A global celebration of stories, memory, and the power of the lens at the International Photography Exhibition

The International Photography Exhibition, organised by the Royal Photographic Society, returns to London this August with 113 photographs by 48 artists from around the world. On view at Saatchi Gallery from August 7th to September 11th, 2026, the exhibition explores the stories, struggles, and connections shaping contemporary life through the eyes of emerging and established photographers.

For more than 160 years, the International Photography Exhibition has reflected the defining issues of its time. Its 167th edition continues that legacy with works exploring identity, belonging, environmental change, family histories, and cultural memory.

A photography exhibition where global voices meet personal stories

Selected from more than 5,200 submissions, this year’s exhibition brings together 113 works by 48 artists chosen by an expert panel, celebrating the breadth of contemporary photographic practice.

The featured projects examine environmental challenges, conflict, community, family, identity, and heritage, while showcasing innovative techniques that expand the language of photography. Among the participating artists are this year’s award winners Marcy Palmer and Léa Chen, alongside Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora, Lydia Goldblatt, Max Gorbatskyi, Irene Lombardo, and other internationally selected photographers.

Palmer received the IPE Award for Seeds of Strength and Resilience, an intimate series exploring reproductive rights, women’s autonomy, and the impact of shifting social realities. The Under 30s IPE Award went to Léa Chen for The Stars That Don’t Look Back, a moving body of work tracing memory, heritage, and the bonds between three generations of women in Taiwan.

One of London’s essential photography events this season

This exhibition is one of the standout photography events in London, continuing one of the world’s longest-running showcases of the medium. Founded in 1854, the International Photography Exhibition has chronicled the evolution of photography, showcasing the defining stories of successive generations.

The 167th edition marks the exhibition’s second year at Saatchi Gallery, following an edition that attracted more than 65,000 visitors. The selection panel included Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora, Lydia Goldblatt, Max Gorbatskyi, Irene Lombardo, and photography historian Dr Michael Pritchard.

The Royal Photographic Society extends the exhibition beyond London

After its London run, the exhibition will travel to Taunton Museum from October 24th, 2026, to January 9th, 2027, before returning to London at the Royal Geographical Society from April 5th to 28th, 2027.

A special one-night event at theprintspace in Shoreditch on August 20th, 2026, during World Photography Week, will spotlight fine-art printing and photographic craftsmanship.

Supported by theprintspace, the exhibition continues the Royal Photographic Society’s mission to connect people through photography. From intimate family portraits to urgent social narratives, the 167th edition celebrates the camera’s enduring ability to preserve memory, challenge perspectives, and deepen our understanding of the world.