A 122-day photography festival spanning more than 25 venues across Kerala opened on October 2, 2026, bringing together artists, exhibitions, screenings, educational programmes and archival projects from around the world. Organised by the Better Art Foundation’s PhotoMuse – The Museum of Photography, the PhotoMuse Festival of Photography 2026 is running until January 31, 2027, marking one of the largest photography-focused cultural initiatives in India.
A Statewide Photography Festival
Unlike many photography festivals that are centred in a single city, the PhotoMuse Festival is structured as a statewide event. The main venues include the PhotoMuse Museum Gallery at Chungal in Thrissur, Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi in Thrissur, and the Art Museum of Love in Kodakara. Additional parallel exhibitions and programmes are taking place across districts including Ernakulam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur.
The festival opened on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2026, and continues through January 2027, a period that coincides with global commemorations marking 200 years of photography. The event adopts the theme “Open Origins – Open Ends,” exploring photography as a medium that connects cultures, histories and communities.
About PhotoMuse and the Organiser
PhotoMuse, established in 2014 under the Better Art Foundation, describes itself as India’s first public museum dedicated exclusively to the art, history and science of photography. Based in Thrissur district, the institution has organised hundreds of exhibitions, workshops and educational programmes while developing a collection of historic photographs, cameras, books and archival materials.
According to festival materials, the museum currently holds more than 16,700 archival photographic objects and has positioned photography as a tool for education, heritage documentation and cultural engagement. The institution also publishes the annual PhotoMuse Journal and regularly hosts exhibitions featuring Indian and international photographers.
International Participation and Scale
Festival organisers report participation by 490 photo-artists representing 31 countries, alongside 1,530 photographs and approximately 70 exhibitions. The programme also includes documentary screenings, artist talks, academic discussions and collaborations with photography festivals and museums from multiple countries.
Festival Highlights
- 490 participating photo-artists
- 31 countries represented
- 1,530 photographs on display
- Around 70 exhibitions
- 11 documentary screenings
- More than 25 venues across Kerala
- Over 30 school and college programmes
- International festival and museum collaborations
Programme and Collaborations
The festival programme extends beyond gallery exhibitions. Organisers have scheduled artist talks, photographic exchanges, educational workshops, performances and screenings throughout the four-month event. Several international photography festivals are listed among the collaborators, alongside museums, educational institutions and cultural organisations.
Key Programme Components
- Print and projected photography exhibitions
- Documentary film screenings
- Artist and curator talks
- Academic discussions on photography
- Educational outreach in schools and colleges
- International photography exchanges
The festival’s curatorial team is led by Dr. Unni Pulikkal S., President of the Better Art Foundation and founder of PhotoMuse. The selection panel includes photography educators, curators and practitioners from India, Europe and Australia.
Photography Beyond the Gallery
Festival documents describe the initiative as an effort to connect photography with wider public life rather than limiting it to museums and galleries. Alongside exhibition venues, programmes are taking place in educational institutions and community spaces. Organisers state that the event aims to encourage dialogue around visual culture, photographic history and contemporary image-making while creating opportunities for emerging photographers.
The festival also arrives at a moment when photography’s bicentenary is being discussed internationally. Through its exhibitions and educational activities, the event seeks to place Indian photographic histories alongside global conversations about the medium’s past, present and future.
Visitor Information
| Event Name | Details |
| Title | PhotoMuse Festival of Photography 2026 |
| Theme | Open Origins – Open Ends |
| Venue | PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal; Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi, Thrissur; Art Museum of Love, Kodakara; and multiple venues across Kerala |
| City | Thrissur and various locations across Kerala, India |
| Opening Date | October 2, 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | October 2, 2026 – January 31, 2027 |
| Organiser | Better Art Foundation / PhotoMuse – The Museum of Photography |
| Participation | 490 Photo-Artists from 31 Countries |
| Entry / Tickets | Refer to official festival announcements |
| Website | https://www.photomuse.in |
Details and updates are available through the festival organiser’s official website: PhotoMuse Festival Information
Takeaway
By extending across museums, galleries, educational institutions and public spaces, the PhotoMuse Festival of Photography 2026 presents an expansive platform for photographic culture in India. Bringing together artists, archives, research and public engagement, the festival highlights photography’s role in documenting society and shaping visual understanding. As the festival unfolds across Kerala over four months, it offers audiences opportunities to engage with diverse photographic practices and participate in wider conversations about visual culture, history and the evolving role of photography in contemporary society.
