Grain d'Pixel Festival

Grain d'Pixel: Contemporary Photography at the Heart of Grand Besançon

The Grain d'Pixel Festival — officially the Besançon Photography Festival — is a major cultural event organized by the Grain d'Pixel association since 2016. This contemporary photography festival unfolds every autumn across about fifteen locations in the Grand Besançon Métropole, Saône, and the Musée des Maisons Comtoises de Nancray.

An Exceptional Multi-Site Festival

The strength of the Grain d'Pixel Festival lies in its multi-site presence. Exhibitions take place in emblematic and diverse venues:

• The Musée des Maisons Comtoises in Nancray: exhibitions in a unique heritage setting
• The Kursaal in Besançon: a group exhibition featuring around twenty photographers
• The CHU of Besançon: photography comes to the hospital
• The Mairie de Saône: exhibitions in a community setting
• The Maison natale de Victor Hugo: dialogue between literature and photography

The Grain d'Pixel Prize

Each year, the festival awards the Grain d'Pixel Prize, recognizing a photographer for the originality and quality of their work. The prize is awarded during the opening weekend at the Kursaal, in the presence of the exhibiting artists and the public. This prize contributes to the international visibility of the festival and supports emerging photographic talent.

International Artists to Discover

The festival hosts photographers from very diverse backgrounds, offering unique perspectives on the contemporary world. The 2025 edition notably presented the works of Jennifer Brachet, Loona Sire, Muhanad Baas, and Thomas Piguet at the Musée des Maisons Comtoises, while the Kursaal brought together the works of 27 photographers in a major group exhibition.

Meetings, Screenings, and Workshops

Beyond exhibitions, the festival offers artist talks, portfolio screenings, portfolio reviews for emerging photographers, and educational workshops to introduce all audiences to photographic art. The volunteers of the Grain d'Pixel association ensure a warm welcome and guided tours at the various sites.