Athens Takes Center Stage at Xposure International Photography Festival
Sharjah, UAE – In a historic first, Athens has been selected as the Honored City at the Xposure International Photography Festival, currently underway in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The prestigious recognition highlights Athens’ role as a global source of inspiration and its contemporary outward-looking approach.
The official opening ceremony of the festival took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas. This event emphatically marked Athens’ international recognition within the photography world.
Five Greek Exhibitions Showcase Athenian Creativity
Five captivating exhibitions featuring the works of prominent Greek photographers from Athens Photo World are being presented at the festival. These photographers – Maro Kouri, Socrates Baltagiannis, Michalis Pappas, Antonis Pasvantis, and Dimitris Tosidis – are showcasing Athens’ vibrant and contemporary creative identity. The exhibitions are running from January 29 to February 4, 2026, offering a unique glimpse into the modern perspective behind each image.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and Mayor Haris Doukas toured the exhibitions. The team from Athens Photo World and the artists themselves were on hand to present their works, sharing the stories and the modern vision embedded in their photographs.
Mayor Doukas Emphasizes Athens’ International Role
In his opening address, Mayor Haris Doukas underscored the significance of Athens’ selection as the Honored City for the 10th Xposure International Photography Festival. He stated, “For Athens, its emergence as the Honored City of the 10th Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah constitutes a substantial recognition of its role as a global source of inspiration for creators and its contemporary outward-looking approach.”
Mayor Doukas also announced the return of the Athens Photo World to the Greek capital. “In 2026, the Athens Photo World returns dynamically to our city, starting on February 28. It will be hosted at Technopolis City of Athens, one of Athens’ most emblematic cultural hubs, the meeting point where culture, education, inclusion, and international cooperation converge,” he added.
Athens Photo World Presents its Activities
On the same day as the opening ceremony, the Athens Photo World team hosted an open event to present its activities over the past eight years. This presentation highlighted the organization’s role as a vibrant platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and photographic creation.
The panel discussion included photographers and university professors from the United Arab Emirates, Giannis Kontos (UAEU) and Giannis Galanopoulos-Papavasileiou (ZU), alongside Greek photographers Dimitris Tosidis, Antonis Pasvantis, and Maro Kouri. Christina Kalligianni, the festival’s coordinator, moderated the discussion.
The Athens Photo World team will maintain an active presence at all Xposure exhibitions and events, continuing to enhance the international profile of Athens and the Greek photographic ecosystem until the festival concludes on February 4.
