Les Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles 2027 – France

Les Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles is one of the world’s major photography festivals, bringing together exhibitions, photographers, curators, publishers, photography professionals and audiences across the historic city of Arles in southern France. The festival is known for presenting photography through a wide variety of exhibition venues, from historic monuments and churches to contemporary cultural spaces and temporary exhibition locations.

The festival’s 2027 edition will be the 58th edition and will celebrate the bicentenary of photography. The organization has already confirmed the 2027 edition and its opening and closing dates, while the detailed exhibition program and participating artists will be announced separately. The official announcement describes the forthcoming edition as a major celebration connected with the 200th anniversary of photography.

Les Rencontres d’Arles is not simply a single exhibition venue. The festival takes over Arles and uses the city’s architectural heritage as part of the visitor experience. Historic buildings, cultural institutions and other spaces become temporary galleries, creating an exhibition route throughout the city.

The festival also combines exhibitions with photography workshops, portfolio reviews, talks, screenings, book-related events, educational programs, professional meetings and evening performances. Its wider program has traditionally attracted both photography specialists and general visitors interested in visual culture.

What to expect in 2027

The 2027 edition will place the history and development of photography at the center of its programming because the festival will celebrate the bicentenary of photography. The precise exhibition themes, artists and curators for the individual exhibitions have not yet been fully published by the official festival.

Visitors can expect a program combining historical photography, contemporary practices, documentary work, visual experimentation, archives and emerging photographic approaches. The festival has consistently presented photography across different generations and disciplines rather than restricting its program to one photographic style.

The scale of the festival can be seen from the preceding edition. The official festival reported 47 exhibitions, 400 artists, 30 curators, nearly 4,000 works and more than 12,000 square metres of exhibition space. It also recorded more than 115 public events during its opening week.

The festival’s citywide structure means visitors can build their own itinerary between exhibition venues. The official mobile application has also been designed to help visitors discover exhibitions and events, personalize an itinerary, display tickets and navigate between locations.

Event dates

5 July to 3 October 2027

The 2027 edition will take place throughout this period in Arles, France. The official festival has confirmed these dates in its announcement following the previous edition.

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Venue & exhibition site

Les Rencontres d’Arles uses numerous locations throughout Arles rather than operating from one permanent exhibition center. The historic city provides the framework for the festival, with exhibitions installed in architectural and cultural sites across the city.

The program has previously used venues including the Espace Van Gogh, Croisière, Palais de l’Archevêché, Église des Trinitaires, Église Saint-Blaise, Salle Henri-Comte and other historic buildings. The exact 2027 venue list will be published with the official exhibition program.

The use of historic architecture is an important part of the festival’s identity. Photography is displayed within spaces that have their own architectural and cultural histories, creating a relationship between contemporary images and the city of Arles.

Some exhibitions are also presented outside the central festival program through Grand Arles Express and Associated Arles. These programs extend the photography experience to additional locations and partner institutions.

Full exhibition programme

The complete 2027 exhibition program has not yet been released by Les Rencontres d’Arles. Individual exhibition titles, participating photographers, curators and venue assignments should therefore be added only after their official publication.

The established festival structure includes a large central exhibition program alongside Associated Arles and Grand Arles Express. The previous edition included 47 exhibitions in total, with 11 forming part of Associated Arles and a further 12 exhibitions presented through Grand Arles Express.

The exhibition program traditionally covers multiple areas of photographic practice. These can include documentary photography, photojournalism, historical archives, contemporary photography, conceptual work, portraiture, landscape photography, experimental image-making and photographic publishing.

The festival also gives considerable attention to the relationship between photography and society. Exhibitions can examine questions of identity, memory, history, politics, environment, migration, culture and representation, depending on the artistic program selected for each edition.

The official 2027 program should be used as the definitive source for the exhibition list once individual projects are announced.

Featured artists & designers

The 2027 artist list has not yet been officially published in full, so individual photographers should not be presented as confirmed 2027 participants before the festival announces them.

The preceding program demonstrates the breadth of artists normally represented at the festival. The organization has presented established international photographers alongside emerging artists, documentary practitioners, artists working with archives and creators exploring photography through installation, film and other media.

The festival’s recent programming has included artists such as Clément Cogitore, whose exhibition Memory Palace was produced by Les Rencontres d’Arles. The festival also presented work connected with photographers and artists working across Africa, the Mediterranean and other regions of the world.

The 2027 bicentenary program is expected to place particular emphasis on the history, development and possibilities of photographic image-making, but the precise participating artists and curatorial structure remain subject to official announcement.

Galleries & exhibitors

Les Rencontres d’Arles is a photography festival rather than a conventional commercial art fair, so it does not operate through rows of commercial gallery booths.

Instead, photographers and photographic projects are presented through curated exhibitions organized by the festival and its partner institutions. The participating artists are therefore part of the artistic program rather than commercial exhibitors selling works from individual stands.

The festival also maintains a strong relationship with photographic publishing. Arles Books is an important part of the wider program, bringing publishers, photographers, independent projects and photography books into the festival environment.

