Darmstadt Days of Photography (DTdF)

One of Germany's Most Important Photography Festivals

The Darmstadt Days of Photography (DTdF) have been one of Germany's most distinguished photography art festivals since 2003. 2026 marks the 13th edition – a doubly symbolic year: it not only signifies the 13th iteration but also the 10th anniversary of the Merck Award, the festival's most significant accolade. The organizer is the DTdF Support Association, which runs the festival on a voluntary basis and keeps the photography scene alive with exhibitions in the city even between festival years.

"Inspiring Atmospheres" as the Guiding Theme

The guiding theme for 2026 is "Inspiring Atmospheres" – a concept that programmatically anchors this year's edition within the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026. The DTdF is part of the official program of the World Design Capital – an award that the UNESCO City of Design initiative grants to city regions demonstrating design as a creative force. Frankfurt-RheinMain is the first German recipient of this award in 2026, and the DTdF positions itself with its program as its photographic contribution.

The Merck Award as an Anchor

The dramaturgical anchor of the festival is the Merck Award, an accolade endowed with €10,000 for outstanding photographic series. The award was established in 2008 and is sponsored by the Darmstadt-based pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals company Merck KGaA. In 2026, the award will be presented for the tenth time – an anniversary that the festival will accompany with a special exhibition of previous award winners. The six nominated series for the 2026 edition will be exhibited centrally; the award ceremony will take place during the opening weekend at the Artists' Colony Museum on Mathildenhöhe.

40–50 Photographers in Eight to Twelve Exhibitions

The festival utilizes several venues in Darmstadt for curated exhibitions. Renowned venues for 2026 include: the Artists' Colony Museum on Mathildenhöhe (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Kunstforum of TU Darmstadt, the Designhaus, the Stadtkirche, the Atelierhaus Vahle, and LEW1, the base for the Artist-in-Residence program. In total, 40 to 50 national and international photographers will showcase their work in eight to twelve exhibitions. Confirmed names for 2026 include Annegret Soltau with her series "VATERSUCHE", Angelika Kohlmeier ("PhotonenSpur & Paragraphen"), photographer Swaantje Güntzel as Artist-in-Residence, and a retrospective of Bryan Adams (the rock musician also active as a photographer).

Opening Weekend with Symposium

The programmatic highlight is the opening weekend from April 24 to 26. The opening is on Friday, April 24, at 6 PM in the Artists' Colony Museum with the award ceremony. On Saturday, April 25, the symposium will run from 1 PM to 6 PM in the Design department of the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da). Additionally, there will be artist talks, vernissages, and a dense supporting program that draws the photography scene from all over Germany and neighboring countries to Darmstadt.

Darmstadt as a City of Design

It is no coincidence that the DTdF are based in Darmstadt. With its approximately 160,000 inhabitants, the city has been a center of modern design since the founding of the Artists' Colony on Mathildenhöhe (1899). Today, it hosts the Technical University with excellent degree programs in design and architecture, the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) with its Media Design department, and a vibrant gallery and studio scene. The DTdF positions photography within this environment as an independent discipline between art and design.