From May 7 to 10 2026, the island of Menorca will host the first edition of the Raw Photo Fest in the town of Alaior. The festival aims to establish itself as a new international event dedicated to photography. Conceived by The Raw Society, this new festival seeks to combine high-calibre exhibitions, competitions and professional networking opportunities in a region with a vibrant cultural scene.
Over four days, the first edition of Raw Photo Fest will take over the historic centre of Alaior with a trail of exhibitions spanning heritage sites and more unconventional venues, such as cafés, private homes and public spaces. These will serve as focal points for a programme centred on leading figures in contemporary photography and emerging artists.
The programme for this inaugural edition brings together the work of several leading figures from the international scene, including the late Martin Parr, Nick Brandt, Cristina de Middel, Steve McCurry, Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb, Ed Kashi and John Stanmeyer. Jorge Delgado-Ureña and Christelle Enquist, the festival’s two founders, are also championing a new generation of photographers through the first edition of an international call for entries.
This attracted over 1,200 entries and, in May, awarded prizes to Marcus DeSieno and his project *Geography of Disappearance: Migrant Deaths on the US/Mexico Border* (International Series Winner), Ana Palacios and *Laboratoria* (Balearic Series Winner), Ryan Murphy (International Singles Winner) and Borja Alcalde Rubio (Balearic Singles Winner).
The festival aims to establish photography as a permanent fixture on the island, at a time when the region already boasts a number of contemporary galleries, foremost among them Hauser & Wirth, followed by Galeria Cayon and VidrArt Gallery.
Several of the projects on display are linked to Menorca, its history and its imagery. These include Steve McCurry’s work on the island’s historic salt flats, as well as an exhibition of archives by photojournalist David Chim Seymour, shown for the first time on the island. A private collection featuring Harry Gruyaert, René Burri, Bruce Davidson, Franco Fontana and Claude Nori will also be at the heart of the programme.
Beyond the exhibitions, Raw Photo Fest aims to make this inaugural edition a platform for reflection. The programme includes talks, debates and meetings with photographers, publishers and curators, covering topics ranging from the interpretation of images to the impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary photography. Portfolio review sessions will also feature in this first edition, facilitating discussions between participating photographers and industry professionals.
Conceived as an open event, and part of an artistic dynamic that makes Menorca a vibrant hub for the visual arts, Raw Photo Fest hopes to attract around 3,000 visitors for its first edition. This commitment to accessibility is furthered through local initiatives, notably educational programmes aimed at schools and the senior residents of the island.
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