Chobi Mela begins this month with 58 artists from 18 countries

The 11th edition of the Chobi Mela International Festival of Photography 2026, one of Asia's most influential photography platforms, will open in Dhaka on January 16, organisers announced on Saturday.

The 16-day festival, which runs until January 31, will be open to the public and staged across multiple venues in the capital. The announcement came at a press conference held at DrikPath Bhaban.

Jointly organised by Drik Picture Library and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Chobi Mela has been held regularly since 2000 and is widely recognised as one of the world's most inclusive and politically engaged photography festivals.

The press briefing was attended by festival chief adviser and renowned photographer Dr Shahidul Alam, festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman, curators Munem Wasif and Sarkar Pratik, photographer Jannatul Mawa, and education director Khandakar Tanvir Murad.

Reflecting on the festival's evolution, Dr Shahidul Alam said Chobi Mela was born out of persistence and belief. "Even during periods of political unrest and uncertainty, we felt the festival had to continue," he said. "Over time, it has grown into a space where people encounter each other's work in new ways and build enduring networks."

He added that mentorship and continuity now define the festival's future, with teachers, alumni, and current students of Pathshala playing a central role in shaping its direction.

Festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman said the 11th edition is being presented on a full scale under the theme 'Punoh' (Re:), signalling renewal and reimagining. "At a moment when the world is searching for fresh beginnings, we have rethought Chobi Mela in that spirit," he said.

This year's festival will be held across five venues: Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka, DrikPath Bhaban, and the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad.

The programme features nine exhibitions showcasing works by 58 artists from 18 countries spanning five continents.

Curators Munem Wasif and Sarkar Pratik outlined the conceptual framework of the exhibitions. A key highlight, "(Un)Learning Palestine", curated by Yasmin Eid-Sabbah and Laleh Bergmann Hossain, will include a dedicated reading room presenting Palestinian histories through books, letters, illustrations, and photographs.

Sarkar Pratik noted that the main exhibition at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will present works by Adam Broomberg, Ernest Cole, and Syed Mohammad Zakir, examining the complex relationships between history, people, and the environment.

The festival will also host three solo exhibitions by Alessandra Sanguinetti, Bani Abidi, and Amanul Haque, alongside archival material related to Bangladesh's Language Movement, Liberation War, rural life, and rare photographs by Satyajit Ray.

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In addition, "Dheu", an exhibition by nine artists supported through the Chobi Mela Fellowship, will be on display.

A non-profit initiative, Chobi Mela is supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and more than 16 partner organisations, including Alliance Française de Dhaka, British Council, Goethe-Institut, and the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh.