Xposure 2026 Celebrates Ten Years Of Visual Storytelling In Sharjah With Global Artists

The Xposure International Photography Festival is set to celebrate its 10th edition, themed ‘A Decade of Visual Storytelling’. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), this event will take place from 29th January to 4th February 2026 at Aljada, Sharjah. It continues to be a prominent global platform for visual storytelling, showcasing photography, film, and visual arts.

Over 420 photographers, filmmakers, and visual artists from around the world will participate in more than 570 events. The festival will feature 95 exhibitions and display 3,200 artworks. Attendees can explore various forms of imagery, ranging from still photography to moving pictures and artistic expression to documentary realism.

Xposure 2026 will offer a dynamic schedule with 126 talks and panel discussions, 72 workshops, and 280 portfolio reviews. A comprehensive trade show will also be part of the festival, highlighting the latest innovations and technologies in photography, filmmaking, and imaging industries from leading global brands.

This year marks the first time Xposure will honour a Guest of Honour country. Athens will be celebrated through six exhibitions that explore Greek heritage, society, and contemporary life via photography. This highlights the universal language of photography in bridging cultures.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of SGMB, stated that Xposure was created not just as a festival but as a new conversation between humanity and its image. He emphasised that every photograph is a translation of how we see ourselves. "Through the lens," he said, "stories cross borders faster than words."

Allay added that this tenth edition celebrates an evolving global creative economy where photographers and filmmakers are architects of connection. He noted how captured moments can shift perceptions and build bridges between people who may never meet. Xposure aims to keep this dialogue alive from Sharjah.

Athens as Guest of Honour

Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, expressed pride in Athens being honoured at one of the world's leading photography festivals in Sharjah. He highlighted that this recognition reflects Athens' lasting influence on global creativity. Events like these deepen cultural ties with Sharjah based on shared beliefs about culture's power to connect people.

The Xposure International Photography and Film Awards 2026 will be a festival highlight. This edition has received a record number of entries: 29,000 photography submissions and 634 film entries from over 60 countries. Of these entries, 14,359 photography submissions from 109 nations advanced to judging.

Awards Recognising Excellence

The awards acknowledge excellence across ten photography categories such as Architectural, Mobile Photography, Nature & Landscape, Night Photography, Portraiture, Photo-manipulation and AI, Sports Photography, Street Photography; plus a Junior category for UAE residents aged 7 to 18. Film categories include Short Film, Animation, Cinematic Arts, and Documentary.

The festival continues to celebrate outstanding talent in visual storytelling worldwide by recognising creativity alongside technical mastery within these diverse categories.

With inputs from WAM