Opening a Global Photography Dialogue: Nuanu Announces 36 International Artists for FOTO Bali Festival 2026

From nearly 700 submissions across more than 80 countries, FOTO Bali Festival 2026, presented by Nuanu Creative City, announces the 36 selected artists for its second edition.

Taking place from 3 June to 12 July 2026 at Nuanu Creative City, Bali, the festival will feature works by 36 artists from 24 countries, including Akshay Mahajan (India), Alessandro Bo (Mexico), Anita Khemka & Imran Kokiloo (India), Aprillio Abdullah Akbar (Indonesia), Arhant Shrestha (Nepal), Aziziah Diah Aprilya (Indonesia), Bertha Wang (China), Ceicillia Dita (Indonesia), Charmaine de Heij (Netherlands / Suriname), Chiara Goia (Italy), Chloe Bartram (Australia), Daniela Balestrin (Brazil), Gab Mejia (Philippines), Gianluca Lanciai (Italy), Ha Dao (Vietnam), Igor Schiller (Serbia), Jiatong Lu (China), Joel Jimenez (Costa Rica), Joyantee Raina (Bangladesh), Kate Perfilieva (Russia), Keyza Widiatmika (Indonesia), Kibe Nduni (Kenya), Lars Dyrendom & Inuk Jørgensen (Denmark / Greenland), Made Virgie Avianthy (Indonesia), Martín Bollati (Argentina), Muhammad Dwiki Viansa (Indonesia), Nadège Mazars (France), Nicolás Bernal (Colombia), Primagung D. Riliananda (Indonesia), Rodrigo Illescas (Argentina), Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo (Colombia), Sean Cham (Singapore), Valeria Arendar (Argentina / Mexico), Vinit Gupta (India), Wimadetra (Indonesia), and Yuki Furusawa (Japan).

Under the theme Afterimage, the festival brings together works that explore memory, continuity, and the ways images persist beyond the moment they capture. Moving between personal narratives and broader reflections on history, identity, and collective experience, the selected projects consider how photographs continue to shape meaning over time.

“We want FOTO Bali Festival to open up a wider conversation between photographic practices from different contexts, without geographical or generational boundaries.” said Kelsang Dolma, Festival Director of FOTO Bali Festival. “The open call is central to that, allowing both emerging and established artists to enter the festival through the strength of their work and its connection to the festival’s theme. Having two curators is also important, as it brings multiple perspectives into the selection process and allows for a more layered engagement with the festival’s central idea.”

The festival is supported by Wonderful Indonesia, underscoring its growing significance within Indonesia’s wider cultural and creative landscape. Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism said, “Wonderful Indonesia supports initiatives that strengthen Indonesia’s creative ecosystem and cultural dialogue. FOTO Bali Festival 2026 represents how art, photography, and community can come together to create meaningful cultural conversations rooted in Bali.”

The final selection represents just over 5% of total submissions, reflecting a highly competitive process. Spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, the 36 selected artists reflect a wide range of approaches, from documentary and conceptual practices to interdisciplinary forms of image-making.

“The qualities and approaches reflected in these works align with what we envisioned when the theme was first introduced,” said Kurniadi Widodo, Curator of FOTO Bali Festival. “We aim to present practices that demonstrate both strong commitment and a diversity of visual languages within contemporary photography.”

Adding a curatorial perspective, Putu Sridiniari, Curator of FOTO Bali Festival shared, “In the context of Afterimage, photography does not conclude a moment—it continues to circulate and shape how we remember the world. The selected works reflect diverse approaches, yet share a common attentiveness to how images carry traces and influence our understanding of the present.”

Alongside international names, the participation of eight Indonesian artists further strengthens this dialogue by bringing local perspectives into a global conversation.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nuanu Creative City