Street photography festivals are a great source of inspiration and knowledge. They also provide excellent opportunities for networking with like-minded people. As plenty of them are happening, I’m sure there’s one on this list close enough to you.
5 reasons to visit a Street Photography Festival
For me, there are five main reasons I visit street photography festivals:
- To learn and improve during the workshops
- To connect with other street photographers
- To hear talks by advanced photographers
- To get inspired by the exhibition they host
- To explore the city while I’m there
To learn and improve during the workshops
Most of the street photography festivals host workshops. The workshops are given by experienced and well-known photographers, allowing you to learn from them directly.
To connect with other street photographers
Either during the workshops or other activities, these festivals are filled with street photographers like yourself. Starting a conversation isn’t too hard; before you know it, you have a new connection to hang out with, have conversations with, and learn from.
To hear talks by advanced photographers
Most festivals have a line-up of speakers who discuss various topics, often in depth about their methods of working.
To get inspired by the exhibition they host
At the festival, there’s usually an exhibition. Often, it’s with participants and finalists from the contest they hosted. These exhibitions showcase a wide range of photographers and styles, perfect for getting inspired by the work of others.
To explore the city while I’m at it
Chances are, the street photography festival isn’t in your hometown. This provides you with the opportunity to explore a different city. Maybe you even made new connections at the festival before, and can take a photo walk with them—the perfect opportunity to learn from others while exploring.
The Street Photography Festivals around the world, in order of appearance
| Country | City | Event name | Start date for 2025 | Website |
| USA | New York | Women Street Photographers Festival | 10 April 2025 | https://www.womenstreetphotographers.com/ |
| Italy | Turin | EXPOSED | 16 April 2025 | https://www.exposed.photography/en |
| Ireland | Dublin | DSPF | 3 May 2025 | https://www.dspfestival.com/ |
| Sweden | Gothenburg | GSPF | 12 May 2025 | https://www.gothenburgstreetphotofestival.com/en/ |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | Light Leaks Festival | 15 May 2025 | https://www.lightleaks.lu/ |
| Norway | Oslo | OSLSPC | 23 May 2025 | https://oslospc.com/ospf25 |
| Belgium | Brussels | BSPF | 28 May 2025 | https://www.bspfestival.org/ |
| Portugal | Porto | Bienal Fotografia Do Porto | 6 June 2025 | https://bienal25.bienalfotografiaporto.pt/en/activities |
| Denmark | Copenhagen | Copenhagen Photo Festival | 12 June 2025 | https://copenhagenphotofestival.com/festival-program-2025/ |
| France | Arles | Les Rencontres De La Photographie | 7 July 2025 | https://www.rencontres-arles.com/en |
| France | Paris | PISPA | 1 September 2025 | https://www.streetphotoawards.art/ |
| USA | Chicaco | Filter | 17 September 2025 | https://www.filterphoto.org/festival-overview |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | Unseen | 18 September 2025 | https://unseenamsterdam.com/ |
| Portugal | Lisbon | Lisbon Street Photofest | 26 September 2025 | https://lisbonstreet.photo/ |
| Germany | Munchen | Fotodoks | 9 October 2025 | https://fotodoks.de/program/ |
| Mexico | Querétaro | MXSPF | 25 October 2025 | https://mxstreetphotofest.com/ |
| Australia | Sydney | Head On | 7 November 2025 | https://headon.org.au/festival |
| France | Paris | Paris Photo | 13 November 2025 | https://www.parisphoto.com/en-gb.html |
If I missed any street photography festival, let me know in the comments!