Image © Julien Rahmani
Back with new directors after a hiccup in 2025, the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival includes 10 emerging image-makers, shortlisted for the chance to make a book with Éditions 7L and Atelier EXB, and stage a show at 7L, Paris
The Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival is a glamorous event, held in the striking modernist villa Noailles; it was established back in 1985 and has attracted sponsorship from Chanel, Hermès and other industry heavyweights, so it came as something of a shock when Jean-Pierre Blanc, festival founder and managing director of the villa, stepped down last summer after running up debts of nearly €4m. The event went ahead as planned in October 2025 though, and is now officially back for its 41st year with new directors at the helm.
Hugo Lucchino is now executive director of the Villa Noailles, joining from Palais Galliera, the Paris Museum of Fashion; Magalie Guérin is his deputy and artistic director of the festival, having joined the latter in 2004 as a production intern, rising to become assistant director in 2015. Rebecca Cuglietta, a respected industry insider and founder of the 254Forest production agency, is associate assistant director of the Photography Jury for the festival. Guérin insists that the festival is “not turning a new page”, however, adding that: “we’re not erasing the past, we”re returning to the fundamentals and to our heritage.”
“We’re not erasing the past, we”re returning to the fundamentals and to our heritage.” Magalie Guérin, Artistic Director, Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival
Those fundamentals circle around fostering young talent, who in the photography section can be loosely affiliated with fashion (though the other awards are for emerging fashion and accessories designers). Iin previous years image-makers such as Thaddé Comar and Arhant Shrestha have been recognised, Comar making radical work on protests in Hong Kong and political posturing in France, Shrestha focusing on male sexuality in Nepal.
The 2026 finalists include two photographers from China, Honglin Cai and Xueling Chen; two photographers from Switzerland, Zacharie Lewertoff and Lorane Hochstatter; two photographers from France, Julien Rahmani and Sidonie Ronfard, plus Giulia Frigieri from Italy, Yun Ki Ng from Hong Kong, Motoki Nakatani from Japan, and Valeria Sarto from Italy/US. And Guérin notes a supportive, collegiate atmosphere among the finalists, despite the fact they are in a competition.
The festival produces a group show by the finalists, including a dozen prints per shortlisted artists, made by SHERIFF PROJECTS and its laboratory and post-production studio. A less tangible but equally important prize is the unparalleled access to decision-makers – the festival attracts about 2000 accredited professionals from various creative milieux, who migrate to the south to enjoy the festival, and “discuss in an informal manner”, according to Guérin. “It’s a little bubble,” she adds.
The 2026 jury is headed by French photographer Camille Vivier, who herself won a prize in 1998, and whose work is currently on view in Paris through mid-September at the MEP. Jury members prioritise those who are fresh out of school rather than those with gallery representation, making judging this prize an exercise in gauging potential; Guérin often visits schools to interact with those on MA programmes, and encourages students to apply to the festival.
Three awards are up for grabs. The Pull&Bear Fashion Photography Prize is launching for the first time, rewarding one of the ten finalists with a €20,000 cash grant, the production of a campaign for the namesake youth retailer or alternatively a commissioned photographic project with image rights and visibility. The winning project will also be showcased in Pull&Bear flagship stores, alongside a dedicated social media campaign. Next year, the winner will be able to produce a fanzine and a solo exhibition at Villa Noailles, as well as a limited-edition T-shirt.
For the American Vintage Photography Prize, the 10 candidates present a print based on a selection of American Vintage pieces, all of which are displayed at the festival. The photographer with the winning image will receive €5000 and a fashion photoshoot. The 7L Photography Jury Grand Prize includes the chance to make a book co-published by Éditions 7L, Atelier EXB and the Villa Noailles, plus an exhibition held at 7L’s Paris space during Paris Photo and PhotoSaintGermain. This prize, says Guérin, allows one image-maker to acquire skills that they often don’t learn at school, “how to choose the right paper for one’s book and the logistics of the publishing process”.
The festival will also include a programme of talks, including a presentation by Vivier; Roxane Moreau will be there as moderator, a French photographer who hosts the podcast “Dans Le Bain” [literally meaning “in the bath” but more colloquially meaning “being comfortable and informed about a subject”]. She has interviewed French photographers such as Jean-Vincent Simonet, whose work has also been highlighted at Hyères.
Hyères has evolved over the years but remains fabulous at 41 – and still committed to nurturing young talent. As Guérin emphasises; “Young talents need support to evolve in the international professional scene.”
Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival takes place from 15-18 October; the exhibitions remain open until 11 January 2027. For updates check villanoailles.com