It's almost here! The 2026 Exposure Photography Festival is right around the corner, with over 250 artists showcasing their work in 30+ venues across Alberta! From the charming Waterton Park Community Centre to the sleek Wild Skies gallery in Edmonton, to our beloved Central Library here in Calgary, you’ll experience an exciting range of contemporary, community-driven photography projects.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, February 5th, when the festival kicks off at Contemporary Calgary with core exhibitions you won’t want to miss! The North West Showcase, International Open Call, 2025 Exposure Emerging Photographer of the Year, Lana Collins’ All My Sisters, and NEXTDOOR – a cross-border collaboration between Strata Editions and Exposure, generously funded by Calgary Arts Development. Explore the Exposure Photography Festival website and follow their social media as Exposure highlights their full calendar of exhibition openings, artist talks, workshops, and more!
New this year to Exposure is their visual refresh! Since Exposure's inception in 2004, the festival has grown and evolved in magical ways. Thanks to the talented team at Public Eye, Exposure has updated their branding to reflect who they have become and who they aspire to be as both an inspirational festival fostering imaginative photography, but also an open and welcoming space for discovery, that balances artistic credibility with curiosity, warmth, and accessibility in our communities.
If you’re as hyped as we are, don’t miss these key events:
- Portfolio Review Workshop on January 11th at The Camera Store. Learn the ins and outs of building a standout portfolio with a talented team of reviewers and artists. Plus, grab your discounted ticket for the 2026 Exposure Portfolio Review.
- Liminal Sunday by Chelsey Rice, running January 9th to February 1st at Crawlspace Gallery. This show dives into childhood nostalgia and memory through the lens of early 2000s digicam photography, curated by Yaiza Lopez Garcia San Roman. Don’t miss the opening reception on January 9th from 7–9 PM.
- In the world, but not of it. Tim Smith’s look into Hutterite photography is on display at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery from December 6th to March 7th.
