An event within an event, the Jacques Vion fire station has never before been open to the public. Built in the 1970s by architect Pierre Debeaux and occupied until 2025 by firefighters from the SDIS, this one-hectare structure—classified as “Remarkable Contemporary Architecture” and subsequently listed as a Historic Monument in 2023—is still in limbo. It is precisely here that the MAP Toulouse Photography Festival has chosen to host its 2026 biennial, from September 11 to 27— free of charge, as with each of its sixteen previous editions.
Under the artistic direction of Ulrich Lebeuf, the program brings together thirteen photographers with very different approaches. The flagship exhibition creates a dialogue between the archivesof Edward S. Curtis (1905) and the contemporary work of Zen Lefort on the Navajo and Lakota nations: a century apart, yet addressing the same question regarding the representation of Indigenous peoples. Alongside this, Bénédicte Kurzen (2023 Carmignac Prize, 2019 World Press Photo) explores the symbolic world of Mayotte—djinns, trances, Sufism—while Nikita Teryoshin uses flash photography to capture stray cats in Saint Petersburg, Bangkok, and Atlantic City. The festival also pays tribute to Philippe-Gérard Dupuy (1948–2025), a founding figure of the Toulouse photography scene and founder of the Voir gallery, through a “Cabinet of Curiosities.”
Beyond the Walls: The Château d’Eau and the Social Photography Prize
But that’s not all. The festival extends beyond the barracks. Starting September 10 at 6:00 p.m., the Galerie Le Château d’Eau (1 Place Laganne) will host the opening reception for two off-site exhibitions: the PODA collection—fine art prints in 9×12 cm format available for a single price during the opening weekend—and the 2026 Social Photo Award, whose winners are François Le Guen (La longue saison, Grand Prix), Naïma Lecomte (Faucon, Special Jury Prize), and Valérie Horwitz (In between, New Vision Prize).
The schedule of events is packed: roundtable discussions on photographic practices, eco-responsibility, and careers in the visual arts; book signings; and, on September 12, a lecture by Christophe Brachet on set photography followed by a Sony workshop (registration required, 10 spots available). The official opening will take place on September 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Caserne Jacques Vion, featuring a “Capsule Zénith Young Talents” concert. A cultural event that’s sure to be a hit!
All exhibitions are free to the public. Information and the full program are available on the festival’s official website.
