Where photography artists meet and share
Chester Photo Festival, 2nd Ed.
16-29 October 2026
Line-up:
Sylvia Franco, Dylan Garcia, Charles Binns, Paul Morris, Carl Copeland, Katia Butterworth, Andréia Kris, Silva Swift, Samuel Alexander, Kat Wood, Alicia Lehmann, Claire Maxfield, Dawn Woolley, Ryan Maher, Karolina Duskova, Roberto Tenace, Thibault Belouis, Rae Seaman, Sue Lloyd, Emily Brackenbury, Eugenia Llanez, Ruth Dillon, Robert Bedson, Anastasia Bogdanova, Gülbin Özdamar Akarçay, Megan Hoey, Nadiia Vinichenko, Neil Johansson, Janina Wilde, Le Chat Blanc, Tom Ranahan, Gareth McGarvie, Esther Towler, Renata Ostiak, Mike Sutton, Samuel Oladele, Avalyn Godfrey, Thomas Fells, Clive Ingram, Emma Gibbon, Oliver Tovar Urbina, Bob Bohme, Evgeniia Savenkova, Sylwia Long, Mike Sharps, Thomas Money, Faye Williams, Orchid Li, Mark Peachey, Nowell Snaith, Sam Williams, Henry Hall, Alan Larsen, Robby Ogilvie, James Cochrane, Louis Sartori, Alexandra Douglas, Ho Chun Yu Jerry, Philip J Smith, Mark Carline, Ross Samson, Pete Carr, Christopher Cristobal Newberry, Eva Katsaiti, Matthew Garbutt, Robert Moye, Nigel Whitbread, Caroline Hodgson, Amanda Wright, Jane Barker, Albert Adrian Vrăbiuță, Jonny Nolan, Shane Kirrane, Peter Bonnell, Rebecca Soliman, Andrei Panfiloiu, Mahan Abasian, Will Keay, Neale Willis, Samantha Clarke, Sébastien Pageot, Kit Hurren, Lata Oakley, Imogen Glanville, Mark Chapman, Stephen Rendall, Jagmeet Singh, Armando Tinnirello, Lee Cooper, Chris Oakley, Sam Welburn, Ania Ready, Ornella Mignella, Raluca Lupaşcu, also featuring works from the Trusting Voices and AI Symposium: Tracy Piper-Wright, Holly Birtles, Peter Ainsworth, Paul Jones, Martin Newth, India Lawton, Fergus Heron, Guy Mayman, Neuza Morais, Alberto Gonzalez, Stephen Clarke and Tom Hignett, and the festival committee: Erik Knudsen, Alexandru Modoi, Cian Quayle, Ian Clegg, Ana-Cristina Irian and Ceyiz Makal Fairclough.
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Private view 16th October, 2 pm-4 pm, followed by the Artists' Hangout Place from 5 pm (see details below)
- Exhibition prints on: Hahnemühle Photo Satin / Lustre (220–260 gsm), 12-colour Canon LUCIA PRO II archival pigment ink.
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The Festival Hardack Book will be available for purchase at the main venue.
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General Sales: Prints and books are available on demand at the festival. Pricing is set by each artist and provided upon request.
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Participant Exclusive: Participants may order festival-quality prints of their own work, 50 x 40 cm, at a fixed rate of £25.
Opening weekend: 16 - 18 October
Friday 16th October:
- 2 pm - 4 pm Opening: Exton Park Campus, University of Chester, Senate House, CH14BJ (see Map)
- 5 pm - 11 pm Artists’ hangout place: meet the artists and network (social drinks & dinner). Brewhouse & Kitchen Chester, CH1 1QY (see Map)
Saturday 17th October:
- 11 am - 1 pm & 2 pm - 4 pm Artist Talks, Exton Park Campus, University of Chester, Senate House, CH1 4BJ (see Map)
- 11 am - 4 pm Grosvenor Museum, Lecture Theatre, CH1 2DD (See Map), Digital projection of the photographs
- 5 pm - 11 pm Artists’ hangout place: meet the artists and network (social drinks & dinner). Brewhouse & Kitchen Chester, CH1 1QY (see Map)
Sunday 18th October:
- 11 am - 1 pm & 2 pm - 4 pm Artist Talks, Exton Park Campus, University of Chester, Senate House, CH1 4BJ (see Map)
- 11 am - 4 pm Grosvenor Museum, Lecture Theatre, CH1 2DD (See Map), Digital projection of the photographs
17th - 29 October venues
Exton Park Campus, University of Chester, Senate House, CH1 4BJ (see Map)
- Tuesday - Sunday, 11 am - 4 pm
Monday Closed
Chester Picturehouse, CH1 2AR (See Map)
- Monday - Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm,
- or as long as the Chester Picturehouse is open, during late films
Grosvenor Museum, Lecture Theatre, CH1 2DD
- 17th - 18th October, 11 am - 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday, Digital projection of the photographs.
