The 26th Pingyao International Photography Festival officially opened on Saturday, September 19, 2026, within Pingyao Ancient City, an iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site in North China’s Shanxi Province. This year’s grand cultural showcase presents nearly 20,000 photographic works contributed by more than 2,600 photographers hailing from 34 countries and regions across the globe. German photographer Corina Gertz noted during the opening ceremony that the ancient city provides an inspiring backdrop for cultural discovery, highlighting photography as a vital visual bridge that connects diverse civilizations and reveals shared human experiences.
Themed “Openness and Innovation: Building Dreams with Light,” the festival is organized into five core sectors—exhibitions, selection, trade, activities, and academic institutions—encompassing 15 specialized units. Alongside international contemporary galleries, the curated exhibitions feature visual narratives highlighting key milestones in contemporary Chinese history and multifaceted perspectives on modern development. Since its founding in 2001, the festival has evolved into an essential international art exchange platform, cumulatively drawing over 50,000 photographers and exhibiting more than 370,000 works from over 100 countries and regions.
For international travelers and photography aficionados planning their autumn China travel itineraries, the festival offers an extraordinary confluence of contemporary visual arts and living antiquity. Enclosed by intact Ming and Qing dynasty ramparts dating back 2,800 years, Pingyao transforms its historic courtyard compounds, former bank vaults, and preserved streetscapes into open-air gallery spaces. As China continues to facilitate foreign arrivals and expand regional rail connectivity throughout Shanxi, this signature event provides global guests with an authentic cultural journey into the heart of Northern Chinese heritage.