Fotomarked | Photo Market 13.-14. juni
Fotomarked på Det Kgl. Teater
Vær med lørdag den 13. og søndag den 14. juni, når Copenhagen Photo Festival åbner dørene til årets Fotomarked i den historiske Balkonfoyer i Det Kongelige Teater og samler passionerede danske og internationale fotobogaktører og kunstnere, der udstiller bøger og tryk.
Festivalgæster er inviteret til at udforske et kurateret udvalg af moderne fotobøger og tryk, mens de møder uafhængige forlag, kunstnere, boghandlere og forhandlere af vintage fotobøger, der præsenterer bøger og værker og deler indsigt i deres processer og perspektiver.
I løbet af weekenden ledsager et offentligt program med foredrag, kunstnerpræsentationer og boglanceringer markedet, der giver yderligere kontekst og åbner op for samtaler om fotografi og udgivelse i dag. Blandt talerne vil være kunstnere, der præsenteres på teatret og på vores partnersteder i hele regionen. Programmet annonceres den 21. maj.
Markedet er åbent fra kl. 12 til 18 både lørdag og søndag. Under dit besøg kan du selvfølgelig også udforske festivalens hovedudstillinger med Carolyn Drake, Roger Ballen, Maja Daniels, Helge Skodvin, Rhiannon Adam og vores CPF-udvalgte. Udstillingerne er åbne fra kl. 11 til 20.
Markedet, foredragene og udstillingerne er åbne for alle med entrébillet.
Photo Market at the Royal Theatre
Join us in the historic Balcony Foyer of the Royal Danish Theatre Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June, when Copenhagen Photo Festival opens the doors to this year’s Photo Market, bringing together Danish and international publishers and artists showcasing books and prints.
Festival guests are invited to explore a curated selection of contemporary photo books and prints, while meeting independent publishers, artists, book sellers and vintage photo book dealers who present books and works and share insights into their processes and perspectives.
Throughout the weekend, a public programme of talks, artist presentations, and book launches accompanies the market, offering further context and opening up conversations around photography and publishing today. Among the speakers will be artists featured at the Theater and at our partner venues across the region. The programme is announced 21 May.
The market is open from 12 to 6pm both Saturday and Sunday. During your visit you can of course also explore the main festival exhibitions with Carolyn Drake, Roger Ballen, Maja Daniels, Helge Skodvin, Rhiannon Adam and our CPF Selectees. The exhibitions are open from 11 am to 8 pm.
The market, talks and exhibitions are open for anyone with an entry ticket.
UDSTILLERE | EXHIBITORS
BOOK & MUSIC · COSTA INSTITUTE · FRAGMENT · FRYDENLUND · HARRIET · K.E BOOKS · KFAK · NOOSCOPE · NULL & VOID BOOKS · NW GALLERY · OLE C BOOKS · SALIH BASHEER · TAMAKA · ZONE
Photo credits: © Teresa Halbreiter, © Irene Stewart
CPF X: Oplev fotoudstillinger i hele byen | Experience photography exhibitions across the city
CPF X Partners 2026: Explore Photography Across Copenhagen
Discover the richness of the Nordic photography scene through more than 30 participating galleries and exhibition spaces, showcasing a wide range of artistic voices and contemporary perspectives.
Copenhagen Photo Festival is proud to present this year’s diverse and dynamic CPF X Partner Programme. Bringing together galleries, artist-run spaces, and museums across Copenhagen, Malmö, and the greater Copenhagen area. The programme celebrates photography in all its forms and creates a vibrant network of exhibitions and events throughout the region. Across all venues, visitors can explore a rich mix of exhibitions, talks, workshops, and social events during the festival days.
