Visa pour l'Image - International Photojournalism Festival
The world meeting of photojournalism in Perpignan
2026
About Visa pour l'Image
Visa pour l'Image — edition 2026
The 38th edition of Visa pour l'Image will be held from August 29 to September 13, 2026, in Perpignan. The world's largest photojournalism festival will offer, as every year, about twenty free exhibitions in the heritage sites of the Catalan city, open-air screening evenings, and the presentation of the Visa d'Or awards. More than 200,000 visitors are expected.
38th edition — from August 29 to September 13, 2026
The 38th edition of Visa pour l'Image takes place from August 29 to September 13, 2026, in Perpignan. The international photojournalism festival displays its exhibitions in the city's heritage sites — notably the Couvent des Minimes, the Église des Dominicains, the Chapelle du Tiers-Ordre, and the Palais des Congrès — from August 29 to September 13, every day from 10 am to 8 pm, with entirely free access.
The professional week, which brings together photographers, agencies, editorial offices, and image professionals from around the world, will be held from August 31 to September 5, 2026. It is during this week that the open-air screening evenings at Campo Santo and the presentation of the Visa d'Or awards, which recognize the best photojournalistic works of the year, take place.
About twenty exhibitions are presented each year. Among the subjects announced for 2026 are Gerd Ludwig's report on Chernobyl forty years after the disaster, Diego Ibarra Sánchez's work on a decade of war in Lebanon (2015-2026), Jérémy Lempin's subject on illiteracy in France and Guyane, and Jérôme Gence's report on virtual weddings in Japan. The complete program will be unveiled during the summer of 2026.
Highlights Visa pour l'Image 2026
- World's largest photojournalism festival, 38th edition
- About twenty entirely free exhibitions
- Screening evenings at Campo Santo and presentation of the Visa d'Or awards
- More than 200,000 visitors expected
Programme Visa pour l'Image 2026
From August 29 to September 13, 2026 — Exhibitions
- About twenty free exhibitions in Perpignan's heritage sites (Couvent des Minimes, Église des Dominicains, Chapelle du Tiers-Ordre, Palais des Congrès…), open daily from 10 am to 8 pm.
- Gerd Ludwig — “Chernobyl, 40 years later”: report on irradiated zones.
- Diego Ibarra Sánchez — “The Last War, Lebanon 2015-2026”.
- Jérémy Lempin — “The School of Life: Liberty, Equality, Invisibility”, on illiteracy in France and Guyane.
- Jérôme Gence — report on virtual weddings in Japan.
From August 31 to September 5, 2026 — Professional Week
- Open-air screening evenings at Campo Santo.
- Presentation of the Visa d'Or awards (News, Magazine, Quotidien, Daily Press…).
- Professional meetings and debates.
Complete program to be unveiled during summer 2026.
Prices Visa pour l'Image 2026
Practical information — Visa pour l'Image
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By Car: Perpignan is accessible via the A9 motorway from Montpellier (approx. 1h40) and Barcelona (approx. 1h50). Parking is available in the city center, notably at the Castillet parking and Wilson parking.
By Train: Perpignan station is served by the TGV from Paris (approx. 5h), Montpellier (1h40), and Barcelona (1h30). The station is a 15-minute walk from the historic center.
By Plane: Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport is located 7 km from the city center, with regular connections to Paris.
Exhibition Venues
- Couvent des Minimes: 24 rue Rabelais, 66000 Perpignan — Main exhibition venue
- Église des Dominicains: Rue Rabelais, 66000 Perpignan
- Campo Santo: Rue Amiral Ribeil, 66000 Perpignan — Open-air screenings
- Palais des Congrès: Place Armand Lanoux, 66000 Perpignan
Ticketing
All exhibitions are free and open to the public. Screening evenings at the Campo Santo require registration. For any information: [email protected].
Accommodation
Perpignan has a varied hotel offering. It is highly recommended to book several months in advance, especially during the professional week. The Perpignan Tourist Office can assist you with your search at 04 68 66 30 30.
Visa pour l'Image: The World Reference for Photojournalism
Since 1989, Visa pour l'Image has transformed Perpignan into the world capital of photojournalism every year. Founded by Jean-François Leroy, this unique festival brings together the greatest press photographers, photo editors, agency directors, and image enthusiasts from around the world for two weeks.
A Free Festival Accessible to All
One of Visa pour l'Image's strengths lies in its complete freeness for the public. Over twenty exhibitions are presented in Perpignan's heritage sites, including the Couvent des Minimes, the Église des Dominicains, the Chapelle du Tiers-Ordre, and the Palais des Congrès. These photojournalism exhibitions cover major international current events: conflicts, humanitarian crises, environmental issues, and social and cultural reports.
Screening Evenings at the Campo Santo
Every evening during the professional week, the medieval cloister of the Campo Santo hosts open-air screenings for over a thousand spectators. These evenings are the beating heart of the festival, where the most significant reports of the year are presented, accompanied by testimonials from the photographers themselves.
The Visa d'Or Awards and Grants
Each year, the festival awards the prestigious Visa d'Or, recognizing the best reports in various categories: news, documentary, magazine, and online reporting. Grants and creation support awards are also given to support young photographers and long-term projects. The online prize is endowed with 1,500 euros.
An Essential Professional Week
The professional week brings together the major players in global photojournalism: press agencies, magazines, newspapers, publishers, and cultural institutions. It is a privileged time for networking, portfolio discovery, and debates on the future of press photography in the digital age.
International Reach from Perpignan
With over 200,000 visitors each year, Visa pour l'Image has become a major cultural event for the city of Perpignan and the Pyrénées-Orientales department. The festival significantly contributes to the international influence of the Catalan city and its tourism economy, while raising public awareness of contemporary world issues through the power of images.
Where does it take place — Visa pour l'Image
Visa pour l'Image in brief
History of Visa pour l'Image
Edition 2025 Aug 2025Other festivals near Perpignan
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