Long exposure

Venice is not merely the backdrop to the event: it is an integral part of the experience. Participants will have the opportunity to photograph among calli, canals and unparalleled architecture, guided step by step by some of the most prominent names in contemporary photography. San Servolo Island, with its generous spaces and its atmosphere suspended in time, offers the ideal setting to fully immerse oneself in the creative process.

14 workshops with master photographers

At the core of the festival are 14 intensive three-day workshops covering a wide range of genres, from portraiture to fashion, from street photography to photojournalism. They are led by an extraordinary selection of internationally renowned photographers, including Jean-Evelyn Atwood, Roger Ballen, Jean-Christophe Béchet, Sam Dameshek, Antoine D’Agata & Tania Bohorquez, Pascal Maitre, Robbie McIntosh, Kourtney Roy, Paul Rousteau and the legendary Steve McCurry.
The workshops are designed for different levels of experience and are open to professionals, semi-professionals and enthusiasts who wish to refine both their visual approach and technical skills.

Special event with Roger Ballen

On 10 April at 7 pm the festival hosts a special public event: the talk BALLENESQUE – Roger Ballen, a Retrospective. With an artistic career spanning more than fifty years, Ballen has developed a distinctive visual language that combines photography, drawing, painting, collage and sculpture in complex installations. Today he is considered one of the most influential and original photographers of the twenty-first century, and this talk offers a rare opportunity to gain insight into his artistic vision and creative journey.

Venezia Photo All Year: photography beyond the Festival

The major new feature of this edition is Venezia Photo All Year, a programme of workshops that will extend throughout 2026. More concentrated formats, small groups and a deeply immersive approach aim to support participants in developing their photographic practice, from technique to personal vision. The programme begins on 23 April with Harry Gruyaert, a leading figure in contemporary colour photography, and will continue in the following months with other international photographers.

How to partecipate

Venezia Photo Festival is organised by San Servolo Srl in collaboration with ADAP, Campus Mana and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. For information about workshops, programmes and registration: www.veneziaphoto.org

Immagine in evidenza: Kourtney Roy, portrait, courtesy Venezia Photo Festival 2026