This Year’s CPF X Partner Venues
AFTRYK · BANJA RATHNOV KUNSTHANDEL OG GALLERI · BASEMENT · CHRISTIANSHAVNS BEBOERHUS · DARK GALLERY · DAVIS GALLERY · DET GRØNLANDSKE HUS · DEN SORTE DIAMANT · EX NIHILO · FOTOGRAFISK CENTER · GALLERI FORMAT · GALLERI KREBSEN · KUNSTFORENINGEN GL. STRAND · KVÆGTORVET · KØBENHAVNS MUSEUM · LOKALE · LOUISIANA · M/S MUSEET FOR SØFART · MALMÖ KONSTHALL · MAXUS101 · MODERNA MUSEET MALMÖ · NIELS BOHR INSTITUTET · NORDATLANTENS BRYGGE · ODP3 I OVENPÅ · PROSPEKT · SIMIAN · SOPHIENHOLM KUSTHAL · STRANDGADE 6 · WONDERLAND ART SPACE · VERA SKOLE FOR KUNST OG DESIGN
CPF X Gallery Crawls
To make the most of it, we invite you to join one of our Gallery Crawls – guided tours designed to explore multiple partner exhibitions in a single experience.
Led by a CPF guide, each crawl offers deeper insight into the artists, themes, and spaces that shape this year’s programme. It’s a unique opportunity to discover the diversity of CPF X Partner venues while moving through the city together by bike or on foot.
This year, we’re expanding the format with a range of curated routes across different neighborhoods in Copenhagen as well as Malmö. Each crawl has its own character, guiding you through a unique combination of exhibitions, spaces, and artistic voices.
Oplev festivalen i selskab med Donkey Republic
Oplev festivalen på cykel med Donkey Republic
ENGLISH TEXT BELOW
Copenhagen Photo Festival er glade for at kunne annoncere et partnerskab med Donkey Republic under årets festival, der vil gøre det nemmere for festivalgæsterne at bevæge sig mellem udstillinger, events og oplevelser i hele København. Alle med en festivalbillet får 20% rabat i hele perioden. Samarbejdet introducerer også en ny serie af Gallery Crawls på cykel som en del af festivalprogrammet.
“Vi er begejstrede for at annoncere, at Donkey Republic slår sig sammen med Copenhagen Photo Festival. Hos Donkey Republic tror vi på, at bykultur og byliv bedst opleves på to hjul. Ved at samarbejde med festivalen fejrer fælleskabet mellem kunsten, bevægelsen og Københavns pulserende liv,” siger Amalie Gottschalk Hallgren, kommerciel chef hos Donkey Republic.
Alle festivalbilletindehavere får 20% rabat på cykeludlejning i hele festivalperioden. Koden er inkluderet i din billet og kan bruges direkte i Donkey Republic-appen, hvilket gør det nemt at komme rundt og opleve mere af programmet på samme dag.
Fra udstillingssted til udstillingssted – fleksibelt og bæredygtigt
Med udstillinger spredt over hele København bliver transport en integreret del af oplevelsen – og København er som bekendt fantastisk at opleve på cykel. Donkey Republic tilbyder en fleksibel og tilgængelig måde at komme rundt til festivalens mange oplevelser, til dig der ikke lige har en cykel i byen – og så du nemmere kan opleve mere fotografi.
Festivalen har igen i år base på Det Kongelige Teater på Kongens Nytorv samt på VÆKST på Refshaleøen. Derudover kan publikum opleve fotografi på 25 andre steder i København samt 6 steder i Malmö, Helsingør, Humlebæk og Lyngby. Så der er mange steder at gå på opdagelse i årets program. Og cykling er en hel naturlig og effektiv måde at komme rundt og opleve gallerier og udstillingssteder i byens forskellige kvarterer.
I år præsenterer Copenhagen Photo Festival derfor også tre kuraterede Gallery Crawls på cykel, hvor deltagerne guides mellem udstillinger i forskellige dele af København. Donkey Republic-samarbejdet understøtter dette format direkte og gør det nemt at deltage uden at skulle have sin egen cykel.
Partnerskabet afspejler en fælles ambition om at gøre kulturelle oplevelser mere tilgængelige og samtidig støtte en mere bæredygtig måde at udforske byen på.
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Praktisk information
· 20% rabat på cykeludlejning fra Donkey Republic
· Gyldig i hele festivalperioden
· Rabatkode medfølger din festivalbillet
· Cykler låses op og administreres via Donkey Republic-appen
Experience the festival by bike with Donkey Republic
Copenhagen Photo Festival is pleased to announce a partnership with Donkey Republic for this year’s festival, making it easier for festival guests to move between exhibitions, events, and venues across the city. The collaboration means that all festival visitors with a ticket get 20% discount on a bike. The collaboration also introduces a new series of Gallery Crawls by bike as part of the festival programme.
