Xposure 2026 Kicks Off in Sharjah Celebrating Global Photography

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival (Xposure 2026) will open tomorrow in Aljada, Sharjah.

Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the week-long festival runs until February 4 and celebrates photography, filmmaking, and visual arts through exhibitions, workshops, talks, and immersive experiences. Xposure 2026 features 95 exhibitions, 3,200 artworks, and more than 570 visual events.

The opening ceremony will include a keynote by Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, as Greece participates as Guest of Honour. A dedicated pavilion will showcase over 140 artworks by six Greek artists, highlighting Athens’ heritage and cultural transformation.

Xposure 2026 follows the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling” and brings together more than 420 photographers, filmmakers, and visual artists from over 60 countries. The programme includes 126 talks and panel discussions, 72 workshops, and 280 portfolio review sessions, alongside a global trade exhibition of imaging and visual content technologies.

The festival is organised into 12 thematic zones, including People and Portraiture, Sports and Action, Oceans and Water Conservation, Athens, Documentary, Travel and Adventure, Nature and Wildlife, Fine Art and Creative Expression, Photojournalism, and independent photography awards.

Top international photographers such as David Burnett, Morten Qvale, Joshua Holko, Marco Ronconi, Mohammad Anabtawi, Simon King, and others will participate. Fine art and creative photography will feature Christoffer Relander, Rashed Alsumaiti, Leslie Smolan, Richard Le Manz, Romany Hafez, Hengki Koentjoro, and more.

Environmental storytelling takes centre stage with the Conservation Summit on February 2, themed “Troubled Waters.” Leading photographers, scientists, and ocean explorers will discuss solutions to protect marine ecosystems, tackle climate change, and raise awareness of marine biodiversity threats.

Xposure 2026 also hosts the Xposure Photography and Film Awards, recording historic participation with 29,000 photo submissions and 634 film entries from over 60 countries.

Open to the public, Xposure 2026 invites photographers, filmmakers, students, and visual arts enthusiasts to experience exhibitions, interactive sessions, and creative learning. Full details are available at www.xposure.net.