Under the slogan 'A Decade of Visual Storytelling', the International Photography Festival 'Expozar' returns with a new edition, organized by the Sharjah Government Media Office from January 29 to February 4 on Al-Sharjah Avenue. This event celebrates 10 years of building one of the world's leading platforms for visual photography and establishing the culture of the image as a means of expression, knowledge, and impact on major global issues. 'Expozar 2026' will feature an exceptional participation this year with more than 420 visual artists from around the world presenting a program of over 570 events, combining art exhibitions, specialized dialogues, film screenings, and expert meetings across a 49,000-square-meter area. The festival will present 95 exhibitions featuring 3,200 visual works. For the first time since its inception, 'Expozar' has announced a guest of honor program, with Athens, Greece, being this year's guest. Tariq Said Al-Aly, Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Office, said: 'When we launched Expozar 10 years ago, we were not founding an art event, but creating a new space for a global human dialogue between the world and its image, a dialogue led by stories, shaped by the lens, and translated through impact.' Athens Mayor Haris Doukas stated: 'Being chosen as the guest of honor at this major international event hosted by Sharjah is a landmark moment, a testament to Athens' deeply rooted cultural status and its ongoing role in inspiring artists and creators worldwide. This global celebration of Athens highlights the depth of its human history and its contemporary spirit, open to innovation and visual expression.'