“We are thrilled to announce that Donkey Republic is joining forces with the Copenhagen Photo Festival. At Donkey Republic, we believe that urban culture and city life are best experienced on two wheels. By partnering with the festival, we’re celebrating the intersection of art, movement, and the vibrant pulse of Copenhagen,” says Amalie Gottschalk Hallgren, Head of Commercial at Donkey Republic.
All festival ticket holders receive a 20% discount on bike rentals throughout the festival period. The code is included with your ticket and can be used directly in the Donkey Republic app, making it simple to get around and experience more of the programme.
From venue to venue – flexibly and sustainably
With exhibitions spread across Copenhagen, transport becomes part of the experience. Donkey Republic offers a flexible and accessible way to navigate the festival, whether you are visiting the city or simply want a smoother way to move between venues. It removes practical barriers and makes it easier to see more in a single day.
The partnership aligns closely with how the festival unfolds across the city, where multiple venues and parallel events invite audiences to explore beyond a single location. Cycling becomes a natural and efficient way to connect these experiences while staying close to the rhythm of the city.
This year, Copenhagen Photo Festival also presents three curated Gallery Crawls by bike, where participants are guided between a selection of exhibitions across Copenhagen. The Donkey Republic collaboration supports this format directly, making it easy to join without needing your own bike.
The partnership reflects a shared ambition to make cultural experiences more accessible while supporting a more sustainable way of exploring the city.
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Practical information
· 20% discount on Donkey Republic bike rentals
· Valid throughout the festival period
· Discount code provided with your festival ticket
· Bikes are unlocked and managed via the Donkey Republic app
Gallery Crawls: Explore the exhibitions
Gallery Crawls: Explore exhibitions across the Copenhagen and Malmö
Do you want to explore multiple photo exhibitions across Copenhagen during the festival? This year we have upgraded our Gallery Crawl programme and offer seven different tours spanning all the districts of Copenhagen as well as three exhibitions in Malmö
To spread the festival atmosphere around the City, we collaborate with museums, galleries and exhibition venues around Copenhagen. This year, more than 30 venues are part of the CPF X Partner Programme, spanning from smaller galleries and exhibition spaces to established museums and we are also proud to extend our collaboration to three partners in Malmö.
What is a Gallery Crawl?
At our gallery crawls you get the opportunity to visit some of the many photography exhibitions in the city withins a couple of hours. Together with a guide from CPF we explore 3-6 photo exhibitions at museums, galleries and small exhibition venues.
We will get around on food or cycle between the venues. Through our collaboration with Donkey Republic, you can rent a bike at a 20% discounted rate using a special code provided with your ticket.
Dive into the Gallery Crawl Programme and find the one that interests you the most. The tours have limited availability, so don’t hesitate to book your spot!
FULL PROGRAM AVAILABLE 1 MAY 2026
Photo credits: © Aijing Ji, © Mia Richelieu, © Balassa Dorottya, © Mauro Benitez, © Loukia Maritsa
Announcement: Solo Artists and Selectees 2026
Copenhagen Photo Festival is thrilled to announce the 10 artists carefully selected from 1019 applications to be presented with a solo or digital exhibition at Copenhagen Photo Festival 2026. In the evaluation process, the quality of the applications has this time been exceptionally high, making the jury process more challenging than usual, director of the festival, Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen says.
In the selection process finding next year's headliners the programme committee has keenly focused on consistency in the connection between concept and content of the individual projects, diversity in approach as well as coherence with the theme, ‘Forestillinger | Scenarios’ and how the projects engage and interact with the curatorial context.
"The final 10 selected projects stand out for their eyeopening, thought provoking and innovative approaches, fresh perspectives, and consistent visual storytelling – enriching the next year’s festival and the theme with new and diverse perspectives," Maja Dyrehauge points out.
Forestillinger / Scenarios doming to life
The 2026 lineup of headliners selected through the open call this summer all engage with the theme Forestillinger / Scenarios in profound ways. They invite you to reflect on imagination, narrative, and the ways we stage reality. They explore how scenarios — imagined, real, or somewhere in between — shape our perception, emotions, and understanding of the world (read more about the theme).
