Leipzig Photobook Festival 2026

The fifth Leipzig Photobook Festival is dedicated to the theme of "Power / Fragility". "Power" as a political force that shapes societies, as an economic dynamic that deepens inequalities, and as a social energy that sustains communities. Power can be physical - visible in bodies, architecture or forces of nature - as well as subtle and invisible in structures, symbols and looks. It manifests itself in resistance and emancipation, in technology control or in the…

The fifth Leipzig Photobook Festival is dedicated to the theme of "Power / Fragility". "Power" as a political force that shapes societies, as an economic dynamic that deepens inequalities, and as a social energy that sustains communities. Power can be physical - visible in bodies, architecture or forces of nature - as well as subtle and invisible in structures, symbols and looks. It manifests itself in resistance and emancipation, in technology control or in the self-empowerment of the individual. It also becomes clear how toxic power can be when it is misused for oppression or manipulation. "Fragility" appears not only as a weakness, but also as a starting point for transformation. Building on the concept of antifragility (Nassim Nicholas Taleb), we understand instability and disruption as productive forces: what breaks opens up new perspectives; what falters can lead to unexpected renewal. Between fragile, robust and antifragile, a field of tension unfolds in which the photographic itself is put to the test. These include panel discussions, presentations, talks, photobook and photo exhibitions, film screenings, portfolio reviews, projections, workshops, etc. The festival takes place in HALLE 14 - Centre for Contemporary Art in Leipzig's Baumwollspinnerei. Admission is free.