Photo London will open its eleventh edition at Olympia, Kensington, from 14–17 May 2026, with a Preview on Wednesday 13 May 2026. The move marks a significant new chapter for the Fair as it enters its second decade in a reimagined West London setting.
Currently undergoing a £1.3 billion redevelopment led by Heatherwick Studio, Olympia sits close to major cultural institutions including the V&A, the Design Museum and the Serpentine. The expanded site provides a unified layout and increased footprint, enabling Photo London to refine its curatorial focus while broadening key sections of the Fair.
Courtesy of Curational Gallery and Sissi Farassat
A renewed curatorial focus
Following ten editions at Somerset House, Photo London Founders Michael Benson and Fariba Farshad note that the relocation has prompted a tightening of the Fair’s curatorial approach. The 2026 edition brings together a strong mix of new and returning international galleries, spanning New York to Tokyo and Warsaw to Taipei.
Long-standing partners Nikon and the Financial Times continue their support, and Julius Baer joins as a new official partner, supporting the Positions section dedicated to unrepresented artists.
The Fair will also launch an annual First Book Award in honour of the late Martin Parr, recognising the central role of the photo book within contemporary photography and celebrating emerging voices in publishing.
International exhibitors and new initiatives
Photo London 2026 features an international list of exhibitors, including returning galleries such as The Photographers’ Gallery, HackelBury Fine Art, Goodman Gallery, Ira Stehmann and Akio Nagasawa, alongside Flowers Gallery, Persons Projects, Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Purdy Hicks and ROLF Art. First-time participants include Paris-B, Miyako Yoshinaga and Fulcrum.
A focused presentation of Central and Eastern European and Latin American galleries will be positioned between the main section and Discovery, providing access for established voices beyond the emerging category.
For the first time, the Fair will introduce a dedicated screening room for artist film, made possible by the expanded footprint at Olympia. Exhibiting galleries will present collectible film works throughout the duration of the Fair.
Photo London Director Sophie Parker describes the move as creating a more unified experience, enabling the expansion of Discovery, Positions and Publishing, and introducing new initiatives including Source and the screening room.
Courtesy of Raster and Zofia Rydet
Source, Discovery and Positions
A new section for 2026, Source is curated by Tristan Lund and dedicated to solo presentations by artists of significant cultural value. Configured as a trail through the main section, Source highlights under-represented and marginalised practitioners, as well as mixed-media galleries whose approaches align with the ethos of the Fair. Early participants include Peter Sillem, Bacqueville, Jednostka Gallery and Gitterman Gallery.
Discovery returns in expanded form, curated by Charlotte Jansen. The section continues to platform emerging photographers and galleries, with 2026 participants including AC Latin, Sorondo Projects, Victoria Law, Evin Gallery and Starch Gallery.
Supported by Julius Baer, Positions returns for its second edition. Curated by Maria Sukkar, founder of the ISelf Collection, the section provides a platform for photographic artists without gallery representation, offering collectors direct access to unrepresented talent.
Courtesy of Cé Editiona and Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon
Publishing, awards and talks
Publishing will run throughout the duration of the Fair and, for the first time, will be incorporated within the main gallery section at Olympia. Curated by Ben Goulder, the expanded format reflects the growing importance of the photo book within the wider photography ecosystem. Participants include Cé Editions, Sun Archive, Akio Nagasawa Publishing, Replika Publishing and Borough inc.
The Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer of the Year Award returns for its eleventh year and sixth in partnership with Nikon, with shortlisted works presented at the Nikon Gallery during the Fair. The Photo London Student Award will once again highlight outstanding early-career practitioners from UK universities.
The 2026 Talks Programme, curated by Thames & Hudson, will accompany the Fair, with further details to be announced.
Olympia and the wider cultural context
Olympia’s transformation will introduce new cultural and public spaces, including a 4,000-capacity live music hall, a 1,575-seat theatre, two hotels, restaurants and bars, office spaces and an International Convention Centre. Developed by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International and co-designed by Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC, the site positions Olympia as a major creative destination in West London.
As Photo London enters its second decade, the 2026 edition at Olympia signals a renewed commitment to international dialogue, curatorial clarity and the evolving forms of photography.
