Dhaka: The 11th edition of Chobi Mela International Festival of Photography 2026, one of Asia’s leading photography festivals, will open on January 16 here in the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the announcement was made at a press conference held at DrikPath Bhaban, where it was revealed that the 16-day festival will be open to the public until January 31.
Jointly organised by Drik Picture Library and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Chobi Mela has been a regular event since 2000, gaining international recognition as one of the world’s most inclusive photography festivals. The press briefing featured festival chief adviser and photographer Dr Shahidul Alam, festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman, curators Munem Wasif and Sarkar Pratik, photographer Jannatul Mawa, and education director Khandakar Tanvir Murad.
Reflecting on the festival’s journey, Dr Shahidul Alam highlighted that Chobi Mela was founded on resilience and commitment. He noted that even amid political unrest and uncertainty, the festival has continued, becoming a platform for people to engage with each other’s work in innovative ways and build lasting networks. He emphasized that mentorship and continuity now shape the festival’s future, with former and current teachers and students of Pathshala playing crucial roles.
Festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman announced that the 11th edition is being organized on a full scale under the theme ‘Punoh’ (Re:), which means again, anew, or differently. He explained that in a world searching for new beginnings, Chobi Mela has been reimagined with a spirit of renewal.
The festival will be hosted across five venues in Dhaka: Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Fran§aise de Dhaka, DrikPath Bhaban, and the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad. This year’s program will feature nine exhibitions showcasing 58 artists from 18 countries across five continents.
Curators Munem Wasif and Sarkar Pratik elaborated on the conceptual direction of the exhibitions. A major highlight, “(Un)Learning Palestine,” curated by Yasmin Eid-Sabbah and Laleh Bergmann Hossain, will include a reading room presenting Palestinian histories through books, letters, illustrations, and photographs.
Sarkar Pratik mentioned that the main exhibition at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will display works by Adam Broomberg, Ernest Cole, and Syed Mohammad Zakir, exploring the connections between history, people, and the environment. Additionally, the festival will feature three solo exhibitions by Alessandra Sanguinetti, Bani Abidi, and Amanul Haque, including archival photographs related to Bangladesh’s Language Movement, Liberation War, rural life, and rare images by Satyajit Ray.
Furthermore, “Dheu,” an exhibition by nine artists supported through the Chobi Mela Fellowship, will be showcased. Chobi Mela is a non-profit initiative supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with over 16 organizations, including Alliance Fran§aise de Dhaka, British Council, Goethe-Institut, and the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh.