Portrait(s) — Vichy Photography Rendezvous
The only photography festival in France dedicated to the portrait
About Portrait(s)
Created in 2013 by the City of Vichy, Portrait(s) is the only photography festival in France exclusively dedicated to the art of the portrait. From June to October, the Grand Établissement Thermal, the Parc des Sources, and emblematic spaces of the spa town host monumental outdoor and indoor exhibitions, artist residencies, and mediation programs. With nearly 57,000 visitors per edition, Portrait(s) has become an unmissable event in contemporary photography.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Portrait(s) at the best price.
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Portrait(s): When Vichy Becomes a Photography Laboratory
Since 2013, every summer, the city of Vichy transforms into a vast open-air photographic trail. Portrait(s), the photographic rendezvous of the City of Vichy, is the only festival in France exclusively dedicated to the art of the portrait. From June to early October, exhibitions take over the most emblematic locations of the spa town, blending exceptional architectural heritage with contemporary photographic creation.
The Grand Établissement Thermal, the Festival's Showcase
The centerpiece of the festival, the Grand Établissement Thermal, a majestic building inaugurated in 1903, hosts the main monographic exhibition each year. This listed building, a jewel of thermal architecture, offers a spectacular setting for major retrospectives dedicated to internationally renowned photographers. Among the artists who have exhibited there: Denis Rouvre, Sarah Moon, Liu Bolin, Nadav Kander, Isabel Muñoz, and for the 2026 edition, David LaChapelle.
An Exhibition Trail Throughout the City
Beyond the Grand Établissement Thermal, Portrait(s) spreads throughout the city:
- The Lac d'Allier esplanade: monumental outdoor photographic exhibitions, accessible to all
- The Parc des Sources: photographic installations in one of Vichy's most beautiful parks
- The Halle des Sources: indoor exhibitions in this heritage site
- The Vichy University Center: exhibitions and artist residencies
- The Station forecourt: a photographic entry point for visitors
Artist Residencies and Cultural Mediation
The festival is not limited to exhibitions. It develops an ambitious program of photographic residencies, inviting artists to create on-site, in connection with the territory and its inhabitants. The mediation programs — La Voix du Regard, Des Mots pour voir, Portrait(s) s'invite à l'école — demonstrate a strong commitment to transmitting and educating through images, reaching all audiences, from schoolchildren to enlightened amateurs.
Constantly Growing Attendance
Since its creation, Portrait(s) has experienced remarkable growth. With nearly 57,000 visitors in its best editions, the festival has established itself as a major cultural highlight of the summer season in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The free access to most outdoor exhibitions, combined with the quality of the invited artists and the beauty of the venues, explains its popular success.
2026: David LaChapelle and the Bicentennial of Photography
The 14th edition of Portrait(s), from June 19 to October 4, 2026, promises to be exceptional. The Grand Établissement Thermal will host a major retrospective of David LaChapelle, with over 100 works spanning four decades of creation. In parallel, the festival will celebrate the Bicentennial of Photography (2026-2027), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Musée Nicéphore Niépce, through an unprecedented exhibition on the Lac d'Allier esplanade.
Portrait(s) — edition 2026
The 14th edition of Portrait(s) will take place from June 19 to October 4, 2026. The Grand Établissement Thermal will host a major retrospective of David LaChapelle with over 100 works. The festival will celebrate the Bicentennial of Photography in partnership with the Ministry of Culture.
14th Edition — Summer 2026: David LaChapelle and the Bicentennial of Photography
From June 19 to October 4, 2026, Portrait(s) returns for an exceptional edition. The Grand Établissement Thermal will host a major retrospective of David LaChapelle, featuring over 100 works spanning four decades of creation — from his beginnings in fashion and pop culture to his most recent mythological and moral series. Iconic pieces will be displayed alongside previously unseen works, offering a comprehensive panorama of one of the most spectacular photographers of our time.
In echo to this exhibition, the festival will celebrate the Bicentennial of Photography (2026-2027), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Musée Nicéphore Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône. An unprecedented exhibition on the Lac d'Allier esplanade will trace the major milestones in the history of photography in France.
The 2026 artist residencies will host Laetitia Bica, who will work on performance and community at CAVILAM–Alliance Française, and Patrick Tourneboeuf, who will continue his photographic documentation of European spa towns inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with a focus on Bath in the United Kingdom. The program La Voix du Regard (The Voice of the Gaze), entrusted to Brigitte Patient, will guide visitors through the work of Yohanne Lamoulère.
Programme Portrait(s) 2026
2026 Program
- Main Exhibition: David LaChapelle — retrospective of over 100 works, Grand Établissement Thermal
- Bicentennial of Photography: outdoor exhibition, Lac d'Allier esplanade, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Musée Nicéphore Niépce
- Residency: Laetitia Bica — performance and community, CAVILAM–Alliance Française
- Residency: Patrick Tourneboeuf — UNESCO spa towns (focus on Bath)
- La Voix du Regard: Brigitte Patient on the work of Yohanne Lamoulère
- Des Mots pour voir: text-image dialogues (Fondation Neuflize OBC)
- Portrait(s) s'invite à l'école: photographic workshops with schoolchildren
Highlights Portrait(s) 2026
To Remember for 2026
- David LaChapelle: exceptional retrospective of over 100 works at the Grand Établissement Thermal
- Bicentennial of Photography: national celebration in partnership with the Ministry of Culture
- 14th edition of the only French festival dedicated to photographic portraiture
- Residencies by Laetitia Bica and Patrick Tourneboeuf
- From June 19 to October 4, 2026
Prices Portrait(s) 2026
Practical information — Portrait(s)
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By car: Vichy is accessible via the A719 motorway (from the A71) from Paris (approx. 3h30) or Clermont-Ferrand (approx. 45 min). Parking available in the city center and near the exhibition venues.
By train: Vichy station is served by Intercités trains from Paris-Bercy (approx. 3h) and TER trains from Clermont-Ferrand (approx. 35 min), Lyon, and Moulins.
Exhibition Venues
The exhibitions are spread across several emblematic locations in Vichy: the Grand Établissement Thermal (1 avenue Eisenhower), the Parc des Sources, the Halle des Sources, the Lac d'Allier esplanade, the University Center, and the Station forecourt.
Prices
The majority of outdoor exhibitions are free to access. Access to exhibitions at the Grand Établissement Thermal may be subject to a modest entrance fee. Consult the official website for current prices.
Practical Tips
- Allow half a day to visit all the exhibitions
- The exhibition trail is family-friendly and accessible to people with reduced mobility
- Guided tours and mediation sessions are offered throughout the festival
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Portrait(s) at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Portrait(s)
Grand Établissement Thermal de Vichy
1 avenue du Général Dwight Eisenhower, 03200 Vichy