MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas 2026: Photography as Metamorphosis

From March 19 to 22, 2026, **MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas**, Italy's leading art photography fair, returns to the **Superstudio Più** spaces in Milan. Established in 2011 with the goal of exploring the increasingly multifaceted role of photographic imagery in contemporary art, the event celebrates its fifteenth edition this year. With over 111 exhibitors, including Italian and international galleries and institutions, MIA Photo Fair continues to be a key European reference point for photography collecting, as well as a vibrant meeting place for diverse artistic languages, practices, and generations. The theme for this edition, Metamorphosis, draws inspiration from Ovid's poem, serving as a metaphor for the continuous change that photography undergoes today: a medium in constant transformation, capable of redefining identities and narratives. On this opening day to the public, here is our guide to navigating the stands.

Starting from the very beginning: the journey commences in the access corridor, which features spaces dedicated to various institutional partners and special projects. These include the Superstudio Lounge (A002), the BNL BNP Paribas Lounge, which last year marked the bank's transition from main sponsor to official title sponsor of the event, and the **AON** stand (A009), showcasing **William Wegman's** iconic canine Polaroids (exhibited in collaboration with **Galeria Alta**, stand B007).

After this initial passage, visitors finally enter the Main Section, the core of the fair where the theme of metamorphosis takes unexpected forms through reinterpretations of the photographic medium and technological experiments. Among the first stands to capture attention is Galeria Alta (B007), which, in addition to presenting Wegman's works, brings **Todd Hido's** evocative shots and his atmospheric exploration of urban and suburban landscapes connected to his childhood. Immediately to the left, **Building Gallery** (B006) offers a monographic exhibition dedicated to **Roger Ballen's** surreal bestiary. The path continues with The Portfolio Parade (B032), a program conceived by Dutch artist and curator **Erik Kessels**, next to which visitors can admire **Luzia Simons’** colorful (and very large) flowers exhibited by **Galerija Fotografija** (B028). Other notable booths include **Willas Contemporary** (B023), presenting emblematic shots by English photographer **Jimmy Nelson**, or one of the finalist photos from the BNP Paribas El voto es secreto prize (2012) by **Pietro Paolini** at **Gaze-Off & Franco Mariotti** (B024). Meanwhile, the **Galleria d’Arte Frediano Farsetti** (B005) showcases a selection of works by **Antonio Biasiucci, Luca Campigotto, and Piero Gemelli**, conceived in dialogue with the overarching theme of metamorphosis.

But there's more. Amidst the fair's aisles, visitors will also find special projects that warrant a longer stop. For example, at **Orma Art** (E004), the project Brasiliae PAESAGGIO CORPO MATERIA, born from a collaboration between the Milanese gallery and **Chroma**, focuses on contemporary Brazilian photography. For the first time in Italy, it presents works by **Arquém Alcântara**, **Claudio Edinger**, and **Gleeson Paulino**: three generations in dialogue, united by a profound reflection on Brazilian identity and the construction of the image as a critical space. It is at this stand that one can admire Paulino's vivid photograph, Faz-de-conta (2018), winner of the miramART 2026 prize. This context also includes photographs by **Vincent Rosenblatt**, dedicated to the *bate bola* subculture, **Betina Samaia's** depictions of the ritual dematerializations of the Yanomami, and **Alessandro Fracta's** work with his research on the *Encantados*.

As every year, the fair is not limited to its main section but is organized into three curated sections, each with its own theoretical focus. The first is Beyond Photography – Dialogue, curated by **Domenico de Chirico** and now in its seventh edition. In this section, photography serves as a starting point for exploring broader territories: installations, site-specific interventions, and hybrid works that challenge the traditional boundaries of the medium. Among the most interesting booths in this section are **+359 Gallery** (D018), **Raffaella De Chirico** (D021), and **Andrea Zardin** (E007), each presenting projects that offer infinite interpretations of the photographic image itself.

Concurrently, Reportage Beyond Reportage, curated by **Emanuela Mazzonis**, investigates the transformations of documentary photography, expanding its imagery towards a plurality of visions and interpretations. Among the featured proposals are, in addition to the aforementioned Willas Contemporary (B023), the booths of **Galerie Parallax** (C019) and **Flat // Land** (C016), with works spanning different continents, cultures, and generations. Completing the journey is Focus Latino, curated by **Rischa Paterlini**, which offers an overview of contemporary Latin American photography. Exploring historical memory and social transformations, the stands of Villa Alegre (E015) and the previously mentioned Orma Art (E004) and Gaze-Off & Franco Mariotti (B024) showcase the vitality of geographies and genealogies stretching from Latin America to the Iberian Peninsula.

There's still more to explore. Among the delightful surprises scattered along the route, it's worth mentioning the Mexican gallery **Proyecto H Contemporaneo** (F019) with works by **Pablo Genoves**, **Isabel Alonso Vega**, **Jose Manuel Ballestrer**, and **Raphael Barrios**, as well as the Korean gallery **AN INC** (D017), which both demonstrate how images continue to reinvent themselves through increasingly innovative materials, supports, and display methods. In addition to the exhibitors' booths, MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas 2026 also dedicates ample space to its cultural program, featuring meetings, workshops, talks, and conferences from Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22. These events delve into central themes of contemporary photography, aiming to foster informed collecting and provide critical tools and opportunities for dialogue among artists, curators, and the public.

Finally, among the most anticipated initiatives is the new international Superstudio Photo Award, themed "Metamorphosis, from dress to skin: differently ME." This call is open to European students aged 18 to 28 from academies, universities, and institutes of photography, design, and visual communication. The project is a collaboration between **Fiere di Parma**, **Superstudio Events**, and **Fujifilm**, and aims to identify the new creative sensibilities of younger generations. With its now consolidated structure—encompassing stands, curated projects, awards, and thematic sections—MIA Photo Fair continues to narrate the story of photography through its constant metamorphosis, thereby confirming its role as a privileged platform for dialogue among art, market, and research.