The international festival of contemporary photography PARADAJS PHOTO FEST, which this year became a member of the International Photo Festival Association (IPFA), invites audiences to the opening of its third edition on 5 June 2026. Despite receiving critically low state funding compared to previous years, the organisers will bring 17 exhibitions to the historic town of Banská Štiavnica, featuring artists such as Roman Franc, Dežo Hoffmann, Štěpánka Stein, and Lena Jakubčáková. Visitors can look forward to unique site-specific installations and a rich accompanying programme. The festival opens with a launch weekend from 5–7 June and runs until 5 July 2026.
A Festival Marked by International Recognition and an Ongoing Struggle for Survival
The third edition of PARADAJS PHOTO FEST arrives with an important milestone: membership in the prestigious International Photo Festival Association (IPFA).
"For us, this is both encouragement in challenging times and a commitment to continue developing international photographic dialogue," says festival director Jano Viazo.
Although preparations have taken place during a difficult period for Slovak culture, the organisers have once again assembled a strong curatorial programme featuring outstanding names from both the European and Slovak photography scenes.
"Despite the circumstances, we believe that the quality of contemporary photography we strive to bring to Banská Štiavnica—and will continue to bring this year within our possibilities—will attract many visitors," Viazo adds.
17 Exhibition Projects
The festival's most prominent guest this year is Roman Franc, the Czech photographer who will present a selection of works, primarily from his long-term project Groups. Through meticulously composed group portraits, Franc explores relationships, identity, and the dynamics of communities connected by shared interests or professions. Using a large-format camera, he creates images that balance documentary observation, subtle humour, and artistic stylisation, complemented by portraits from other photographic series. The exhibition opens on Saturday, 6 June, at KTC Hájovňa.
Czech photographer Vendy Mlejnská, in curatorial collaboration with Štěpánka Stein, will present the project SemiDei, an ironic reflection on the cult of perfection and lifestyle ideals shaped by social media. Set in a swimming pool environment, the staged photographs combine the aesthetics of classical sculpture with absurd humour.
The group exhibition Plurality of Home(s) brings together photographers Zuzana Jakabová, Lena Jakubčáková, and Kvet Nguyen, who explore diverse notions of home as a space of memory, identity, and return. The exhibition offers a sensitive perspective on home as both a deeply personal and a broader social experience.
The festival will also feature a collective exhibition of finalists from the first edition of the international open call Of Apples and People. A total of 201 artists from around the world responded to the call, and the winner will be announced during the festival's opening weekend.
The exhibition programme further includes presentations of works by students from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, a group exhibition by Šedá zóna (students and alumni of the Institute of Creative Photography in Opava), and a historical survey dedicated to Dežo Hoffmann, the world-renowned "photographer of The Beatles" who was born in Banská Štiavnica.
The full opening weekend programme, including exhibition descriptions, can be found HERE.
Accompanying Programme
Alongside the exhibitions, the festival will offer a rich accompanying programme that connects photography, music, and informal social gatherings. The opening weekend (5–7 June) will feature concerts, community picnics, and evening discussions taking place in streets, gardens, and around Banská Štiavnica's historic lakes.
The festival's official opening at Akademik Cinema will be followed by a concert by Czech musician Petr Foltýn at Archanjel. Saturday afternoon will be dedicated to a community picnic in the garden of the Julo Binder Gallery. In the evening, the programme moves to KTC Hájovňa, where exhibition openings will be followed by a concert by the band Secret Session and a late-night music gathering.
Info
Festival Opening Weekend | 5–7 June 2026
Festival Duration | 5 June – 5 July 2026
Venue | PARADAJS PARADAJS, Andreja Kmeťa 22, Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
More Information | festival.paradajsphoto.sk
Eda Babák – Babetta 207
On 18 June, Fotograf Zone Gallery will open Babetta 207, an exhibition by Eda Babák, a graduate of the Photography Studio F2 bachelor’s programme at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM).
PARADAJS PHOTO FEST 2026
The international festival of contemporary photography PARADAJS PHOTO FEST, which this year became a member of the International Photo Festival Association (IPFA), invites audiences to the opening of its third edition on 5 June 2026. Despite receiving critically low state funding compared to previous years, the organisers will bring 17 exhibitions to the historic town of Banská Štiavnica, featuring artists such as Roman Franc, Dežo Hoffmann, Štěpánka Stein, and Lena Jakubčáková. Visitors can look forward to unique site-specific installations and a rich accompanying programme. The festival opens with a launch weekend from 5–7 June and runs until 5 July 2026.