Photography enthusiasts around the world can look forward to an impressive lineup of exhibitions opening in early 2026, showcasing everything from culinary culture to landscape documentation and social commentary. These shows, spanning New York, Europe, and Mexico, highlight the medium's continued evolution and its power to capture diverse aspects of human experience. The exhibitions feature both established masters and emerging voices, offering audiences multiple opportunities to engage with photographic art in various contexts and formats. Collectively, these events demonstrate photography's unique ability to document reality while simultaneously offering artistic interpretation.

The World Food Photography Awards will launch its first-ever New York exhibition at Empire Stores in Brooklyn, running from January 11 to February 8, 2026. This landmark show brings together stunning images celebrating global culinary culture and the artistry of food presentation. The exhibition transforms the Brooklyn waterfront venue into a visual feast, featuring winning photographs that capture everything from street food vendors to haute cuisine. The timing and location make it accessible to both New Yorkers and international visitors, marking a significant expansion for the awards program which has previously shown primarily in Europe. The images on display reveal how contemporary photographers are elevating food photography beyond commercial applications into fine art.

Meanwhile, European audiences can enjoy several thought-provoking shows. In Grenoble, France, the exhibition "Trees in the Arts and Literature" will feature the meditative landscape photography of Michael Kenna, opening on December 16, 2025, at l'1 Cour Lafontaine. Kenna's minimalist black-and-white images explore the spiritual and aesthetic presence of trees across different environments. In Sweden, Julian Slagman's "A Failed Attempt to Photograph Reality" will be on view at Galleri Format in Malmö through January 5, 2026. Slagman's conceptual work questions the medium's relationship to truth and representation, challenging viewers to consider what photography can and cannot capture about lived experience.

Mexico City's National Museum of World Cultures continues its ambitious exhibition "Mongolia: From the Gobi Desert to the Altai Mountains" by Philippe Paquet through January 31, 2026. Paquet's extensive documentation of Mongolia's diverse landscapes and nomadic cultures provides a comprehensive visual journey across the country's dramatic geography. Back in the United States, the 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop maintains its reputation as a premier dealer of antique images, currently highlighting classic Yosemite photographs by pioneers including Carleton Watkins, Charles Leander Weed, Eadweard Muybridge, and William Henry Jackson. These historical images remain crucial to understanding America's relationship with its natural heritage.

Contemporary photography takes center stage at several institutions this season. The Fondation Francès in Clichy, France, presents "Tout est politique!" (Everything is Political!), an exhibition exploring how photographers transform the act of looking into political gesture. The show includes work by Nan Goldin, Raymond Depardon, Liu Bolin, and Spencer Tunick, demonstrating diverse approaches to politically engaged image-making. Additionally, the 15th edition of the MIA Photo Fair, scheduled for March 2026, promises its most ambitious program yet, centered on Italian and international galleries with new prizes and awards that will further elevate contemporary photographic practice on the global stage.

These exhibitions collectively illustrate photography's expanding boundaries and its capacity to address complex themes including environmental change, social justice, cultural identity, and personal expression. From documentary traditions to experimental conceptual work, the medium continues to evolve as artists push technical and conceptual limits. The diverse range of venues—from major museums to specialized galleries—ensures that photography remains accessible to broad audiences while maintaining its position as a vital contemporary art form. As these shows demonstrate, photography's power lies not just in capturing what exists, but in revealing what might be possible through careful observation and artistic vision.