The selected projects explore a mix of themes — from personal and collective memory, identity, to society, technology, and imagined futures. While many artists work with classic photographic approaches, others experiment with AI, archival imagery, staged scenes and speculative storytelling.
Together, these projects unfold across time, space, and experience and bring new Scenarios to life. They ask us to engage with our complex world, question predefined assumptions, and imagine new futures and pasts.
We want to congratulate the 10 selected photographers for being featured at
Copenhagen Photo Festival 2026
CPF Solo Artists 2026
Helge Skodvin · Maja Daniels · Rhiannon Adam · Roger Ballen
The four solo artists will be headlining the festival and presented with a solo exhibition
at The Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen
CPF Selectees 2026
Adam Rouhana · Ana María Arévelo Gosen · Antone Dolezal & Lara Shipley · Cassandra Klos ·
Mohamed Hassan · Sasha Velichko
The six CPF Selectees will be presented with a digital exhibition
at The Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen
All 10 exhibitions will be presented at
the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen
from
11–17 June 2026
Read the programme committee’s full selection statements here.
____________________
For more information or images for printed or digital media, please contact:
Christine Almlund | Head of communications | press @ copenhagenphotofestival.com
Photos credit: courtesy of the artists; for Roger Ballen - Marguerite Rossouw
VÆKST Inauguration Party – A New Creative Playground Comes To Life!
We’re opening the gates to something new — and you’re invited!
Join us for the big inauguration of VÆKST, the Copenhagen Photo Festival’s new creative hub at Refshaleøen — an open-air exhibition park dedicated to emerging Nordic talents and playful, boundary-crossing creativity.
13 June · Refshaleøen · 3 PM–12 Midnight
Expect guided tours, immersive installations, sharp performances, and a DJ set to take us dancing into the night. It all kicks off at 3 PM with guided tours by our 2025 Nordic FUTURES Talents, continues with performances by the VÆKST creatives, and ends with a dance party under the sky.
VÆKST is a space for young voices and new visions in photography, sound, and performance – set in the raw, industrial beauty of Refshaleøen. This is your chance to discover bold new perspectives and celebrate with the artists shaping the future of lens-based storytelling in the Nordics.
Where · When · What
CPF | VÆKST · Refshaleøen · Refshalevej 173c (across from Copenhagen Contemporary
Friday 13 June, 3 PM – Midnight
Free & open to all – bring your friends!
Let’s mark this new beginning together – with art, music, and good vibes all around.
Click here to check the full program, DJ & artist list
Credits: Rebecca Buenorostro, Sonia Tomegros
This year’s solo artists are…
Photo credit: Gil Bartz, Fragments of Climate Change
Announcement: The Solo Artists for the 2025 edition of Copenhagen Photo Festival
Copenhagen Photo Festival is thrilled to finally present the four Solo Artists of 2025. The Solo artist projects have been selected from nearly 1000 projects through our annual open call. Each project will be presented with a solo exhibition at our festival center from 12 June 2025 bringing this year's overarching theme ‘Fremkaldelser / Into the Light’ into play at the festival center.
The four compelling projects have been selected because of a profound engagement with their topic and an enriching perspective on the theme. Each artist brings new and very personal tones to the meaning of ‘Fremkaldelser / Into the Light’. The projects explore a diverse array of themes from engaging deeply and personally with the everyday moments of family life and intergenerational conflicts inflicted by war, to the aftermath of abuse and the complexity of disseminating the climate crises.
The photographers amplify unheard voices and highlight stories that might otherwise remain hidden. Their work highlights societal blind spots, challenges the status quo, and invites viewers to pause and critically reflect.
We look forward to presenting these four intriguing projects as solo exhibitiosn at the spectacular new festival center at the Royal Danish Theater giving the artist a unique chance to unfold the multilayered narratives behind the projects.
