Capri Photography Festival

A photography festival in the heart of Capri

The Capri Photography Festival is an annual event dedicated by Fondazione Capri to imagery and visual storytelling, transforming one of the island's most evocative locations into a gallery overlooking the sea. The festival is hosted at the Certosa di San Giacomo, in the municipality of Capri (Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania): its Small Cloister hosts the exhibitions within a monumental setting that is an integral part of the visitor experience. It is not a festival of concerts or performances, but an exhibition itinerary that invites you to slow down: a few carefully chosen works in a space that compels you to truly look.

The international open call

The driving force of the festival is an open call for professional and amateur photographers from all over the world. Each edition proposes a theme that becomes the common thread for submitted projects; a jury selects the most compelling works, which are then produced, installed, and exhibited at the Certosa. The numbers reflect the initiative's reach: in 2025, the call received 177 submissions from 37 countries and over 2,600 photographs, with projects arriving from Argentina, Australia, China, Indonesia, Mauritius, and Yemen. This is how the festival bridges two worlds: that of established names and that of emerging research.

The 2026 edition: "Travels and Mirages"

The 18th edition, scheduled from August 30 to October 11, 2026, revolves around the theme "Travels and Mirages", inspired by the bicentenary of the rediscovery of the Grotta Azzurra (1826–2026), a place of mystery and legend linked to the era of Emperor Tiberius. Here, photography becomes a threshold, a space of passage toward distant worlds—real or merely imagined—with the sea understood as both a concrete destination and a symbolic territory. The exhibition is curated by Denis Curti and features Paolo Ventura (Milan, 1968), who presents an original project dedicated to the Grotta Azzurra: six large-format images born from hand-built paper and cardboard sets, including Naufrago and Brigantino.

From 2009 to today: a collection of perspectives

Fondazione Capri has been promoting exhibitions by major photography masters since 2009, and over time, the festival has become a fixture in the island's cultural calendar. Recent editions illustrate the curatorial direction:

• Mediterranean Vision — the relationship between photography, light, and the landscape of the South;
• Inner Landscape (16th edition) — the image as an exploration of intimacy;
• We Are History (17th edition, 2025) — personal and collective memory, featuring winning projects by Claudia Corrent and Ci Demi;
• Travels and Mirages (18th edition, 2026) — travel, the sea, and the imagination surrounding the myth of the Grotta Azzurra.

The Certosa di San Giacomo, a setting that makes the difference

The monumental complex of the Certosa di San Giacomo, now a state museum managed by the Museums and Archaeological Parks of Capri, is not just a container. The cloisters, white vaults, and views of the coast engage with the exhibited works, changing the way they are perceived. The installation in the Small Cloister, intimate and silent, provides an almost meditative experience, far removed from the pace of large photography fairs.

Capri off-season: the right time to visit

By scheduling the event between late August and October, the Foundation has chosen the period when the island becomes breathable again. Those arriving in September or October will find the sea still warm, the trails of Monte Solaro and Villa Jovis accessible without the heat, and a Piazzetta with a more human rhythm. A visit to the exhibition is easily combined with other events for the Grotta Azzurra bicentenary hosted at the Certosa and with a day dedicated to the coast, between Marina Piccola, the Faraglioni, and the viewpoints of Anacapri.

Why it's worth visiting

• An auteur photography itinerary on one of the most famous islands in the Mediterranean.
• The opportunity to discover projects selected by an international jury.
• The unique setting of the Certosa di San Giacomo, both a monument and a museum.
• A cultural proposal that integrates into the visit of the monumental complex.

The Capri Photography Festival is now a reference point in the cultural landscape of Campania: an opportunity to experience the island beyond its postcard image, following the gaze of photographers who reinterpret its light, sea, and memory.