Professional activities also include portfolio reviews and opportunities for photographers to meet industry professionals. These programs are particularly relevant to photographers seeking feedback, networking opportunities and connections with the wider photography sector.

The final 2027 list of participating artists, publishers, galleries and partner organizations should be checked through the official festival website once the program is published.

Exhibition halls & sections

Main exhibition program

The principal exhibitions form the core of Les Rencontres d’Arles. These presentations are distributed among different venues throughout the city and can include monographic exhibitions, thematic group shows and historical photography projects.

Associated Arles

Associated Arles is a partner program involving exhibitions and cultural projects connected with the wider photographic ecosystem of Arles. The previous edition included 11 Associated Arles exhibitions.

Grand Arles Express

Grand Arles Express extends the festival beyond the immediate central exhibition route. It connects Les Rencontres d’Arles with partner institutions and exhibitions in other locations in the region. The previous edition included 12 Grand Arles Express exhibitions.

Arles Books

Arles Books focuses on photographic publishing and provides a meeting point for books, publishers, photographers and audiences interested in photographic editions.

Professional program

The professional side of the festival includes portfolio reviews, professional badges, networking opportunities and meetings intended for photographers and people working within the photographic industry.

Talks, workshops & special events

Les Rencontres d’Arles has a substantial program beyond the exhibitions. Public events can include artist meetings, exhibition tours, talks, screenings, performances, discussions and other photography-related activities.

Photography Nights are an established part of the festival’s evening program. Previous editions have presented concerts, film screenings, performances and photographic presentations in distinctive Arles locations, including the Théâtre Antique.

The festival also organizes photography workshops covering subjects such as portraiture, documentary practice, reportage, personal research and photographic editing. Workshops are designed for different levels of experience, including amateurs and professionals.

Portfolio reviews are another important professional activity. They provide photographers with opportunities to present their work and receive feedback from professionals working in photography and the visual arts.

Educational programming is also part of the festival’s mission. Previous editions have included activities for children, family visits, school programs and image-education initiatives designed to develop visual literacy and engagement with photography.

Ticket types

All Exhibitions Pass

The previous edition’s full-price All Exhibitions Pass cost approximately $49.42 after conversion from the official price of €42. It provided one admission per exhibition venue and was valid throughout the festival period.

Reduced All Exhibitions Pass

The previous edition’s reduced All Exhibitions Pass cost approximately $38.83. Reduced eligibility included groups such as young adults, accompanying persons for visitors with disabilities, unemployed people and holders of certain qualifying cards.

Day Pass

The previous edition’s full-price Day Pass cost approximately $41.18. It provided one admission per venue for the selected day. The reduced Day Pass was approximately $34.12.

Individual venue admission

Individual exhibition-venue admission previously ranged from approximately $7.06 to $17.06 depending on the venue.

September Pass

The previous edition’s September Pass, which combined the exhibitions pass with a festival catalogue, cost approximately $81.99.

These are previous-edition prices converted into U.S. dollars because 2027 ticket prices have not yet been published. The conversion uses approximately $1.177 per euro; actual card charges can vary according to exchange rates and payment-provider fees.

VIP & collector access

Les Rencontres d’Arles does not operate primarily as a commercial collector fair, so its professional access model differs from events built around gallery booths and private collector lounges.

A professional badge is available for photography professionals. In the previous edition, the professional badge provided multiple entries to exhibition venues, access to professional services, selected evening events and Grand Arles Express exhibitions.

The previous professional badge cost approximately $88.28 after conversion from the official price. A professional badge combined with the festival catalogue was approximately $117.70. These figures are previous-edition prices rather than confirmed 2027 prices.

The professional program is particularly useful for photographers, curators, publishers, cultural professionals and others working within the photographic sector. The official application also provides professional networking functions for eligible users.

Event rules

Visitors should carry a valid ticket or professional credential when entering ticketed exhibition venues. Different admission products have different access conditions, so visitors should check the conditions associated with their selected ticket.

The festival operates across numerous venues, meaning visitors should check venue-specific information before beginning their itinerary. Some locations may have different accessibility arrangements, opening procedures or capacity restrictions.

Professional visitors using professional badges should follow the conditions attached to the badge and present the badge when entering participating exhibition venues.

Photography and filming policies can differ between exhibitions and venues. Visitors should follow signs and instructions from venue staff, particularly in exhibitions containing sensitive, fragile or specially protected works.

Visitors attending workshops, portfolio reviews or limited-capacity events should follow the individual booking requirements. Some activities require advance registration even when other festival activities can be accessed without additional reservation.

How to get there

Arles is located in southern France in the Provence region and is well connected with major cities in the south of the country. The official festival encourages visitors to consider public transportation and sustainable mobility when planning their trip.

Arles railway station provides direct or connecting services toward major cities including Marseille, Nîmes and Paris. The festival specifically promotes train travel as an environmentally friendly way of reaching the city.

Visitors arriving from abroad can generally connect through major airports serving southern France and continue toward Arles by train or road. Marseille Provence Airport is one of the principal international gateways for the region.