The CPF’s Solo Artists 2025
Elizabeth Pedinotti Haynes - Family Table (2024)
American photographer Elisabeth Pedinotti Haynes’ project Family Table turns the overlooked remnants of daily life into captivating visual stories. Using food scraps, utensils, and cut-out photographs, she constructs playful yet thought-provoking still lifes that explore memory, domesticity, and the hidden rituals of family life. Her work challenges conventional ideas of motherhood and domestic labour, transforming mundane moments into imaginative spaces where time bends and personal narratives come to light. Through her photographs, Pedinotti Haynes invites us to pause, reflect, and see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Gil Bartz - Fragments of Climate Change (2023)
German photojournalist Gil Bartz offers a kaleidoscopic view of the climate crisis, capturing fragments of a larger narrative on environmental and societal change in Germany. In Fragments of Climate Change, German photojournalist Gil Bartz presents a kaleidoscopic portrait of the climate crisis as it unfolds in contemporary Germany. Through his cinematic documentary photographs, Bartz captures fragments of a complex reality – from wildfires and self-sufficient energy towns to climate activists awaiting trial. His work doesn’t point to one culprit but instead highlights the intricate, interconnected challenges that define our time. With a background in cinematography, Bartz crafts visually compelling tableaus that invite the viewer to pause, reflect, and consider their own role in the story of climate change.
Jansen van Staden - Microlight (2023)
South African photographer Jansen van Staden’s project Microlight is a deeply personal exploration of the generational trauma caused by war. The project began when Van Staden discovered a letter written by his late father, detailing acts of violence he committed during South Africa's 'Border War'. Through photography, Van Staden navigates the emotional landscape of his family's history, uncovering the lasting psychological effects of war and the inherited scars it leaves behind. Microlight invites us to confront the complexities of memory, identity, and the silent legacies of conflict – bringing these often-hidden narratives into the light.
Rita Puig-Serra Costa - Anatomy of an Oyster (2023)
In Anatomy of an Oyster, Spanish artist Rita Puig-Serra Costa uses photography to transform personal trauma into artistic resistance, confronting personal and collective silence surrounding abuse. Through the symbolism of the creation of a pearl – where an oyster transforms an intrusive element into something layered and luminous – Puig-Serra Costa explores the emotional complexities of her own trauma. Her deeply personal project, rooted in a conversation with her late mother, unravels the layers of shame and guilt often hidden within families. By merging archival images with intimate visual storytelling, she transforms her personal reckoning into an act of defiance, fostering dialogue about a topic too often left unspoken.
Ikonisk nyt venue på Kongens Nytorv
Image credit: Det Kgl. Teater
English version below
Ikonisk venue på Kongens Nytorv bliver nyt festival centrum
Copenhagen Photo Festival træder i år ind på den helt store scene, når festivalen for første gang indtager Det Kongelige Teaters Gamle Scene midt på Kongens Nytorv. Teatrets foyer vil danne en spektakulær ramme om festivalens centrum på årets festival i juni og kommer blandt andet til at huse den første større soloudstilling med den verdensberømte Magnum-fotograf Martin Parr i Danmark siden 2003.
Når årets fotofestival i København åbner 12. juni, bliver det i helt nye, centrale omgivelser midt i København. Med et omfattende udstillings- og aktivitetsprogram indenfor på Det Kongelige Teater og udenfor på Kongens Nytorv sætter Copenhagen Photo Festival i år spot på fotografiet i nogle helt utraditionelle udstillingsrammer, der i sig selv rummer 150 års kulturhistorie.
Udstillinger med verdensberømt fotograf centralt i byen
“Vi går ind i en ny tid for festivalen i år, og vi er utrolig stolte og glade over muligheden for at vise fotografi i et af Københavns mest imponerende historiske kulturhuse og ikke mindst i selskab med en af de mest betydningsfulde og banebrydende fotografer i verden gennem de seneste 50 år, Martin Parr,” siger festivaldirektør Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen.
“Martin Parr er en enormt generøs fotograf, der har inspireret generationer af fotografer med sit fotografi. En ting er hans imponerende fotografiske værk, en anden er hans lidenskab for fotobøger og arbejdet med at styrke kulturen for fotografi gennem Martin Parr Foundation. Det er en stor ære og privilegium at få mulighed for at dele Parrs arbejde med offentligheden i København og i Danmark i større skala for første gang i 20 år.”
Flere får glæde af Gamle Scene
Rasmus Øland, der er chef for kommercielle aktiviteter på teatret siger: “Vi er meget glade for at huse et event som Copenhagen Photo Festival, da vi ønsker at samarbejde med byens øvrige kulturaktører. Det nye samarbejde betyder, at flere gæster får glæde af Gamle Scenes historiske rammer, og at de kan opleve dem på en helt ny måde med udstillinger i foyer og korridorer fordelt på flere etager.”
