Xposure 2026 Opens In Sharjah To Mark A Decade Of Visual Storytelling
Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 has opened its 10th edition in Sharjah, bringing global photographers, filmmakers and visual storytellers together under the theme "A Decade of Visual Storytelling". H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, attended the launch at Aljada, signalling a major week for visual culture in the emirate.
The festival, organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, runs from 29th January to 4th February 2026 at Aljada. More than 420 photographers, filmmakers, visual artists and storytellers are participating, making Xposure one of the largest photography and film gatherings worldwide. The programme focuses on both artistic expression and public engagement with visual media.
Now in its 10th year, Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 presents a wide schedule of events and exhibitions. The festival features more than 95 exhibitions and 3,200 artworks. Visitors can attend 126 talks, 72 workshops and 280 portfolio reviews, alongside a trade show that displays recent tools and technologies used in photography and filmmaking for professionals and enthusiasts.
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The opening ceremony and first talks introduced a strong focus on shared responsibility and human stories. Speakers highlighted how images can record reality, challenge assumptions and build understanding across borders. The festival’s curators framed the week as a space where visual storytelling addresses rapid technological change while keeping attention on people and lived experience.
In the main opening address, Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, examined how images shape public awareness in a fast digital era. "Art does not settle, it also beautifies reality," Allay said. "In an age of algorithms, we must ask: is the image merely a result, or is it a complete story?" Allay linked this question to current global media habits.
Allay stressed that the real strength of photography depends on the photographer’s purpose, not just technology. "It is about creating images that improve consciousness and touch the soul, where innovation meets conscience, technology meets wisdom." Allay also reminded audiences of the festival’s core goal. "The image should remain a space for humanity, a bridge between what we see, what we feel, and what we choose to take responsibility for."
Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens and Guest of Honour, spoke about visual storytelling as a tool for dialogue between societies. "Photography allows us to see what might otherwise remain unseen, and to hear voices that might otherwise remain unheard," said Doukas. Doukas welcomed Xposure’s global reach and also pointed to growing cultural cooperation between Athens and Sharjah, including shared efforts to widen public access to culture.
Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 and digital storytelling debates
The festival’s first fireside chat, titled "Visual Stories that Change Everything", brought a media industry viewpoint to these themes. Sanford Climan, President of Entertainment Media Ventures and producer of films such as The Aviator, Ali and Boyz n the Hood, spoke with Virgin Radio Dubai presenter Kris Fade. Climan described the current information landscape and addressed concerns about trust in digital content.
Climan drew attention to the volume and speed of online media. "We are flooded with an enormous amount of text, micro videos and sometimes false information, or at least we don’t know what is right and what is not right," he observed. Climan said this environment increases the need for honest image-making and for storytellers who value accuracy and emotional clarity.
Discussing artificial intelligence and short-form formats, Climan separated useful tools from human judgement. "AI is a tool. It can help us edit, research, even inspire. But the spark - empathy, emotion, the human moment - that still belongs to us." Climan argued that audiences respond most strongly when images carry genuine feeling, especially when algorithms filter what people see.
Climan linked advanced technologies with the need for direct connection between creator and viewer. "High tech demands high touch," Climan said. "And when you walk through Xposure, you feel that human touch in every image." He also underlined that human imagination and empathy cannot be replaced. "I think we can never lose human empathy. There is something embedded in our neurons, as opposed to processing chips - they work biologically, organically, chemically, electrically, in ways that computers don’t."
Fade closed the conversation by reflecting on how the festival has grown beyond its local base. Fade described Xposure as "not just a regional success, but a gift to the world of visual storytelling." The session framed the rest of the week as a space to question how visual stories are created, shared and interpreted in an age of fast information and artificial intelligence.
Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 and human stories of exile
The second fireside chat, "A Visual Dialogue: Human Stories Through Modern Art and Contemporary Photography," focused on memory, conflict and displacement. Sheikh Sultan bin Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of Barjeel Art Foundation, spoke with photographer Muhammed Muheisen about how Arab artists have used visual art to record forced migration and loss over many decades, especially in relation to Palestine.
Sheikh Sultan discussed artworks that depict Palestinian refugees after 1948 and explained how these pieces preserve collective memory. He noted that many artists chose to record exile during periods when few exhibition opportunities existed. "When they had the chance to exhibit, they chose to show the journey of refugees," he said, highlighting repeated depictions of families, children and forced journeys that still speak to current audiences.
Muheisen described how documenting refugee journeys affected personal and professional views. "There is no better way to tell the story than being a part of it, and you will never actually be a part of it, because at the end of the day, you’re not a refugee and you have somewhere to go back to," he explained. Muheisen stressed the distance between observer and subject, even with deep engagement.
Speaking about the emotional force of photographs, Muheisen said: "Every picture has a voice in it. It’s a silent voice, and it has a soul. If a picture doesn't manage to touch your soul and move you, it failed," he stated. He then described the ethical dimension of his practice. "We are humans taking pictures of other human beings. When I look at this photograph, I see struggle, I see courage, I see determination. And this is where the artist succeeded in delivering that message. And this is what I do my best to share with the world."
Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 tours and cultural partnerships
After the ceremony, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi toured the Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 site with Haris Doukas. The delegation visited the Guest of Honour pavilion, which presented artworks and exhibitions focused on Greece’s visual traditions and modern creative scene. The pavilion aimed to deepen artistic and cultural exchange between Sharjah and Athens through shared stories and perspectives.
The tour programme continued with a stop at The Big Heart Foundation’s space. Representatives offered H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi a photographic book that records several humanitarian initiatives in which H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi has participated. The visit highlighted how photography can document charitable projects and long-term social work across different regions.
H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi also visited the Sharjah Youth pavilion, where emerging talents presented visual projects. The delegation then explored the "A Journey from the Creativity of Sharjah" pavilion. This section combined interactive photographs and creative videos with immersive sound design, presenting various locations across the emirate and showing how young image-makers interpret their surroundings.
During the tour, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi viewed several exhibitions and spoke with participating photographers, filmmakers and visual artists. Presenters outlined the ideas, locations and technical approaches behind their projects. These discussions underlined the festival’s role as both an exhibition platform and an active meeting point for professionals, students and visitors interested in visual storytelling.
Across its 10th edition, Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 brings together international guests, regional institutions and new voices to examine how images record conflict, culture and everyday life. Through exhibitions, talks, workshops and themed pavilions, the festival links Sharjah with global conversations on photography, technology and empathy, while keeping human experience at the centre of its programme.
With inputs from WAM
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