The 13th International Photography Festival

50 exhibitions welcoming visitors | Hundreds of photographers from Israel and across the globe | Special events | Film screenings | Guided tours | Artists talks | Activities for the whole family

A major highlight of Israel’s cultural calendar, the International Photography Festival returns for its 13th edition, bringing together exceptional photographic works, diverse artistic perspectives, and compelling visual stories from around the world. Over the years, the festival has established itself as a leading platform for contemporary photography, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.

This year’s edition will showcase the work of more than 200 leading photographers from Israel and across the globe, alongside dozens of unique exhibitions highlighting PHOTO IS’s social initiatives and community-based programs.

אזרחים / Citizens / مواطنون

Modern democracies were founded upon fundamental principles aimed at promoting equality and mitigating social injustice, among them the separation of powers, majority rule coupled with the protection of minority rights, and the freedom of speech and the press. Today, as these values appear to be under increasing scrutiny, there is a vital need for civic practices that ensure the existence of mechanisms for critique and visibility outside formal governmental institutions. Out of this necessity, this year’s festival theme was born: “Citizens.” It seeks to pause and reflect on the moments where the camera and the narrative transform into tools for a civic demand for visibility, recognition, and change.

At the heart of this multidisciplinary event lies the premise that citizenship is not merely a legal status granted by the state, but a continuous act of presence within space. In this festival, photography and narrative function as an act of active citizenship. Through the participants’ lenses, “alternative knowledge” is revealed knowledge derived from the daily struggle with structural hardships and social distress, yet also from profound community resilience.

This is a sober and powerful gaze, formulating new insights into justice, belonging, and hope from the experience of marginality. The narratives accompanying the images grant them the validity of social evidence; they fuse personal pain into a clear public stance, transforming forced transparency into a carved presence. Photography, historically tethered to proof and documentation, is now faced with a new question: What if truth is not a static concept waiting to be uncovered, but a dynamic process reborn in every moment through a plurality of narratives?

The festival interprets the public sphere as a space where knowledge from the margins is placed center stage, functioning as a critical authority that holds a mirror to the center. It is an invitation to an eye-level dialogue, where the spectator is not merely an “observer” but a participant in a human, political, and social encounter. “Citizens” is a call to recognize that photography and testimonies rising from below, from within reality itself, are essential building blocks in the establishment of a more democratic and participatory society. It is a moment where the margins do not wait for external definition, but rather redefine themselves—present, visible, and influential.

Wondering what to see and when to visit?

The best way to experience the festival is through one of our guided tours. Led by professional guides, these tours offer an opportunity to explore the festival’s most compelling exhibitions, gain insight into the artists’ creative processes, and discover the stories behind the photographs.

Tour capacity is limited – book early to secure your spot