Paris Photo 2025 promises an exceptionally rich program that will showcase the global photography scene through multiple exhibitions, conversations, and educational initiatives. The prestigious event will feature more than 130 galleries from around the world, alongside approximately 40 publishing houses, creating one of the most comprehensive photography fairs in the international art calendar. The emerging artists category alone will include 20 representatives, highlighting the fair's commitment to supporting new talent in contemporary photography.
The centerpiece exhibition "Elles - Paris Photo" will be curated this year by Devrim Bayar, senior curator at KANAL - Centre Pompidou, and will focus specifically on celebrating the work of female photographers. This program, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Culture since 2018, has successfully increased the representation of female artists at the fair from 20% to 39%, demonstrating significant progress in gender equality within the photography world. The initiative represents a major effort to address historical imbalances in art world representation.
A major highlight of the 2025 edition will be the European debut of "The Last Photo," the first European presentation of the Estrellita B. Brodsky Collection, which is dedicated to Latin American arts. More than sixty works spanning from the 1940s to the present day will be displayed in dialogue with international figures, housed in the Southeast gallery of the Grand Palais. The exhibition will be curated by José Esparza Chong Cuy and Marie Perennès, offering visitors a comprehensive view of Latin American photographic traditions and their contemporary evolution.
The fair's educational component will include extensive conversation programs and Book Talks designed to engage visitors with photography experts and industry professionals. Hour-long conversations featuring personalities from the art world will run throughout the event, while the Book Talk program, developed in collaboration with Printed Matter, will focus specifically on photography books and their creators. Each afternoon will feature a roundtable discussion followed by three 30-minute presentations, providing in-depth insights into the world of photography publishing.
The prestigious Paris Photo-Aperture Book Award, which has been recognizing excellence in photography publishing since 2012, will celebrate the essential role of books in the dissemination and evolution of photography across three categories. The awards ceremony will honor the First Photography Book, Photography Book of the Year, and Photographic Catalog of the Year, with the presentation scheduled for November 14 at 3:00 PM at the Clock Balcony. This award has become one of the most respected honors in photography publishing.
Educational initiatives will include a unique hands-on experience provided by the International College of Photography through their LE LABO stand, which will feature a full-scale model of a photographic laboratory. Visitors will be guided through the complete process of creating analog photographic prints, gaining understanding of the genesis of many classic and experimental works displayed throughout the salon. Professional photographers and printmakers will be available to explain specialized techniques and encourage visitors in their own photographic projects.
The Student Carte Blanche program will showcase projects from four winners selected from more than 100 art schools across Europe. The 2026 winners include Viktoriia Tymonova, Tom Lyon, Kim-Camille Kreuz, and Mirielle Rohr, representing the next generation of emerging photographic talent. This initiative is a collaborative project between Paris Photo, SNCF Gares et Connexions, and the Picto Foundation, demonstrating the fair's commitment to nurturing young artists.
The signing sessions will provide unprecedented access to the photography community, with more than 400 artists joining Paris Photo this year to sign their published works. This represents a unique opportunity for collectors, enthusiasts, and the general public to meet their favorite artists and engage directly with the creators behind significant photographic works. These personal interactions have become one of the most popular aspects of the annual fair, creating lasting connections between artists and their audiences.