Because the festival uses multiple venues around Arles, visitors staying in the historic center can reach many exhibition locations on foot.

Public transport & parking

Train

Train travel is one of the options officially promoted by Les Rencontres d’Arles. Arles can be reached by rail from Paris, Marseille and Nîmes, with regional services providing connections within southern France.

Local transport

Once in Arles, visitors can walk between many central exhibition venues. The official festival application can help visitors locate exhibitions and plan routes around the city.

Parking

Visitors arriving by car should use designated public parking facilities around Arles and follow local traffic and parking restrictions. Because many exhibition venues are situated in the historic center, parking immediately beside every exhibition is not generally practical.

Sustainable mobility

Les Rencontres d’Arles actively promotes soft mobility and provides information designed to help visitors calculate the environmental impact of their journey. The festival also provides information about regional transport options.

Accommodation areas

Arles Historic Center

Staying in central Arles is convenient for festival visitors because many exhibition venues are located within walking distance. The historic center also provides easy access to restaurants, cafés, shops and cultural attractions.

Around the Railway Station

Accommodation near the railway station can be practical for visitors arriving by train or making short visits. It also provides relatively straightforward connections to the historic center.

Trinquetaille

The Trinquetaille area across the Rhône offers another option for visitors who want to stay close to central Arles while exploring a different part of the city.

Surrounding Provence

Visitors staying outside Arles can combine the festival with trips around Provence. Nîmes, Avignon and other regional destinations can serve as alternative bases, although daily travel should be considered when planning a multi-venue festival itinerary.

Food & refreshments

Arles has a wide selection of cafés, bakeries, restaurants and food markets, particularly around the historic center. Visitors can combine exhibition visits with meals in the city rather than relying on a single festival catering area.

The festival also has cultural spaces where visitors can eat, drink and socialize. The Croisière is described by the festival as a hybrid cultural space and meeting place for residents and visitors, with exhibitions, a bookstore, restaurant and other cultural activities.

Visitors attending exhibitions throughout the city can therefore plan breaks around the historic center’s restaurants and cafés. This is particularly useful because the festival experience is spread across multiple venues.

During major festival events, restaurants and cafés around central Arles can become busy. Booking ahead can be useful for visitors planning meals around popular cultural events.

Accessibility

Les Rencontres d’Arles provides dedicated accessibility information as part of its visitor-planning resources. The festival’s practical information section includes a specific accessibility area alongside ticketing, transportation and visitor information.

Accessibility can vary between exhibition venues because the festival uses historic buildings, churches and other architectural spaces. Visitors with reduced mobility should therefore check the accessibility information for individual exhibitions before planning a route.

The festival’s ticketing information also provides free admission for visitors with disabilities under the eligibility conditions specified by the organization. The previous edition’s ticket information identified people with qualifying disability documentation among the groups eligible for free admission.

Visitors who require specific assistance should contact the festival team before visiting so that suitable venues and routes can be identified.

Must-see exhibitions

The exact must-see exhibition list for 2027 cannot yet be confirmed because the complete 2027 artistic program has not been released.

The bicentenary of photography will be an important context for the edition, making historical approaches to photographic image-making particularly relevant to visitors interested in the development of the medium. The festival itself has confirmed that the edition will celebrate 200 years of photography.

Visitors should also look for major monographic exhibitions, historically focused projects and presentations by emerging photographers once the official program is published.

Grand Arles Express should also be considered by visitors who have enough time to explore beyond the central Arles exhibition route. The program has historically extended the festival through partner institutions and exhibitions outside the city.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition presented 47 exhibitions and featured approximately 400 artists and 30 curators. The festival reported nearly 4,000 works displayed across more than 12,000 square metres of exhibition space.

The program included exhibitions connected with Africa and the Mediterranean, archives, major monographic projects and emerging photographic scenes. The official program described the exhibitions as examining identities, histories, representations and different aspects of everyday life.

Clément Cogitore was among the featured artists, with Memory Palace presented as a festival-produced exhibition. The festival also presented projects by photographers and artists such as Sammy Baloji, Katia Kameli and Thato Toeba.

The wider program was equally substantial, with more than 115 public events during the opening week. Photography Nights included screenings, performances and other evening presentations, while professional and educational programs added further activities.

Official tickets

Official ticket sales are handled through the Les Rencontres d’Arles ticketing platform. The 2027 ticket structure and prices have not yet been published, so visitors should check the official ticketing website when the new sales period opens.

The previous ticketing system offered an All Exhibitions Pass, Day Pass, individual venue tickets, reduced rates and professional badges. This provides an indication of the types of admission that may be available, but it should not be treated as confirmation of the 2027 pricing structure.

The festival also provides physical ticket offices during the festival period, while its mobile application supports electronic tickets and itinerary planning.

Official website: Les Rencontres d’Arles (https://www.rencontres-arles.com/fr)

Official ticketing: Les Rencontres d’Arles Ticketing (https://billetterie.rencontres-arles.com/)

Telephone: +33 4 90 96 76 06

Email: info@rencontres-arles.com