Nyt centrum på Kongens Nytorv og ny hub for talentlaget på Refshaleøen
På festivalen vil man opleve udvalgte projekter af Martin Parr både i festivalens centrum på Gamle Scene såvel som centralt i byrummet. Udstillingerne præsenterer værker fra nogle af Martin Parrs mest berømte serier. Med udstillingerne af Martin Parr og det bemærkelsesværdige skifte til Det Kongelige Teater markerer festivalen også en ny retning.
“Vi er sat i verden for at skabe synlighed omkring fotografisk kunst – fra dokumentarfotos til kunstfotografi. Ved at rykke ind centralt i byen, samtidig med at vi bevarer vores hidtidige udstillingspark på Refshaleøen til udstillinger med fokus på vækstlaget, er det vores ambition at nå ud til langt flere med festivalens udstillinger og aktivitetsprogram. I vores nye centrum på Gamle Scene såvel som hos de mange partnere på museer og gallerier, som også er en del af festivalens udstillingsprogram.” fortæller Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen om den nye retning.
“Det altid været en del af vores mission, at vi kan vise fotografi i utraditionelle rammer, som tager kunsten ud af sine vante rammer og gør den mere tilgængelig. Dén mission får nu et nyt niveau med dette skifte,” siger hun.
Festivalen fortsætter med at skabe udstillinger og aktiviteter i udstillingsparken på Refshaleøen, men kan nu give endnu bedre rammer til at vækstlaget kan få luft under vingerne. Derfor vil man i år opleve at udstillingsparken omdøbes til VÆKST. Her vil der blive plads til, at upcoming fotografer kan eksperimentere og vise deres værker for et bredere publikum.
Talks, guidede ture og fotomarked
Udover soloudstillingen med Martin Parr kommer festivalens nye centrum også til at byde på soloudstillinger med fire internationale fotografer fundet blandt de knap 1000 ansøgere på festivalens traditionsrige open call i efteråret 2024. Derudover vil man kunne opleve fotobogmarked, talk scene, guidede ture og meget andet.
Løftet af det nye festivalformat ind til hjertet af København er foreløbig muliggjort gennem generøs støtte af Københavns Kommune, Det Obelske Familiefond, Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond samt Augustinus Fonden.
Billetsalget til festivalen samt aktivitets- og talkprogrammet er åbnet og vil løbende blive opdateret med nye aktiviteter henover foråret.
Detaljer fra Gamle Scene. Fotos af Camilla Winther / Det Kgl. Teater
Iconic venue in the city center is new festival center
Copenhagen Photo Festival is entering the big stage this year, when the festival for the first time takes over the Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage in the middle of The city at Kongens Nytorv. The theatre's foyer will form a spectacular setting for the festival's center at this year's festival in June and the first major solo exhibition by world-renowned Magnum photographer Martin Parr in Denmark since 2003.
The festival takes place in entirely new surroundings in the middle of Copenhagen when it opens on 12 June. With an extensive exhibition and activity program inside the Royal Theatre and outside on Kongens Nytorv (The Kings Square), this year's Copenhagen Photo Festival will highlight photography in an unconventional exhibition setting that in itself embraces 150 years of cultural history.
Exhibitions with world-renowned photographer in the center of the city
“We are entering a new era for the festival this year, and we are incredibly proud of and happy about the possibility to show photography in one of the most impressive historic cultural centers, and especially in the company of one of the most significant and groundbreaking photographers in the world over the past 50 years, Martin Parr.” Says festival director Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen.
“Martin Parr is an enormously generous photographer who has inspired generations of photographers. One thing is his impressive works, another is his passion for photo books and his dedication to strengthen the culture of photography through Martin Parr Foundation. It is a great honor and privilege to have the opportunity to share Parr's work in Copenhagen and in Denmark on a larger scale with the public for the first time in 20 years.”
More people will enjoy The Royal Danish Theater's Old Stage
Rasmus Øland, head of commercial activities at the theatre says: “We are very happy to host an event like Copenhagen Photo Festival, as we want to collaborate with the city's other cultural entrepeneurs. The new collaboration means that more guests will enjoy Gamle Scene's (The Old Stage's) historical setting, and that they can experience it in a completely new way with exhibitions in the foyers and corridors spread over several floors.”
