L'Émoi Photographique

A photography festival in the heart of Angoulême

L'Émoi Photographique is an annual photography festival held every spring in Angoulême, Charente. Created in 2013 by Peggy Calvez-Allaire, a graduate of the École Nationale de la Photographie d'Arles, the festival is supported by the association Émoi Photographique. Since its first edition, sponsored by the Ambassador of Benin to UNESCO, the festival has established itself as a must-attend event for contemporary photography in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

A thematic and committed program

Each edition of L'Émoi Photographique revolves around a unifying theme that guides the selection of photographers and exhibited works. The festival has explored Africa (2013), the portrait (2014), arboresecence (2023), the future with "And tomorrow?" (2024), or storytelling with "What if I dared… to tell a story" (2025). The program combines:

• Photographers selected through a call for applications, paving the way for emerging talents
• Invited photographers, recognized on the national and international scene
• A special focus on African photography, a historical thread of the festival since its creation
• At least one work using old photographic processes, to introduce the public to alternative practices

Multiple exhibition venues in the city center

The festival takes over about ten emblematic locations in the center of Angoulême, combining indoor and outdoor spaces to offer an immersive photographic experience:

• Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angoulême (MAAM) — 1 rue Friedland
• Espace Franquin — cultural space dedicated to contemporary creation
• Hôtel Saint-Simon — historic building hosting several exhibitions
• Théâtre d'Angoulême — Scène Nationale
• Hôtel de Ville and Place Marengo — outdoor exhibitions
• Hôtel du Département and Hôtel du Palais

A free and participatory festival

All exhibitions are free and open to all, allowing as many people as possible to discover contemporary photography. The festival also offers a rich program of activities:

• Practical workshops — introduction to cyanotype and old photographic processes
• Portfolio reviews — for photographers wishing to submit their work to professionals
• Guided tours — commented tours of the exhibitions with the curators
• Meetings with photographers — exchanges with the exhibiting artists, especially during the opening weekend

The inaugural weekend is the highlight of the festival, with the official opening at the Musée d'Angoulême followed by meetings with photographers at the various exhibition venues.