Brief

Photoworks Festival 2026 opens in Brighton under theme “Un/Stable”

The event runs from 2 October to 1 November in Brighton and Hove, featuring photography that explores ecology, conflict and identity.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:47:44 GMT

The Photoworks Festival 2026 opened on 2 October in Brighton and Hove, UK, and will run until 1 November, using the theme “Un/Stable: Lands, Anxieties, Dreams,” the Guardian reported.

Works on display include Dasha Tenditna’s “Not Alone,” reflecting on the Ukraine war; origami cat sculptures; and Holly Birtles’s “Fighting Fish,” a series inspired by the Thames and Indian rivers. Other contributors such as Debmalya Ray Choudhuri, Sarker Protick and Johanna Álárcón explore ecological renewal, colonial legacies and personal narratives.

The festival aims to push contemporary photography beyond gallery walls, encouraging viewers to question assumptions about identity, memory and the environment.

Key facts

• Photoworks Festival 2026 runs from 2 October to 1 November in Brighton and Hove, UK. (theguardian.com)
• The festival’s theme is “Un/Stable: Lands, Anxieties, Dreams.” (theguardian.com)
• Featured works include Dasha Tenditna’s Ukraine‑war series, Holly Birtles’s “Fighting Fish,” and pieces by Debmalya Ray Choudhuri, Sarker Protick and Johanna Álárcón. (theguardian.com)

Sources

• [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Radioactive trees to fighting fish: the best of Photoworks festival 2026 – in pictures”