Summary
- PhMuseum Days 2026 takes place in Bologna from 1 to 4 October under the theme “Archipelago”.
- Photobook Mania joins the main programme for the first time.
Event Details
From 1 to 4 October, PhMuseum Days 2026 returns to Bologna under the theme “Archipelago”, with a programme spanning exhibitions, screenings, talks, workshops and photobooks.
The fifth edition of the international festival, under the artistic direction of Giuseppe Oliverio, uses the idea of an “archipelago” to connect different photographic practices and experiences. Its core programme unfolds across several locations, with Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini as the main venue.
A major change for 2026 is the integration of Photobook Mania into the main PhMuseum Days programme for the first time. Its second edition will take place on 3 and 4 October at Serra Madre in Giardini Margherita, with free admission.
From the Bastardini to Bologna’s public space
Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini hosts solo exhibitions and projects by Max Pinckers, Jonah Samson, Daniel Martínez, Robin Alysha Clemens, Allegra Baggio Corradi, Federico Clavarino and Francisco Cantón, along with a screening of projects selected through the festival’s open call.
The programme continues beyond the main venue. At the Cortile dell’Archiginnasio, the collective “Archipelago” installation brings together images by 40 photographers from different countries, printed on semi-transparent nautical fabric and mounted on a metal structure conceived as a photographic maze. The installation runs from 19 September to 8 October and is free to visit.
On Via dell’Abbadia, CHEAP’s public billboards host Caro Mirzoyan’s “Absolute: Tehran Cats”, while PhMuseum Lab, Sala Berti and Spazio Labo’ extend the programme further across the city.
Three approaches to contemporary photography
In “2020-MMXX”, Max Pinckers uses multiple analogue cameras triggered at the same time so that a single moment is recorded from different angles. The project examines how a narrative changes when there is no single authoritative viewpoint.
Robin Alysha Clemens presents “How To Carry A Home”, combining photographs from the Bakota region of Ukraine with archival material. The project explores home and memory through the history of communities displaced when villages in the area were flooded for a hydroelectric project.
In “Absolute: Tehran Cats”, Caro Mirzoyan turns the camera towards cats in Tehran and uses instant thermal printing on discarded receipt paper. The series examines restrictions around photographing in public space and the conditions under which images can be produced and carried.
Photobook Mania: two days dedicated to the photobook
Photobook Mania brings together independent publishers, artists, schools and booksellers from different countries. Participants include Chose Commune, GOST Books, CESURA Publish, Editorial RM, Overlapse, Witty Books, RVM Hub and Départ pour l’Image.
The programme includes book presentations, discussions and exhibitions focused on how photobooks are conceived and produced. Admission to Serra Madre is free and the detailed schedule is available on the official Photobook Mania page.
Free workshop with Adam Broomberg
On 2 October, from 2 pm to 6 pm, Adam Broomberg will lead “The Man of Family” in the Aula Magna of the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna. The workshop is organised by PhMuseum in collaboration with Fondazione MAST and the Academy of Fine Arts.
The starting point is Edward Steichen’s landmark 1955 MoMA exhibition “The Family of Man”. Participants will work on copies of the catalogue using collage, cut-ups and other physical interventions, then use AI tools to re-examine the images’ narrative. Participation is free, with a maximum of 60 participants and applications open until 27 September.
Tickets and practical information
The festival’s opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday 1 October at 6:30 pm at Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini. A day pass costs €10, while a full-festival pass costs €15. Several installations and activities in public or partner spaces are free to access.
More information and the full programme are available on the official PhMuseum Days 2026 page.
What we think
The strongest aspect of PhMuseum Days 2026 is how it connects exhibitions, photobooks, public installations and discussion around images across the same city. For photographers and visual creators, the programme offers a chance to see not only finished projects but also different ways of presenting and circulating photography.
Frequently asked questions
When does PhMuseum Days 2026 take place?
From 1 to 4 October 2026 in Bologna, Italy.
What is this year’s theme?
The theme is “Archipelago”, focusing on the coexistence of different photographic practices, identities and visual approaches.
Where is the main venue?
The main exhibition venue is Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini, with additional activities taking place across Bologna.
Does Photobook Mania require a ticket?
No. PhMuseum lists the Serra Madre event on 3–4 October as free admission.
