France, and particularly Toulouse, is celebrating the Bicentennial of Photography, a national event initiated by the Ministry of Culture. This celebration, running from September 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, highlights ancient and contemporary photographic creation, as well as public collections and photographic publishing under the slogan "Let's celebrate gazes".
The event explores the history of photography, from its invention by Niépce in the early 19th century to digital images and artificial intelligence. Numerous events are organized across France and in 40 countries, including exhibitions, festivals, meetings, workshops, and publications.
Toulouse, home to France's oldest public gallery dedicated to auteur photography, the Château d'Eau, is hosting several labeled events. The exhibition "The Lives of Photography" will be held at the Château d'Eau from October 16, 2026, to February 21, 2027. It will trace the richness of photographic processes and the legacy of film culture, featuring works from the collections of the Château d'Eau, the Musée des Arts Précieux Paul-Dupuy, and the Musée Georges-Labit.
Another major exhibition, "Białowieża, the Living Forest" by Lech and Simona Wilczek, will be presented from December 5, 2026, to February 27, 2027, at the Centre culturel Saint-Cyprien and the Muséum de Toulouse. It will showcase the work of these Polish photographers on the wildlife of the primeval Białowieża Forest.
As part of the Le Nouveau Printemps festival, the Château d'Eau will present the exhibition "The Overstory" from May 22 to August 30, 2027, inspired by Richard Powers' novel, exploring the connections between photography, humans, and plant worlds. Concurrently, an exhibition by Éléa-Jeanne Schmitter, winner of the Résidence Incertitude 2026, will be held from May 5 to July 4, 2027.
Finally, the exhibition "Le Cercle Photographique des XII (1936-1952)" will take place from June 20 to September 30, 2027, at the Bibliothèque d'Étude et du Patrimoine and the Médiathèque José Cabanis. It will showcase the work of members of this Toulouse association, whose archives are held by the Toulouse Municipal Archives.
