2026 FOTOFOCUS BIENNIAL: The Long View

An ambitious collaboration between FotoFocus and the region’s museums, galleries, universities, and non-traditional spaces, the FotoFocus Biennial is a month-long celebration of photography and lens-based art that unites artists, curators, and educators from around the world. Now in its eighth iteration, the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial encompasses projects at venues across Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky—the largest of its kind in America. This year’s Biennial showcases a wide range of original exhibitions, events, and projects, all centered around the theme, The Long View.

The 2026 FotoFocus Biennial theme, The Long View, considers aspects of time and perspective in photography and film, and how these mediums shape our understanding of the world.

The FotoFocus Biennial Opening Events (Thursday, October 1–Saturday, October 3, 2026) constitute the core of the Biennial, establishing the theme and dialogues that unite the broader programming. Featuring keynote lectures, conversations, performances, screenings, tours, and receptions with international participants, the Opening Events are designed to inspire conversations about the world through photography, film, and lens-based art.

While many venues are free and open to the public, the Biennial Pass offers access to special exhibitions and events during the month of October; an invitation to members-only events; and entry into the FotoFocus Biennial Opening Events. The Biennial Pass will once again be free in 2026.

Press Release (PDF): FotoFocus Announces 2026 Biennial Theme

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About the Theme

Each FotoFocus Biennial is structured around a unifying theme. The 2026 FotoFocus Biennial theme, The Long View, considers aspects of time and perspective in photography and film, and how these mediums shape our understanding of the world. “The long view” is a phrase used to invoke a broader perspective. It suggests both distance and duration, i.e., looking far into the distance and looking for a long period of time. As an attitude toward history, the long view suggests a wise and measured perspective, one that takes into consideration both the distant past while also considering the distant future. The long view also describes in literal terms two primary functions of photography; photographic lenses both enable long-distance vision and long-duration viewing. The Long View theme considers photography as a metaphor for our attempt to grasp our place within the durational sweep of history.

The Long View acknowledges the semiquincentennial of the United States, encouraging a posture of reflection in regards to the grand sweep of our country’s history, its past, present, and future. Photography can show us many moments from that history but it can also serve as a metaphor for how we understand our past and decide to shape it over time.

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How To Participate

Venue Application

The Venue Application for the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial is now closed. Applications for the 2028 FotoFocus Biennial will be available in Spring 2027.

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