Welcoming the general public to Kongens Nytorv
The festival will feature selected projects by Martin Parr both in the festival centre at The Old Stage (Gamle Scene) as well as in the heart of the city space. Works from some of Martin Parr's most famous series will be presented. With the exhibitions by Martin Parr and the remarkable move to the Royal Danish Theatre, it marks a brand new direction for the festival.
"We are here to create visibility around photographic art - from documentary photos to fine art photography. By moving into the center of the city, while maintaining our previous exhibition park on Refshaleøen for continuously cultivating and nurturing the growth of emerging photography, it is our ambition to reach much more people through the festival's exhibitions and various activity programs happening in our new center at The Old Stage as well as with the many partners at museums and galleries, which are also part of the festival's exhibition program." says Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen about the new direction.
“It has always been part of our mission to be able to show photography in unconventional settings that take art out of its usual framework and make it more accessible. That mission now gets a new level with this upgrade,” she says.
The festival continues to create exhibitions and activities in the exhibition park on Refshaleøen, but can now provide an even better framework for emerging artists and talents to grow and unfold their art. The exhibition park will be renamed VÆKST to honour the new initiative. At VÆKST upcoming photographers and artists will be able to experiment, work interdisciplinarily and showcase their works to a wider audience.
Talks, guided tours and photo market
In addition to the highlight exhibition with Martin Parr, the festival's new center will also offer solo exhibitions with four international photographers selected among the almost 1000 applicants through the festival's traditional open call in the fall of 2024. Additionally, it is possible to experience a photobook market, talks on stage, guided tours and much more.
The transformation of the new festival format and its relocation to the heart of the city has been made possible through generous support from the Municipality of Copenhagen, the Obel Family Foundation, the Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen Foundation, and the Augustinus Foundation.
Ticket sales for the festival, the activities and the talk programs is now open. Information will be continuously posted with updates of new activities throughout the spring.
Martin Parr announced as highlight 2025
It is with great excitement that Copenhagen Photo Festival presents the world-renowned British Magnum photographer, Martin Parr, as the exhibition highlight of this year’s festival, opening on 12 June 2025 at the Royal Theater in the center of Copenhagen. It will be the photographer’s first larger exhibition in Denmark since 2003.
Martin Parr has in many ways revolutionized documentary photography and is one of the most celebrated, award-winning, and published photographers in the world. Throughout his more than 50-year-long career he has been president of Magnum Photos, published more than 120 photo books, and been exhibited worldwide.
The festival is proud to show highlights from Martin Parr’s extensive career with exhibitions diving into his elaborate work on leisure, tourism, and beach life. The exhibitions will take place both inside the festival's new center at The Royal Theater on Kongens Nytorv and in public space in the city center. During the opening days of the festival, Parr will participate in various activities for both the public and professionals. This part of the program will be announced at the end of February.
Tell-tale mirrors
The distinguished photographer has a unique eye for unveiling the way we present ourselves and behave when we are together in public spheres. Through extensive photographic series, he confronts us with our own self-image in a caringly critical way.
It is probably this unique anthropological eye for our human condition mixed in with a keen sense of humor that has kept his images relevant since he took his first photograph at 13 almost 60 years ago. His images are like tell-tale mirrors that unveil our blind spots, reflect our societal and cultural structures, and in the end also make us laugh at these constructs and ourselves.
“My aim is to make an entertaining image with serious messages.” – Martin Parr
A pioneer of bringing topical issues into the light
Parr's impressive back catalogue of images shows that the discussion we have today of Western values, (over)consumption, and cultural identity dates back decades. He was one of the pioneers in spotting and bringing these issues into the light.
As this year’s celebration of photography will be circling perspectives on the theme of ‘Fremkaldelser/Into the light’, Martin Parr is thus most relevant – both in terms of how we as humans present ourselves in the eye of the public and as a pioneer of bringing these ever-topical issues to our attention.
