Ffoto Cymru 2026: There’s More to Life
Ffotogallery Announces Ffoto Cymru 2026: Wales’ International Festival of Photography
Ffotogallery is delighted to announce the return of Ffoto Cymru – Wales’ International Festival of Photography, taking place throughout October 2026 in galleries and venues across the country. Following the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, the festival once again invites artists to present bold, thoughtful and innovative photographic work that pushes the boundaries of contemporary lens‑based practice.
At the heart of the 2026 festival is the theme “There’s More to Life”, a call to question the systems that shape how we see and understand the world. The programme will explore how dominant Western frameworks—rooted in capitalism, ableism and patriarchy—inform our perspectives, and how photography can help us imagine alternative ways of living, knowing and relating to one another.
By foregrounding matriarchal traditions, spiritual perspectives and diverse forms of knowledge, Ffoto Cymru aims to open space for voices and experiences that have historically been marginalised. Through exhibitions, installations, public sharings and events across Wales, the festival encourages audiences to reconsider their assumptions and engage with a wider spectrum of lived realities.
The full programme will be announced later this summer, featuring newly commissioned works alongside re‑presentations and experimental configurations of contemporary photography and lens‑based art.
Open Call for Artists
Ffotogallery invites submissions from all artists living in Wales, as well as Welsh artists based elsewhere. Applicants must not be in full‑time education at the time of applying.
Building on efforts initiated in 2024 to address the historic underrepresentation of women and non‑binary artists within Ffotogallery’s programme, the organisation particularly encourages submissions from artists who identify as female or non‑binary.
Selected artists will receive:
- A £500 artist fee
- Support for producing new or unrealised work
- Guidance for funding applications where relevant
Copyright remains with the artist, and submitted images will not be reproduced without permission.
Key Dates
- Submission deadline: 23:59 GMT, Tuesday 7 April 2026
- Notification of results: End of April 2026
- Installation period: Late August – September 2026
- Festival dates: 1–31 October 2026
Entry is free, and artists may submit multiple bodies of work, though only one series per artist will be exhibited.
How to Apply
Artists can submit their work via the online form available here: Apply here before 23:59, Tuesday 7 April: All entries must be received before the deadline. Image files must be clearly labelled with the artist’s name, title of work and year.
For support with the application process, contact info@ffotogallery.org or call 02920 341667.
