PhEST – International Festival of Photography and Art
The contemporary photography and art festival that turns Monopoli into an open-air gallery on the Adriatic coast
About PhEST
A festival that looks beyond the sea
PhEST – See Beyond the Sea is the International Festival of Photography and Art that lights up Monopoli every year—a gem on the Adriatic coast in the province of Bari, Puglia. Since its inception in 2016, the festival has turned the city's historic center into a sprawling exhibition route: displays take over deconsecrated churches, ancient palaces, the Carlo V Castle, the old port, and urban spaces, turning the entire town into an open-air museum facing the Mediterranean.
From the very beginning, PhEST has looked South and East, beyond the sea: photography and contemporary art become tools to narrate the Mediterranean, its people, and the great transformations of our time. Over ten editions, the festival has brought over 250 exhibitions, more than 400 artists, and thousands of works to Monopoli, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from across Italy and abroad every year.
Photography, art, and new languages
The program is never just a simple collection of images. Alongside big names in international photography, PhEST features contemporary art, video art, installations, and site-specific projects designed to engage with their host locations. The artistic direction is led by Giovanni Troilo, with Arianna Rinaldo as photography curator and Roberto Lacarbonara curating the contemporary art section; the organization is led by Cinzia Negherbon.
The festival is much more than a series of exhibitions: it includes portfolio reviews with international experts, guided tours with artists, a free Open Call for photographers and creatives worldwide, and artist residencies in the area. It is a cultural ecosystem that has made Monopoli a landmark for auteur photography in Southern Italy.
A local Puglian event
PhEST is supported by the Municipality of Monopoli, the Puglia Region, the University of Bari, and the Southern Adriatic Sea Port Authority. Its strength lies in its bond with the city: the works are not confined to a gallery but are displayed among the alleys, on walls, and in historic buildings, inviting residents and tourists to rediscover Monopoli with fresh eyes. Visiting the festival means strolling through the historic center and letting yourself be surprised, exhibition after exhibition, by the power of the images and the beauty of the surroundings.
PhEST — edition 2026
Following the decennial celebrations, PhEST returns in 2026 for its eleventh edition with a title that is both a question and a provocation: "What if?". For three months, from August 7 to November 1, the historic center of Monopoli will once again transform into an open-air laboratory of visions, featuring widespread exhibitions, residencies, and special projects.
The big news this year is the opening to cinema: for the first time, the Open Call and the program will include animation, video, and a competitive section dedicated to international short films, alongside the traditional photography and illustration sections. The curatorial team is confirmed, with Giovanni Troilo as artistic director, Arianna Rinaldo as photography curator, and Roberto Lacarbonara for contemporary art.
Programme PhEST 2026
Dates
The three inaugural days take place on August 7, 8, and 9, 2026; the exhibitions will remain open until November 1, 2026.
The theme: "What if?"
The eleventh edition questions the alternative scenarios of the present: a device to challenge perceptual certainties, where history, identity, technology, and nature can be rewritten, dissolved, or reinvented.
What's new
- Cinema and short films: for the first time, the festival hosts a competitive section dedicated to international short films, alongside the SERIES (still images and illustrations) and SINGLES (video, animation, short films) sections.
- Artist residency: Italian-Canadian artist Sara Angelucci, based in Toronto, is the protagonist of the 2026 residency in the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve.
- Portfolio reviews, guided tours with artists, and special projects spread throughout the historic center.
Exhibition program
The detailed exhibition program, including the list of artists and exhibition venues in Monopoli's historic center, will be announced by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the August opening. Information will be updated upon official publication.
Highlights PhEST 2026
Prices PhEST 2026
Practical information — PhEST
Where
Exhibitions are spread throughout the historic center of Monopoli (Bari), including churches, historic palaces, the Carlo V Castle, the San Leonardo Monastery, Casa Santa, and the old port area. The route is designed to be explored on foot.
How to get there
Monopoli is served by the railway station on the Bari–Lecce Adriatic line, just a few minutes' walk from the historic center. By car, it can be reached via the SS16 Adriatica highway. The nearest airport is Bari–Palese, approximately 60 km away.
Tickets
Admission to the exhibitions requires a ticket valid for the entire exhibition route; reduced rates are available for residents, seniors over 65, groups, and train ticket holders. Portfolio reviews and some side events may require separate registration.
Contact
Official website: www.phest.info — email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — PhEST
Centro storico di Monopoli