Bienal Fotografia do Porto FUTURES Talents 2026

The Bienal Fotografia do Porto will nominate 5 emerging photographic artists living in Portugal to join FUTURES, the European-based photography platform dedicated to supporting emerging talents in photography.

Overview

The selected artists will enjoy an international exchange through a network of institutions, curators, artists and audiences, enhancing visibility and new professional opportunities. Since 2022 the Bienal Fotografia do Porto is one of the 22 members of FUTURES.

Practical Info

Applicants must complete the online form including personal details, a short biography, a short CV and a portfolio consisting of at least one photographic project.

During the year 2026, the five selected artists will have access to a €500 artist fee, the opportunity for tutorial support from a FUTURES member to be appointed (up to 3 sessions), travel and accommodation to attend the Annual Event in Utrecht (to be confirmed) in November 2026 (which includes portfolio presentations to representatives of FUTURES members, workshops, etc), and a €600 contribution towards travel, accommodation and meals. Plus, they will have access to a series of workshops and masterclasses organised by the Magnum agency - FUTURES Magnum Creative Workshop. Additionally, the selected artists will be part of the annual FUTURES catalogue and more.

The jury is composed of 3 members: Jayne Dyer, Vera Carmo and Virgílio Ferreira. The results will be communicated directly to candidates until January 30, 2026 to the e-mail address indicated in the application form. The public announcement of the results will take place at a later date.

About Ci.CLO: Plataforma de Fotografia

Ci.CLO is a platform for research, creation and intervention in the field of photography that establishes a transdisciplinary relationship with other artistic, environmental and social fields to critically address concerns and emergencies of our time. Their projects act as catalysts for socio-ecological regeneration through the visual arts. They expand cultural dialogues with diverse communities and territories, support more sustainable artistic production practices and promote participatory programming between the artistic and the civic. In collaboration with artists, curators, cultural agents, communities, municipalities and national and foreign institutions they organize artistic residencies, implement creative programs, produce exhibitions and publications.

About Bienal Fotografia do Porto

The Bienal Fotografia do Porto is organized and produced by Ci.CLO, financed by Câmara Municipal do Porto and Direção-Geral das Artes, with the patronage support of BPI e Fundação "la Caixa", the institutional support of UNESCO's National Commission and a network of several strategic partners at national and international level, namely FUTURES - European Photography Platform. The Bienal Fotografia do Porto recognizes the profound social and ecological challenges that our collective faces. Their mission is to contribute to the production and dissemination of artistic perspectives, actions and interventions, that promote an ethical and regenerative cultural change that we believe is as desirable as it is inevitable. The Biennale is a pioneer in research and creation in the field of photography and its transdisciplinary relationship with other artistic, environmental and social fields; promoting alternative methodologies and proposing multiple perspectives, utopian or dystopian, to motivate cultural transformations.

About FUTURES

Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union from 2017, the FUTURES Photography Platform pools together the experience of leading photography institutions across Europe to increase the capacity, mobility and visibility of its selected artists. By bringing together a wealth of resources and curatorial expertise, each talent selected by the Futures members gains access to an unprecedented international network of professionals as well as new markets and audiences. Currently, the platform has over 20 member institutions across Europe, who are invited to nominate artists to join the platform each year.