Lodz Photo-Match 2026: Portfolio Review

Lodz Fotofestiwal invites 20 photographers to meet 20 curators from all over Europe in an unusual formula of portfolio review, which emphasizes networking, equality and the widest possible presentation of works and photographic institutions.

Overview

The Photo-Match model brings new life into the traditional formula of portfolio reviews by placing special emphasis on a series of open networking events and public presentations. Photo-Match is based on a democratic and inclusive model, free of charge, in which experts and artists have the same space for sharing and pitching their experience and motivations.

Learn more by reading our article, which presents Photo-Match, Fotofestiwal's Horizontal Portfolio Reviews in Łódź, featuring interviews with Krzysztof Candrowicz and Mafalda Ruão.

Practical Info

Artists must apply by filling in the online form, and send a preview of 10 photographs from the project they would like to present during the review, sent in a JPG or PNG format, preferably size of 1920 px length, in a separate email to portfolio@fotofestiwal.com. Artists that were applying and selected in the previous year, can apply again with no restrictions.

The event is held in two days, 19-20 June 2026. The first day is for Presentations and Matching. It’s a day dedicated to both photographers and experts to introduce themselves, their work, and practice through short live presentations. The event is open to Lodz Fotofestiwal’s audience, including festivalgoers and city visitors who wish to attend, allowing artists and reviewers to expand their network. Based on these introductions and their own impressions, each participant will choose the reviewers (in case of photographers) or the artists (in case of experts) with whom they would like to meet and share their work, through a matching process. By the end of this day each attendee will have up to 4 meetings scheduled for the next day.

The second day is dedicated to Meetings. All participants attend private meetings in accordance with the timetable generated based on the choices made on the previous day. Every photographer and curator attends up to 4 meetings. For those who want, Photo-Match will finish with 1 open extra session, an opportunity to enjoy conversation and exchange ideas with someone with whom there was no previous match.

Reviewers include experts such as Anna Surroca and Irene Monteagudo, Arianna Rinaldo, Asta Vaičiulytė, Beata Łyżwa-Sokół, Emma Bowkett, Giulia Brivio, Grażyna Siedlecka, Henri Airo, Iris Sikking, Kristyna Müller, Luca Vianello and Silvia Mangosio, Łukasz Pawłowski, Nela Eggenberger, Pablo Berástegui, Peggy Sue Amison, Sandino Scheidegger, Sergio Valenzuela Escobedo, Tomasz Gutkowski and Witek Orski.

About Lodz Fotofestiwal

Fotofestiwal is one of the first photography festivals in Central and Eastern Europe. This small, spontaneous initiative today, it's an international event with more than 20,000 visitors each year. The festival takes place in Lodz - a city with a remarkable industrial history, which has inspired the organizers from the beginning. Exhibitions are presented in the main festival center - the post-industrial buildings of former textile factories. More than 30 exhibitions can be seen throughout the city, organized in cooperation with local galleries, museums and universities. The program includes: exhibitions (curated Main Program, Open Program, book exhibitions), author meetings, slide shows, film screenings and educational activities.