“Martin Parr sensitises our subconscious – and once we've seen his photographs, we keep on discovering these images over and over again in our daily lives and recognising ourselves within them.” – Thomas Weski, German author, curator and Martin Parr biographer
The clashes and contrasts of everyday life – and photography
In his photos, Martin Parr shows us how stereotypical perceptions clash with everyday human behavior and thus he exposes the contradictory nature we all experience living a modern life. This ‘clash’ is consistent throughout his work. He seeks them out in his motives but also he appreciates the prevalent nature of the clash within the medium of photography in itself – photography can both be presented at Tate Modern and printed on a t-shirt.
“I love the fact that photography is high and low at the same time” – Martin Parr
A new spotlight on photography in the Danish Capital
With the exhibitions of Martin Parr and the remarkable move of the festival center from Refshaleøen to The Royal Theater in the city center, Copenhagen Photo Festival is stepping into the light in an entirely new way this year and for the first time presenting a solo exhibition by an artist and photographer recognised worldwide.
“We are entering a new era for the festival this year, and we are incredibly proud and happy to present photography at one of the most spectacular historical and cultural venues in Copenhagen in the company of one of the most influential and groundbreaking photographers in the world for the past 50 years.
Martin Parr is an enormously generous photographer who has inspired generations of photographers with his images and through his work at the Martin Parr Foundation. The possibility to share Parr's work with the public in the city of Copenhagen and in Denmark on a larger scale for the first time in 20 years is a great honour and privilege.” – Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen, festival director .
Bio
Martin Parr is one of the best-known documentary photographers of his generation. With over 100 books of his own published, and another 30 edited by Parr, his photographic legacy is already established. Parr also acts as a curator and editor. He has curated two photography festivals, Arles in 2004 and Brighton Biennial in 2010. More recently Parr curated the Barbican exhibition, Strange and Familiar. Parr has been a member of the Magnum agency since 1994 and was President from 2013 - 2017. In 2013 Parr was appointed the visiting professor of photography at the University of Ulster. Parr’s work has been collected by many of the leading museums, from the Tate, the Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Martin Parr established the Martin Parr Foundation in 2017. In 2019 the National Portrait Gallery in London held a major exhibition of Parr’s work titled Only Human.
Into the Light: The 2025 CPF Selectees
Photo credit: Mojgan Ghanbari // Zanan (Women)
Copenhagen Photo Festival is excited to announce the selection of 10 contemporary photographic artists at its 2025 edition, all exploring the overarching theme Fremkaldelser / Into the Light. This year selectees were chosen out of 919 applications from 67 countries that responded to CPF’s open call.
The theme of 2025 'Fremkaldelser / Into the Light' speaks to the act of revealing – of bringing hidden truths, stories, and perspectives into view. Like the photographic process, it requires patience, intention, and a willingness to embrace both control and uncertainty. In a world overwhelmed by complexity, conflict, and fleeting attention, it urges us to slow down, to illuminate what is unseen, to sharpen our gaze and seek the light (click to read the full theme statement).
Step beyond the silence
Each of the 10 Copenhagen Photo Selectees of 2025 now announced for the festival selectee for 2025 enriches the theme with unique perspectives. Revealing how memories and history live within the body – echoes of larger stories that transcend borders. With deeply personal approaches, their works present resilience and hope, illuminating a world that can rise above indifference, trauma, and the shadows of extinction. They urge us to step beyond silence. To ask, to listen, to venture through the grey zones and white shadows, and ultimately, into the light.
The selected projects introduce us as viewers to unseen stories related to family, the ethics of intergenerational responsibilities, or archives. They bring us into a new space of emotionally critical thinking through their work. They also embrace the theme materially, from analog photographic methods to more technological practices.
Congratulations to the 10 selectees of 2025
Four of the selected artists will present a solo exhibition at our new festival center The Royal Danish Theatre. The remaining 6 will be presented in a digitalised group show. In the upcoming weeks, we will unfold each project in more detail.
The Copenhagen Photo Selectees 2025
Arne Piepke · Daniela Friebel · Elizabeth Pedinotti Haynes · Gil Bartz · Jansen van Staden · Mojgan Ghanbari · Rita Puig-Serra Costa · Edoardo De Ruggiero · Thana Faroq · Yujie Zhou
Read more about all the artists here
The announcement of the four solo artists chosen for a physical solo exhibition at our festival centre is on 3 March 2025.