The prestigious Rencontres d'Arles photography festival has officially launched the call for applications for its 2026 Discovery Award Louis Roederer Foundation. This announcement marks the opening of submissions for what will be part of the festival's 57th edition, continuing the award's longstanding mission to spotlight emerging artists and contemporary art on an international stage.
Since its inception, the Rencontres d'Arles Discovery Award has been dedicated to showcasing emerging art and providing a platform for up-and-coming artists to gain international recognition. The award serves a dual purpose: promoting the work of selected artists through a dedicated Discovery Award exhibition and providing substantial financial support to winning projects through two separate prizes totaling €20,000.
The competition structure includes two distinct awards that recognize excellence in different ways. The jury award, worth €15,000, is determined by a panel of experts selected by the festival during opening week. Additionally, a public award of €5,000 is decided by festival visitors, giving the general public a voice in recognizing outstanding artistic achievement. Both awards are used for the acquisition of artworks, benefiting both the winning artist and their supporting organization.
A significant evolution in the award's approach occurred in 2021, when the Rencontres d'Arles Discovery Award began integrating organizations that actively foster emerging artists' careers. This innovative system now includes a diverse range of supporting entities such as community spaces, independent exhibition sites, artist-run spaces, hybrid exhibition spaces, galleries, established institutions, and foundations. These organizations play a crucial role as intermediaries and discoverers, identifying and nurturing talented artists whose work deserves broader exposure.
The application process requires these supporting organizations to propose exhibition projects by artists they champion—specifically those whose work has been recently discovered or deserves to be seen by an international audience. This collaborative approach ensures that the selection process benefits from the expertise of organizations that work closely with emerging artists and understand their potential impact on the contemporary art scene.
Selected projects will receive comprehensive support throughout their participation in the 2026 edition of the Rencontres d'Arles. The festival team will work closely with chosen artists and their projects, providing guidance and resources to ensure successful presentations. Additionally, an exhibition curator specially invited by the Rencontres d'Arles will collaborate with the festival team to oversee the Discovery Award exhibition, bringing professional curatorial expertise to the showcase.
For the 2026 edition, the festival has appointed Nadine Hounkpatin as the invited curator for the Discovery Award. Her involvement will bring additional curatorial insight and professional guidance to the selection and presentation of the featured works, enhancing the overall quality and impact of the exhibition.
Interested organizations have until December 1st to submit their applications for consideration. The selection process will evaluate proposed projects based on artistic merit, innovation, and the potential for international impact, ensuring that the Discovery Award continues to fulfill its mission of promoting exceptional emerging talent in contemporary photography and visual arts.
