Xposure 2026: 10th Photography Festival in Sharjah Begins

Sharjah is set to host the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, Xposure 2026, from January 29 to February 4 at Aljada. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the 7-day festival celebrates a decade of visual storytelling, professional growth, and global photography dialogue.

This year, the festival introduces the new Hadara Stage alongside the expanded Stage X. Together, the stages will host more than 126 talks, dialogues, and discussions by global leaders and photography experts.

Workshops and Portfolio Reviews

Xposure 2026 will feature 72 workshops for photographers at all levels, covering street, documentary, landscape, and cinematic photography. Practical sessions will teach key skills such as light, composition, color, and editing.

Notable workshops include:

• The Theatre of the Ordinary by street photographer Vineet Vohra, focusing on capturing everyday scenes.

• Landscape Photography: Vision and Technique by Mohammad Anabtawi, teaching expressive landscape photography.

In addition, over 280 portfolio review sessions will connect participants with photo editors, curators, and industry professionals. Reviewers include Aidan Sullivan, Claire Harbage, Pulitzer winners Essdras M. Suarez and Mohammed Muheisen, and senior editors from National Geographic and Getty Images.

Global Conversations on Stage X

Stage X will feature panels on migration, freedom, and trust. Highlights include:

• Stories of Migration, Culture and Humanity, celebrating Athens as Guest of Honour, featuring Christina Kalligianni, Maro Kouri, Antonios Pasvantis, and Dimitris Tosidis.

• How Freedom Survives in Afghanistan by photojournalist Kiana Hayeri, exploring ethical documentation of women’s lives.

• How to Build Trust in Difficult Places by Tomasz Tomaszewski, covering patience and responsibility in sensitive environments.

Hadara Stage Debut

The Hadara Stage will focus on cross-border dialogues and cultural empathy. Key sessions include:

• Harnessing Soft Power, with leaders Glenn Gainor, Odessa Rae, and Ayten Mirzoyeva, discussing storytelling’s global impact.

• Exposing the Trade Secret: A Conservation Paradox, exploring ethical wildlife filmmaking with director Abraham Joffe and journalist Adam Cruise.

Xposure 2026 promises a unique blend of learning, networking, and cultural exchange for photographers and enthusiasts, reinforcing Sharjah’s position as a hub for global visual storytelling.