Photo North Festival 2026 Puts Photography in the Spotlight in Leeds
The Photo North Festival 2026 is set to bring photography to the forefront in Leeds, running from March 13 to 15. This event will showcase a mix of established and emerging talent through reviews, exhibitions, and discussions, with a goal to encourage artists from every corner of the country.
Featured Photographers and Their Works
The festival highlights a diverse range of photographic series, each offering unique perspectives on various subjects and regions.
- Simon Hill presents The North Revisited, featuring evocative images such as a scene from Blackpool Pleasure Beach and a shot of Boulby Mine, capturing the essence of northern England.
- Mike Goldwater contributes Island, with works like Life drawing for the socially distanced, shot during the pandemic, reflecting on isolation and community.
- Joanne Coates explores life on the Orkneys in Greenvoe and the Anti-Idyll, using a poetic approach to document working-class and rural communities.
- Anne Worthington, a self-taught photographer, offers Young Skins, a series started in 2002 that captures young people on the brink of adulthood.
- Mike Abrahams documents the dramatic coastline of north Wales in Where The Carneddau Meets the Sea, examining the lives of those who live, work, and holiday there.
- Soulla Petrou, known for documenting the UK, includes a shot of singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor from her book Rewind.
- Seamus Murphy presents Smoke and Mirrors, a photo essay shot in 2004 and 2025 in Nablus, West Bank, reflecting on how life can mimic staged realities in film.
- Janine Wiedel documented the inhabitants of St Agnes Place, London's longest-running squat, for four years until its demolition in 2007.
- Tom Shaw pays tribute to everyday cricketers in A Portrait of Cricket, with images like a fog-obscured match where teams play on.
- Omar Ashtawy, the 2025 winner of the Ian Parry photojournalism grant, shares a poignant image from Gaza, showing the mother of Khaled al-Shinbari holding his shoes during his funeral in August 2025.
Festival Impact and Goals
By bringing together such a wide array of photographic talent, the Photo North Festival 2026 aims to foster creativity and dialogue within the photography community. It serves as a platform for artists to share their stories and connect with audiences, promoting the art form across the UK.
