Xposure International Photography Festival 2027: Dates, Venue & Free Entry
The 11th Xposure International Photography Festival runs 18 to 24 March 2027 at Aljada in Sharjah, and general entry is free. It is the annual photography and film festival organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, built around exhibitions, talks, workshops, portfolio reviews, film screenings and a trade show.
The edition arriving in March follows a busy awards cycle. Entries for the 2026-27 awards topped 22,000 from 108 countries, judging is underway, and the winners will be announced during the festival itself. If you only want the exhibitions and the main-stage talks, you can walk in free. If you want a workshop seat or a portfolio review slot, that part needs separate paid registration.
Xposure International Photography Festival visitor information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 18 to 24 March 2027 |
| Venue | Aljada, Sharjah |
| Thursday hours | 10:00 to 23:00 |
| Friday to Sunday hours | 15:00 to 23:00 |
| General entry | Free |
| Workshops and portfolio reviews | Paid registration, booked separately |
| Organiser | Sharjah Government Media Bureau |
| Awards prize fund | $75,000 |
What happens across the seven days
Seven days of exhibitions, talks, workshops, portfolio reviews, film screenings and a trade show fill the Aljada site. The exhibition floors carry the bulk of the programme, with still photography and moving image work shown side by side.
- Exhibitions from photographers, filmmakers and visual artists around the world, spanning documentary work, portraiture, nature and urban photography.
- Talks and panel discussions on the main stages, where working photographers talk through their craft and their subjects.
- Workshops and masterclasses for photographers who want hands-on instruction rather than a lecture.
- Portfolio reviews, where photographers sit down with reviewers to go through a body of work.
- A film programme tied to the festival awards, with short films, documentaries and work on environmental and social themes.
- A trade show with the latest cameras, gear and imaging technology from photography and filmmaking brands.
When to go & what entry costs
General entry costs nothing. Only workshops, masterclasses and portfolio reviews need paid registration, booked separately from general admission.
Hours follow a split pattern across the week. Thursday opens at 10:00 and runs to 23:00. Friday, Saturday and Sunday open later, at 15:00, and also run to 23:00. That later opening on the weekend days matters if you are planning a morning visit: on those days, there is no morning session to catch.
The free-versus-paid split is the one decision to make before you go. Exhibitions and main-stage talks sit on the free side. A workshop seat, a masterclass place or a portfolio review slot sits on the paid side and needs its own booking.
The 2026-27 awards & the 11th edition
The awards cycle feeding the 11th edition drew more than 22,000 entries from 108 countries, and judging is underway. The entries break down into 21,587 photographs and 543 film entries, with finalists and winners to be announced during the festival and selected works featured in its exhibition programme.
The prize fund across the awards totals $75,000. Photography is judged across ten categories, and film across four categories. A junior category covers UAE residents aged 7 to 18, while the main photography categories are open to photographers aged 18 and older. Film entries run through FilmFreeway.
What the 10th edition looked like
The 10th edition, themed A Decade of Visual Storytelling, ran 29 January to 4 February 2026 at the same Aljada site. It marked ten years of the festival and set the scale the 11th edition builds on.
More than 420 photographers, filmmakers and visual artists led the programme. Across 95 exhibitions and 3,200 artworks, visitors could move from still photography to moving pictures and from artistic work to documentary realism. The schedule held 126 talks and panel discussions, 72 workshops and 280 portfolio reviews, alongside the trade show.
Athens featured as the first Guest of Honour, with six exhibitions on Greek heritage, society and contemporary life put together with Athens Photo World. The 2026 awards drew 29,000 photography submissions and 634 film entries from more than 60 countries.
How to plan your visit
- Pick your day around the opening hours. Thursday gives you a 10:00 start, while Friday, Saturday and Sunday start at 15:00.
- Get a free general admission ticket on the festival site for 18 to 24 March 2027.
- Book any paid workshop, masterclass or portfolio review separately through the workshops portal.
- Check the agenda before you go, since talks and sessions are scheduled per edition.
FAQ
Is Xposure free to enter?
Yes. General entry to the exhibitions and main stages costs nothing. Workshops, masterclasses and portfolio reviews are the paid exceptions and need separate registration.
When is Xposure 2027?
18 to 24 March 2027. Thursday hours run 10:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Sunday hours run 15:00 to 23:00.
Where is Xposure held?
At Aljada in Sharjah. The festival has used the Aljada site for its recent editions, including the 2026 10th edition.
Do workshops & portfolio reviews cost extra?
Yes. Both need paid registration separate from general entry. Book them through the workshops portal.
Can young photographers enter the awards?
Yes, through the junior category, which is open to UAE residents aged 7 to 18. The main photography categories are open to photographers aged 18 and older.
What to do next
- Get a free general admission ticket for 18 to 24 March 2027.
- Book any paid workshop or portfolio review through the workshops portal.
- Watch for the 2026-27 awards winners, announced during the festival.
