Circulation(s) Festival 2027 – Paris, France

What to expect in 2027

Circulation(s) Festival is a major French festival dedicated to emerging European photography. Created in 2011, the festival is organized and artistically directed by the Fetart collective, whose programme focuses on discovering new photographic talent and presenting contemporary visual practices to a broad audience. The festival brings together artists, photographers, professionals and the general public around exhibitions and a multidisciplinary programme that explores the relationship between photography and contemporary art.

The upcoming edition will return to CENTQUATRE-PARIS, a major cultural institution in eastern Paris. The official festival describes the event as a springboard for artists and a place reflecting the energy of contemporary European photography. Its programme is based on a combination of a public call for applications and annual artistic research conducted by the Fetart collective.

Unlike festivals built around a predetermined artistic theme, the 2027 open call specifically states that there is no set theme. Photographers can submit projects that use photography alone or combine photography with other media such as video, installation and sound. Group projects are also eligible, creating a broad framework for contemporary photographic experimentation.

The festival is particularly relevant for visitors interested in discovering photographers at an early stage of their careers. The selection process is intended to identify artists who have not yet had a major exhibition in France, helping Circulation(s) maintain its role as a platform for emerging European photography.

The programme is also expected to extend beyond the main exhibition through professional meetings, educational activities and off-site projects. Previous editions have included portfolio reviews, masterclasses, workshops, photographic walks and exhibitions outside the main venue, although the precise 2027 schedule has not yet been published.

Event dates

Circulation(s) Festival 2027 will take place from May 22 to July 18, 2027, in Paris, France. The official festival website confirms that the event will return to CENTQUATRE-PARIS for its 17th edition.

The festival website currently identifies the edition and venue but has not yet published the complete daily timetable for every exhibition, workshop and professional activity. Visitors should therefore check the official programme before planning individual visits.

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Venue & exhibition site

The principal venue for Circulation(s) is CENTQUATRE-PARIS, a large multidisciplinary cultural centre at 5 rue Curial in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. The venue hosts exhibitions, performances, artistic projects, workshops and other cultural activities throughout the year.

The festival has used CENTQUATRE-PARIS as its principal home for many years. The official 2025 edition described the venue as having accompanied Circulation(s) for twelve years, while the current festival website confirms the return to the institution for the upcoming edition.

The exhibition environment allows photography to be presented through large-scale installations and carefully designed displays rather than conventional commercial gallery booths. The festival’s previous editions have used approximately 2,000 square metres of exhibition space at CENTQUATRE-PARIS.

CENTQUATRE-PARIS itself is a cultural destination rather than simply an exhibition hall. Visitors can therefore encounter the photography festival alongside the venue’s wider artistic environment.

Full exhibition programme

The 2027 programme is centred on emerging European photography and is being developed under the artistic direction of the Fetart collective. The official festival has confirmed that there is no predetermined theme for the open call, allowing artists to submit projects based on their own subjects, approaches and visual research.

The programme is expected to include the principal festival exhibition presenting selected artists. These artists are chosen through the Fetart artistic process, combining the public call for applications with artistic research.

The 2027 open call permitted:

• Photographic projects by European photographers or photographers resident in Europe.
• Projects by artists at the beginning of their careers.
• Individual and group projects.
• Photography combined with video, installation or sound.
• Projects using different contemporary visual formats.
• Works for which the use of artificial intelligence is explicitly disclosed when AI has been used to produce all or part of the submitted images.

The festival also traditionally develops a Focus dedicated to a particular emerging European photographic scene. The official website has confirmed this as a recurring part of the festival’s structure, but the 2027 focus location and artists should not be assumed until officially announced.

Featured artists & designers

The 2027 artist selection has not yet been officially announced. The festival’s published selection calendar states that the names of artists selected for the 2027 edition are scheduled to be announced in November 2026.

This means that individual artist names should not currently be presented as confirmed participants. The final selection will come from the artistic process led by the Fetart collective.

Circulation(s) focuses primarily on emerging photographers rather than established commercial artists. Selected projects can cross the boundaries between photography and contemporary art and may incorporate video, sound, installation or other media.

The festival’s artistic direction is currently made up of seven women specializing in emerging photography. The collective oversees the programme and provides the artistic framework through which new European photographic practices are identified and presented.

Galleries & exhibitors

Circulation(s) is a photography festival rather than a conventional commercial art fair, so galleries and commercial exhibitors are not the central organizational structure.

Instead, the festival works directly with selected artists and presents their photographic projects through a curated exhibition. This makes the event particularly different from photography fairs where galleries represent artists through commercial booths.

Professional involvement nevertheless forms an important part of the festival. Previous editions have included portfolio reviews involving gallery owners, agencies, critics, festival directors and iconographers, giving emerging photographers opportunities to present their work to people working professionally with images.

