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Rencontres d'Arles 2026: the image as a territory of freedom

Every summer, Arles becomes the gravitational center of the photography world. For its 57th edition, Les Rencontres d'Arles invites us to shift our perspective and cross geographical, aesthetic, and mental boundaries. More than just a festival, it is a journey in which images recount the world's transformations and reveal new ways of seeing.This shift in perspective permeates the entire program. Les Rencontres pays tribute to William Klein on the centenary of his birth, celebrating an artist who constantly upended the conventions of photography, fashion, and photojournalism through a body of work defined by unparalleled freedom. The 2026 edition also spotlights major artists whose visions have shaped the history of the medium. The powerful work of Martine Barrat delves into the social realities of Paris's Goutte d'Or district, as well as Harlem and the Bronx in the 1970s, offering a deeply human testimony. American photographer Ming Smith-the first Black woman to join the prestigious Kamoinge collective-unveils a poetic vision in which light, movement, and emotion redefine the contours of contemporary photography. Meanwhile, Harry Gruyaert, an undisputed master of color, takes visitors on a visual journey spanning New York, Paris, Tokyo, Mumbai, and Zanzibar, where every composition reveals a luminous geometry of remarkable precision.The