Marrakech Photography Meetings to Celebrate 200 Years of Photography
The sixth edition of the Marrakech Photography Meetings (RPM), scheduled to take place from October 7 to 10, 2026, will honor the bicentennial of photography under the theme "Two Centuries of Light." This year’s event aims to establish Marrakech as a significant hub in the international photography scene by paying tribute to Italy, facilitating a photographic dialogue between China and Morocco, and supporting emerging talent in the field.
Since their inception in 2016, the Marrakech Photography Meetings have steadily built a reputation both in Africa and beyond, providing a platform for both budding talents and established photographers from all corners of the globe. The festival, which has become a cornerstone of discovery, dialogue, and knowledge sharing surrounding contemporary imagery, features exhibitions, master classes, conferences, and roundtable discussions that bring together photographers, curators, publishers, industry professionals, and the public. This vibrant exchange strengthens the networks and relationships within the photographic creation community.
For this upcoming edition, the RPM will place the celebration of photography’s bicentennial at the forefront of its programming. This theme allows the festival to revisit the history of the medium while also exploring new perspectives on its evolution and contemporary usages. A focal point of this edition is Italy, which has been designated as the guest of honor. This choice aligns with the festival's goal of creating bridges between Arles, the historic birthplace of photography, and Marrakech, a cultural crossroads between the Mediterranean and Africa. Set in several iconic heritage locations throughout the ochre city, the festival aims to facilitate an encounter between contemporary photography and the historical memory of these places. Among the highlights of this programming is the participation of photographer Massimo Listri, whose work interrogates the historical links between Italian and Moroccan cultures. Other notable Italian contributors such as Graziano Arici, Antonio Denti, Priamo Tolu, and Pierpaolo Mittica will also enrich the festival’s offerings, showcasing the diversity of contemporary Italian photographic creation.
A Unique Dialogue with China
Another significant highlight of this sixth edition will be the establishment of a new dialogue with Asia, featuring the participation of Chinese photographers. The collective exhibition titled "Crossed Perspectives: China-Morocco" will juxtapose the works of photographers from both countries, focusing on their heritages, contemporary transformations, and imaginations. Beyond the aesthetic confrontation, this initiative aims to promote mutual understanding through the universal language of imagery. This international outreach aligns with one of the RPM's historical ambitions: to make Marrakech a meeting space for artists and cultures from diverse backgrounds.
This commitment to renewal is further reflected in the partnership formed with the Yzza Slaoui Foundation, which is associated with the 2026 Discovery Prize. Through this support, the foundation aims to assist emerging generations of photographers and enhance their visibility within the contemporary creative landscape. For the organizers, this initiative extends the festival's mission, which has aimed since its inception to serve as a laboratory for new artistic practices and the transformations of perception in the digital age and with new technologies. With this sixth edition, the RPM continues its development along a consistent thread: to make photography a space for encounters between generations, cultures, and perspectives.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
