Aljada: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival (Xposure 2026) will be inaugurated on Thursday in Aljada, Sharjah.
According to Emirates News Agency, the festival is organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) and will celebrate photography, filmmaking, and visual arts in an immersive, knowledge-driven, and culturally rich manner for a week, until February 4. The event features an extensive agenda with 95 exhibitions, 3,200 artworks, and more than 570 visual events.
The opening ceremony includes a keynote address by Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, highlighting the Greek capital's participation as the Guest of Honour for the festival's milestone 10th edition. This program will showcase the historic city's centuries-long heritage, cultural transformations, and collective memory, with a dedicated pavilion displaying over 140 artworks by six artists.
Greece's involvement enhances Xposure's renewed emphasis on cultural exchange through its newly structured thematic zones. Under the theme 'A Decade of Visual Storytelling', Xposure 2026 reflects its evolution over ten years into an international gathering of 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 led by international experts. Additionally, there is a comprehensive film programme and a global trade exhibition featuring leading brands and companies specializing in imaging and visual content technologies.
This year's edition is organized around 12 dedicated thematic zones, mapping the Xposure visual experience and organizing exhibitions and programmes across clearly defined storytelling disciplines. These zones cover various aspects such as People and Portraiture, Sports and Action Photography, Oceans and Water Conservation, and Documentary Photography, among others.
Xposure 2026 brings together prominent international photographers and visual artists whose work spans photojournalism, documentary practice, nature and wildlife, travel, sport, and fine art. Featured participants include David Burnett, Morten Qvale, Joshua Holko, and Mohammad Anabtawi, among others.
The festival also highlights a strong fine art and creative lineup, featuring artists such as Christoffer Relander, Leslie Smolan, and Richard Le Manz, among others. Environmental storytelling will be a focal point at Xposure 2026 through the Conservation Summit, to be held on February 2 under the theme 'Troubled Waters'. The summit will gather photographers, scientists, and ocean explorers to discuss solutions for protecting marine ecosystems.
The summit underscores the oceans' critical role in combating climate change, highlighting the growing risks to marine biodiversity. Through talks, discussions, and visual narratives, the summit positions photography and film as powerful tools for scientific communication and policy dialogue, reinforcing Xposure's commitment to addressing global environmental challenges.
Xposure continues to bolster its international reputation through its Photography and Film Awards, with the 2026 edition drawing the highest participation in history. The competition received 29,000 photography submissions and 634 film entries from more than 60 countries.
Open to the public, Xposure 2026 invites photographers, filmmakers, students, professionals, and visual arts enthusiasts to engage in a dynamic experience combining exhibitions, dialogue, and hands-on learning.