ARLES.- The 56th edition of the Rencontres d'Arles, the world-renowned photography festival, is set to take place from July 7 to October 5, 2025, in Arles, France. This year’s festival promises a vibrant and diverse program, spotlighting Australia and Brazil while honoring both established and emerging photographers. The event, which drew a record 160,000 visitors in 2024, continues to solidify Arles as a global capital of photography.
The festival’s 2025 edition, themed "Disobedient Images," will explore photography as a tool for resistance, testimony, and social transformation. Director Christoph Wiesner emphasized the program’s commitment to cultural exchange, drawing inspiration from thinkers like Édouard Glissant and Alban Bensa. Exhibitions will span continents, featuring works from indigenous Australian artists in "On Country: Photography from Australia" and Brazilian contemporary scenes in "Ancestral Futures," alongside retrospectives of iconic figures like Letizia Battaglia and Claudia Andujar.
A significant focus this year is the increased representation of women photographers. French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati highlighted the inclusion of emerging talents such as Lila Neutre, Louise Mutrel, and Camille Lévêque, alongside established names like Nan Goldin, who will receive the 2025 Kering Women In Motion Award, and Berenice Abbott. Dati noted, “The work of women photographers now has its rightful place in our programming, and we must ensure that it remains so.”
The festival will also feature innovative exhibitions such as "Yves Saint Laurent and Photography," showcasing the couturier’s relationship with the medium, and "U.S. Route 1," a modern reinterpretation of Berenice Abbott’s unfinished project by Anna Fox and Karen Knorr. Additionally, the Louis Roederer Foundation Discovery Award will return to the Espace Monoprix, curated by César González-Aguirre, to promote emerging talent.
Local and regional leaders expressed strong support for the event. Martine Vassal, President of the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council, described the Rencontres as “a formidable cultural and economic catalyst,” while Arles Mayor Patrick de Carolis emphasized its role in job creation and cultural accessibility, with over 10,000 local visitors in 2024. Extended hours from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and initiatives like "Back to School in Images" aim to broaden public engagement.
The festival’s success is bolstered by partnerships with entities like the Ministry of Culture, the Sud Region, and private sponsors such as Kering and LUMA. Françoise de Panafieu, President of the Rencontres d'Arles, announced the acquisition of the Maison des Arènes, a new year-round space to promote inclusion and photography education, reflecting the festival’s evolving mission.
