European Photography

The XXI edition of European Photography, scheduled in Reggio Emilia from April 30 to June 14, 2026, revolves around the theme "Ghosts of the everyday", an invitation to explore what remains beyond appearances, continues to generate new visions. The artistic direction is entrusted to curators Luce Lebart, Tim Clark, and Walter Guadagnini. The edition features 20 exhibitions in the official circuit and over 300 in the OFF circuit, with intense opening days from April 30 to May 3.

Opening Days (April 30 - May 3, 2026)

The first long weekend concentrates the most vibrant part of the festival: conferences, artist talks, book presentations and signings, portfolio reviews, workshops, the [Parentesi] Bookfair dedicated to independent publishers, and performances. Among the announced guests are Loredana Lipperini, Simona Vinci, Annamaria Testa, psychoanalyst Luigi Zoja, and trumpeter Nello Salza.

Official Circuit - Venues and Exhibitions

Chiostri di San Pietro

• "Bravo" — Felipe Romero Beltrán
• "Our Hidden Room" — Mohamed Hassan
• "Automated Refusal" — Salvatore Vitale
• "Le Jardin d'Hannibal" — Marine Lanier
• "Stains and Ashes" — Ola Rindal
• "Subject Studies: Chapter I" — Tania Franco Klein
• "The Season" — Giulia Vannelli
• "Vestiges du futur" — Frédéric D. Oberland
• "Milk Wood" — Simona Ghizzoni (European Photography commission)
• "Keep the Fire Burning" — Francesco Colombelli and AÏDA Center

Palazzo da Mosto

• "Ghostland" — group exhibition
• "L'albergo della lontananza" — Federica Mambrini
• "The serpent's thread" — Emilia Martin
• Projects selected from the Open Call (chosen from over 700 applications)

Palazzo Scaruffi

• "200×200. Two centuries of photography and society", curated by Walter Guadagnini, for the bicentennial of the first photograph (Niépce, 1826): from Daguerre and Nadar to Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Robert Capa, and Berenice Abbott.

Palazzo dei Musei

• "Luigi Ghirri. A Series of Dreams", with musical curation by Giulia Cavaliere
• "Voci" — Giovane Fotografia Italiana (13th edition), featuring seven under-35 artists and the Luigi Ghirri Award

Chiesa dei Santi Carlo e Agata

• "Ghostwriter" — Elena Bellantoni

Spazio Gerra

• "Canterò soltanto il tempo" — exhibition dedicated to Francesco Guccini

Collezione Maramotti

• "Heaven's truth" — Ndayé Kouagou (Italian debut)

OFF Circuit

Over 300 independent exhibitions spread across private apartments, gardens, artist studios, galleries, and shops in the city center, with the OFF@school initiative involving local schools.

• Theme "Ghosts of the everyday", XXI edition
• 20 exhibitions in the official circuit, over 300 in the OFF circuit
• The major exhibition "200×200. Two centuries of photography and society" for the bicentennial of photography
• Tributes to Luigi Ghirri and Francesco Guccini
• Curators Luce Lebart, Tim Clark, and Walter Guadagnini

How to get there

Reggio Emilia is served by the Milan-Bologna railway line: the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana (high-speed) station is a few minutes from the center, while the historic station is right in the city center. By car, take the Reggio Emilia exit from the A1 motorway. All festival venues are within walking distance in the historic center.

Tickets

The single ticket for the official circuit costs €20 (full price) and €18 (reduced for over 65s); it allows access to all official circuit exhibitions for the entire duration of the festival. The ticket office is located at the Chiostri di San Pietro, in via Emilia San Pietro 44/c. Guided tours cost €5 in addition to the ticket (package of 4 tours for €15). The OFF circuit is largely free.

Information

Tel. +39 0522 444446 — [email protected] — www.fotografiaeuropea.it