The 2027 participant list should therefore be understood primarily as an artist selection rather than an exhibitor directory. Once the official artist announcement is published, the festival website will provide the authoritative list of selected photographers.

Exhibition halls & sections

The principal exhibition takes place at CENTQUATRE-PARIS. Rather than organizing the event around commercial gallery booths, Circulation(s) uses exhibition areas to create a collective presentation of contemporary photographic projects.

The festival’s programme has traditionally included several distinct components.

Main exhibition: The principal presentation of selected emerging photographers forms the core of Circulation(s).

Focus: Since 2019, the festival has highlighted a particular emerging European photographic scene through its Focus section. Previous Focus selections have included Romania, Belarus, Portugal, Armenia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Lithuania and Ireland.

Off the walls: Circulation(s) has also presented projects outside CENTQUATRE-PARIS. Previous editions included an exhibition at Bibliothèque Claude Lévi-Strauss and other satellite activities.

The exact 2027 exhibition sections and floor plan will be confirmed when the complete programme is released.

Talks, workshops & special events

Circulation(s) has a strong programme of activities beyond the main exhibition. Previous editions have included portfolio reviews, masterclasses, workshops, photographic walks, conferences, artist encounters and off-site exhibitions.

Portfolio reviews: These professional sessions give photographers an opportunity to present their projects to specialists such as gallery owners, agencies, critics, festival directors and iconographers. Previous reviews were structured as individual sessions and focused on constructive feedback and professional opportunities.

Masterclasses: The Fetart collective has previously organized meetings and exchanges between photographers and professionals. Past subjects have included photography festival applications and selection processes as well as exhibition scenography.

Workshops: Practical workshops have been included in previous programmes and have focused on developing photographic projects and professional practices.

Photographic walks: Previous editions have offered photographic walks that extend the festival experience beyond the exhibition space.

The exact 2027 dates, speakers and booking arrangements for these activities have not yet been published and should be confirmed through the official programme.

Ticket types

The 2027 public ticket prices have not yet been published by Circulation(s). For a planning reference, the official practical-information page for the most recent published edition listed several admission categories. Using the European Central Bank reference rate of €1 = $1.1355, the previous prices convert approximately as follows.

• Full admission: approximately $6.81
• Reduced admission: approximately $5.68
• Reduced admission for eligible young visitors and social-minimum beneficiaries: approximately $4.54
• Return visit: approximately $1.14
• Children under 6: Free

These are previous-edition reference prices and are not confirmed 2027 prices. The official festival website directs visitors to the CENTQUATRE-PARIS ticketing system for admission information.

Some exhibitions connected with the festival have also been free in previous editions, including specific open-access exhibition areas. The final 2027 ticket structure should therefore be checked once the official visitor information is updated.

VIP & collector access

Circulation(s) is not primarily a collector-oriented commercial fair. Its central mission is to support emerging photographers and make new visual writing accessible to the public.

Professional access is nevertheless an important part of the festival. Portfolio reviews have previously connected emerging photographers with gallery owners, agencies, critics, festival directors and image professionals. This creates a professional environment for photographers seeking feedback, exposure and potential opportunities.

The festival has not announced a dedicated 2027 VIP or collector programme. Visitors should therefore not assume that private collector previews or VIP packages will be available unless the organizer publishes them officially.

Event rules

Visitors should follow the visitor regulations of Circulation(s) and CENTQUATRE-PARIS while attending exhibitions and activities.

Photography and recording rules can vary according to individual exhibitions, installations and events. Visitors should follow signs and instructions from venue and festival staff, particularly when photography or recording could affect artworks or other visitors.

Access to professional activities such as portfolio reviews or workshops can require prior registration. Previous portfolio-review sessions were organized with booking and limited participation, demonstrating that professional activities can have different access conditions from the main exhibition.

Visitors should also follow any specific instructions relating to restricted exhibition areas, workshops and off-site events.

How to get there

CENTQUATRE-PARIS is located at 5 rue Curial, 75019 Paris. The venue is situated in northeastern Paris and is well connected to the city’s public transportation system.

Visitors arriving from central Paris can use the Metro, bus, RER and tram connections serving the area. The venue’s location also makes it possible to combine a festival visit with other cultural activities in northeastern Paris.

Visitors travelling from outside Paris can arrive through the city’s major railway stations and then continue by Metro, RER, bus or tram. Those arriving by air can use Paris’s airport transport connections to reach the city’s public transport network.

Because the festival takes place in an active cultural complex, visitors should check the official CENTQUATRE-PARIS access information before travelling for the most current transport details.

Public transport & parking

The official CENTQUATRE-PARIS information identifies several public transport options.

Metro: Metro Line 7 serves Riquet, providing a direct connection to the area around the venue.

Bus: Bus routes 54 and 60 serve stops including Crimée and Curial.

