admission.

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes for photographic walks and clothing suitable for the mountains. The Sibillini area offers farm stays and accommodations spread throughout the villages of Macerata.