St John’s Church, Chester, CH1 1QX (See Map)
- 17th - 29th October Exhibition, during the Church opening times and services (check the times with the venue)
St Werburgh’s Church, Chester, CH1 1QJ (See Map)
- 17th - 29th October Exhibition, during the Church opening times and services (check the times with the venue).
Other venues, events and workshops:
(To be updated by 30 Sept 2026, participatory events to be booked in advance at events@chesterphotofestival.com)
- 22nd - 24th October portfolio review
- 22nd - 24th October hands-on and workshops
- Chester Photo Festival Archive prints
- Photo books and prints on the table.
- Other events, video, sound and performances to be added here
We include a variety of non-standard entries, such as installations, videos, projections, objects on display, larger works, or focused small-group projects.
Making Voices Heard
Building on 2025’s success, 85 international artists, 15,000 visitors, across six city centre venues, and supported by our landmark 148-page hardback book, we invite you to the 2nd edition to explore photography through myths, feelings, memories and personal stories.
Join our inclusive network!
I. Open Call: Late deadline: 15th July - Closed
- FREE ENTRIES up to 5 works per participant.
- Only if your work is selected, we will ask for a late entry participation fee of £60 per work.
- For students and Artist books, the fee remains at £45 per work, with limited places.
- The late deadline will close once 300 works have been selected.
II. Open call: Early deadline: 15th May - Closed
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Only if your work is selected will we ask for an early entry participation fee of £45 per work.
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The entries are closed
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Step 1: Prepare up to 5 JPEGs. The shortest side must be at least 6 inches at 300 dpi.
- Step 2: Create a Word document with the title, year, size, and 100 words personal statement for each work.
- Step 3: Submit via the online form or email events@chesterphotofestival.com.
Technical Note: If files exceed 10Mb, send your entry via email or, at your convenience, via one of the alternative options as follows: WeTransfer.com, Dropbox, Google Docs, OneDrive, or MailDrop.
The Chester Photo Festival welcomes moving images and short films that intersect and engage with photography, such as, but not limited to, work: inspired by photographs, photography and photographers; exploring trans-disciplinary collaborations; developing installation and interactive relationships with photographs and photography; profiling photographic artists; documenting or engaging with photographic processes; working with photographic communities and their photographic practices; and telling stories emanating from, or responding to, photographs and photography.
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The entries are closed
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Step 1: Provide an online link and a representative still image.
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Step 2: Include a document with the Title, Year, a 100-word bio, and a 100-word artist statement.
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Step 3: Submit via the online form or email events@chesterphotofestival.com.
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Multiple entries (up to 2): Please contact us directly for guidance.
Technical Note: If your work is not yet accessible to the public, send us a private link and include the details in the Entry Form below, as an additional message.
We invite entries of artists' books, zines, albums, catalogues, and published or limited editions.
We seek publications, ranging from handmade books and albums to published editions, that explore personal experiences, myths, and stories through photography and its narratives that resonate with our vision of making voices heard.
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The entries are closed
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Step 1: Prepare a PDF file presenting your book.
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Step 2: Include a document with the Title, Year, 100-word bio, and 100-word artist statement.
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Step 3: Submit via the online form or email events@chesterphotofestival.com.
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Multiple Entries (Up to 5): For multiple artist book entries, please email us for guidance.
Display Options: If your work is selected, one copy is typically donated to our archive for public handling. Alternatively, specify in your form if the book is for "Display Only" in closed cases.
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1 December 2025 Open Call for Entries.
- 15 May 2026 Early Entries Deadline.
- 15 June 2026 Late Entries Deadline.
- By 30 June 2026, notifications will be sent for early entries.
- By 30 August 2026, notifications will be sent for late entries.
- 15 September 2026, Festival Programme to be announced.
- 16 October 2026 Preview (time, location TBC).
- 16 - 18 October 2026 Main event (programme TBC).
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16 - 29 October 2026, the Chester Photo Festival.
Share your story through photography and make your voice heard at the 2026 Festival!
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Chester Photo Festival seeks to celebrate the democratisation of photography as an art, enabling photographers at all levels of experience to innovate through networking and create with exhibition spaces in Chester.