RER: The RER E connection at Rosa Parks provides another option for reaching the venue.

Tram: Tram 3b also serves the wider area through the Rosa Parks connection.

Vélib’: Vélib’ bicycle stations are available around rue Curial, rue d’Aubervilliers, rue Riquet, rue de Tanger, avenue de Flandre and quai de la Seine.

Parking: The official venue information lists several parking facilities within approximately 500 metres of CENTQUATRE-PARIS, including Parking 2000 on rue de Crimée, Résidence Berzelius on rue d’Aubervilliers, Parking résidentiel de Flandre on rue de Flandre and Rouen Flandre on rue de Rouen.

Accommodation areas

Visitors can choose accommodation in several parts of Paris depending on their travel priorities.

19th arrondissement: Staying close to CENTQUATRE-PARIS is convenient for visitors who want to walk or make a short local journey to the festival.

La Villette: The surrounding area contains cultural venues, restaurants and transport connections and can be practical for visitors attending several cultural activities.

Gare du Nord area: This area provides extensive hotel accommodation and convenient rail and Metro connections, particularly for visitors arriving from other French or European cities.

Central Paris: Visitors who want to combine the festival with museums, monuments and other attractions can stay in central neighbourhoods and use the Metro to reach the venue.

Hotel prices vary according to location, room type and demand, so accommodation should be selected according to the visitor’s wider Paris itinerary.

Food & refreshments

CENTQUATRE-PARIS is a large cultural venue with spaces for visitors to spend time before or after exhibitions. Food and refreshment options can also be found in the surrounding 19th arrondissement.

Visitors can explore cafés, bakeries, restaurants and casual food outlets around rue de l’Ourcq, avenue de Flandre and the wider La Villette area.

The exact food services operating inside the venue can change according to the current programme. Visitors who need specific dietary options should check directly with the venue or individual restaurant before visiting.

Because Circulation(s) is an exhibition-based festival rather than a food event, dining is primarily part of the wider Paris visitor experience rather than a central component of the festival programme.

Accessibility

CENTQUATRE-PARIS is a major public cultural venue and provides visitor information concerning access to its activities. Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should consult the venue before travelling.

The festival’s previous ticket information specifically included people with disabilities and their accompanying person within a reduced-admission category. This was part of the published admission structure for the previous edition and should not be treated as a confirmed 2027 ticket rule until the new information is released.

Visitors who need assistance with mobility, seating, access or a particular activity should contact CENTQUATRE-PARIS or the Circulation(s) team before attending.

The festival’s official contact is info@fetart.org, while the organizer also lists the festival contact telephone number as +33 1 85 09 26 11.

Must-see exhibitions

Main Circulation(s) exhibition: The principal festival exhibition is the key destination for visitors interested in emerging European photography. It brings together selected photographers whose projects are chosen through the Fetart artistic process.

Focus section: The annual Focus is particularly important for visitors interested in discovering a specific European photographic scene that may be underrepresented in the festival’s general call for applications. The 2027 Focus has not yet been announced.

Off-site projects: Previous editions have extended the festival outside CENTQUATRE-PARIS through exhibitions and collaborations with other cultural locations. These projects provide an opportunity to see festival-related work in different settings.

Professional programme: Photographers and image professionals should pay particular attention to portfolio reviews and masterclasses when the 2027 programme is published. These activities have historically provided direct professional exchange around photographic practices.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition presented 26 artists representing 15 nationalities and included a dedicated Focus on Ireland. The festival described the exhibition as a presentation of young European photography without a predetermined theme, allowing the selected projects to reflect different contemporary concerns, approaches and commitments.

The Irish Focus featured four artists: Ellen Blair, Clodagh O’Leary, Dónal Talbot and Ruby Wallis. Their inclusion continued the festival’s established practice of highlighting a particular emerging European photographic scene through a dedicated Focus.

The programme also included portfolio reviews, masterclasses, a workshop, photographic and off-site activities, Photo Studios and a public prize. These activities demonstrated the festival’s combination of exhibition, professional development and public engagement.

The previous programme also reflected the festival’s ongoing interest in photography’s relationship with other artistic practices. The official editorial emphasized a transversal approach between photography and other contemporary artistic forms.

Official tickets

The official Circulation(s) website is the primary source for the 2027 ticketing announcement. The current practical-information page provides the previous published admission structure and directs visitors to CENTQUATRE-PARIS for additional ticketing information.

Visitors should wait for the official 2027 ticket information before treating previous admission prices or categories as confirmed. The festival may update admission conditions, activity booking requirements and access arrangements for the new edition.

The official festival website also provides the latest information about the artist selection, programme, Focus, professional events and off-site projects. Because the 2027 artists are scheduled to be announced in November 2026, the official site should be checked again after that announcement.

For general enquiries, the organizer lists info@fetart.org and +33 1 85 09 26 11.