Focus Festival 2026

The picturesque town of José Ignacio in Uruguay will be transformed into a vibrant open-air gallery, where photography will be the protagonist in every corner, occupying public and private spaces.

Overview

Focus Festival is produced by FOLA and Arte x Arte, the entire program is completely free and open to the public. Gastón Deleau, Director of FOCUS, and Nicolas Janowski, its Artistic Director, lead the festival with a shared commitment to showcasing photography in all its expressive power.

The official opening will take place at the traditional Galería de las Misiones, where two impactful and historically significant exhibitions will be presented: a show by Colombian photographer Leo Matiz dedicated to Frida Kahlo, and a black-and-white series by Brazilian artist Gaspar Gasparian.

José Ignacio’s central square will host urban installations by four prominent artists: Guadalupe Miles and Luciana Demichelis (Argentina), Matilde Campodónico (Uruguay), and Andrés Marroquín (Peru), each contributing their unique visions to this public space. At the Las Musas venue, visitors will find an extraordinary project—Linea del destino 2006–2025—by renowned Colombian artist Óscar Muñoz, curated by José Roca.

One of the new locations where photography will become part of the landscape is Portal de Luz (Pueblo Edén), which will feature an installation showcasing the work of Argentine artist Alejandro Chaskielberg. The beach, the Lighthouse, and La Panadería of José Ignacio will also serve as stages for exhibitions and various activities, starting with an installation by Gihan Tubbeh (Peru), a wall installation on the Lighthouse by José Luis Cuevas (Mexico), and a project by the Grupo EnFoco (Argentina) in the outdoor space of La Panadería. There will also be workshops led by Federico Ruiz Santesteban (Uruguay) and Alejandro Chaskielberg (Argentina), along with a curated photobook showcase carefully selected by Andrés Marroquín (Peru).

This year, the Itinerant Museum, located in José Ignacio's central square, will surprise visitors with a project of contemporary Uruguayan photography titled Desde otro Lugar, 10 años de viajes, una misma deriva, curated by Diego Vidart, featuring works by Fernanda Aramuni, Martín Cerchiari, Deborah Elenter, Ignacio Iturrioz, Olivia Pérez, and Martín Pérez. As in previous editions, the international Portfolio Review Program will be held again at Casa Neptuna – Fundación Ama Amoedo, a space where curators and artists come together to share their projects.

With a program that spans diverse perspectives and geographies, this festival invites all attendees to discover the power of photography in unexpected and unique spaces.