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Imagine a photography practice that empowers you to re-imagine your memories, myths, personal experiences and childhood through exploring photography.
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Imagine why a photography practice can shape the narrative of your story and your message.
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Moving beyond aesthetics and techniques, let's focus on your own voice through your photography practice.
(More details about photography topics and photo-entanglement can be found on our website, especially in the ‘Courses and Workshops’ and ‘About’ sections.)
If your work is selected, you will be invited to participate in our upcoming events:
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Main Event: is expected from 16 to 18 October 2026, Friday to Sunday. On-site exhibitions, participants' festival book published, talks and workshops (programme TBC).
- Exhibitions: Held at various Chester City Centre locations, including the University of Chester, Chester Picturehouse, St Werburgh's Church, St John's Church, and Grosvenor Museum (TBC).
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Exhibition Book: Selected works will be published in the Chester Photo Festival 2026, 2nd Ed (see the book of the 1st edition, May 2025).
- Hangout Place: Network and meet the artists, 16-18 October 2026 (Location TBC).
- Certification: Every participant receives a participation certificate.
We aim to include one or two works per participant.
We aim to include a variety of non-standard photography entries, such as installations, videos, projections, objects and books on display, larger works, or focused small-group projects. We would strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about the curatorial details and participation fee directly with our team.
- We are learning from the previous exhibitions, potential participants, locations, and the organisational challenges involved.
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We are grateful to our Chester Photo Festival 1st Edition participants, partners, sponsors, and team—without whom this learning process would not be possible.
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See Exhibition Book, May 2025 Chester Photo Festival 1st Edition
Your work is with us
I. Double-check if your submission includes:
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Photography: Up to 5 JPEGs at 300dpi, with the shortest side measuring at least 6 inches.
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Moving images and artist books: an online link or a PDF presentation, see above.
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Each file is named with your surname, e.g., Surname 1.jpeg, etc.
- A separate Word document with title, year, size if applicable, and no more than 100 words for each work, with your story, feelings or personal experience: What does the work/picture mean to you?
- If applicable, include your website and one social media handle of your choice.
- Submit your files via our Entry Forms, see above, or email events@chesterphotofestival.com.
- To ensure you receive event replies and updates, please add events@chesterphotofestival.com to your email contacts/safe senders list.
IMPORTANT: If files exceed 10MB, send your entry via email or, at your convenience, via one of the alternative options as follows: WeTransfer.com, Dropbox, Google Docs, OneDrive, or MailDrop.
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For non-standard entries, contact us via email to discuss your submission, curatorial details, and the participation fee.
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Finally, state whether AI was used or not in creating your work.
II. Your work is with us for selection and the curatorial process:
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The selection process will include a curatorial process. If necessary, we will discuss it and agree on specific details about how your work will be displayed, including location, printing, size, medium, or other aspects.
- Standard entries: the participation fee per work, up to £45 for early entries or £60 for late entries, includes printing and installing your work in our standard frames, which are 50x40 cm, 40x30 cm or 30x30 cm.
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Photographs printed: Hahnemühle Photo Satin / Lustre (220–260 gsm), 12-colour archival Giclée prints using Canon LUCIA PRO II pigment ink.
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Exclusively for participants, we are pleased to prepare festival-quality exhibition prints of your work, as shown at the festival, for £25 per print.
- In addition, we plan to make also 50x50 cm and 40x40 cm frames, depending on our curatorial plans.
- This is ideal for international submissions or those who prefer to avoid bringing their work, thereby avoiding transport and other costs.
- Moving images and short films: we aim to select up to 20 works to run in a loop on the Picturehouse Cinema screen or in other venues on LCD or projected screens, subject to curatorial arrangements.
- Artist books: we aim to select a diverse range for display, which, where appropriate, can be sold to the general public.
- Artist talks: by invitation only; priority will be given to festival participants.
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For non-standard entries, including those invited to bring works in, please be aware that additional charges may apply for larger projects or specific installations.
- Participants' works may be publicly shown and referenced to promote the Chester Photo Festival's exhibitions and events, including in the festival book, our website and social media channels.
Yours,
Chester Photo Festival
- We will always contact you only from our phone number 07949 066 406 or via our email: events@chesterphotofestival.com.
- We aim to respond as soon as possible, usually within 1 hour. However, during busy periods or outside of working hours, it may take up to 24 hours for a response.
Chester photo festival
It was founded in September 2023 and is available to the public from 1st May 2024.
The 2nd edition of the annual Chester Photo Festival is expected to take place in October 2026.
