International Photography Meetings open in Plovdiv

The 2026 edition of the International Photography Meetings (IPM) opened on October 16 at the Balabanov House in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Under the theme ‘Memory and Identity,’ the festival explores photography as a medium where personal narratives intersect with collective, social, and historical memory.

Founded by Associate Professor Dr. Nikola Lautliev, the festival serves as a long-standing platform connecting Bulgarian photographers with the international art scene. The current program features works from five prominent artists: Bedros Azinyan (Bulgaria), Georgi Vachev (Bulgaria), Igor Schiler (Serbia/Netherlands), Mariam Firouzi (Iran), and Franciska Legat (Hungary).

In addition to exhibitions held in various cultural spaces across Plovdiv, the festival includes curated tours, presentations, discussions, and book showcases at the ‘Ivan Vazov’ National Library. The event is supported by the Plovdiv Municipality and is a featured part of the city’s 2026 cultural calendar.