DHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - The 11th edition of Chobi Mela International Festival of Photography 2026, one of Asia's leading photography festivals, will open on January 16 here in the city.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at DrikPath Bhaban on Saturday. The 16-day festival will run until January 31 and will be open to public.

Jointly organised by Drik Picture Library and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Chobi Mela has been held regularly since 2000 and is internationally recognised as one of the world's most inclusive photography festivals.

The press briefing was attended by festival chief adviser and photographer Dr Shahidul Alam, festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman, curators Munem Wasif and Sarkar Pratik, photographer Jannatul Mawa, and education director Khandakar Tanvir Murad.

Reflecting on the festival's journey, Dr Shahidul Alam said Chobi Mela was founded on resilience and commitment.

"Even during times of political unrest and uncertainty, we believed the festival must continue. Over the years, it has become a platform where people engage with each other's work in new ways and build lasting networks," he said. 

He added that mentorship and continuity now shape the festival's future, with former and current teachers and students of Pathshala playing a vital role.

Festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman said the 11th edition is being organised on a full scale under the theme 'Punoh' (Re:), meaning again, anew or differently.

"At a time when the world is searching for new beginnings, we have reimagined Chobi Mela with that spirit," he said.

The festival will be held across five venues in Dhaka: Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka, DrikPath Bhaban and the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad.

This year's programme includes nine exhibitions featuring 58 artists from 18 countries across five continents.

Curators Munem Wasif and Sarkar Pratik explained the conceptual direction of the exhibitions. 

A major highlight, "(Un)Learning Palestine," curated by Yasmin Eid-Sabbah and Laleh Bergmann Hossain, will include a reading room presenting Palestinian histories through books, letters, illustrations and photographs.

Sarkar Pratik said the main exhibition at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will showcase works by Adam Broomberg, Ernest Cole and Syed Mohammad Zakir, exploring the connections between history, people and the environment.

The festival will also feature three solo exhibitions by Alessandra Sanguinetti, Bani Abidi, and Amanul Haque, including archival photographs related to Bangladesh's Language Movement, Liberation War, rural life, and rare images by Satyajit Ray.

In addition, "Dheu", an exhibition by nine artists supported through the Chobi Mela Fellowship, will be on display.

Chobi Mela is a non-profit initiative, supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in association with more than 16 partner organisations, including Alliance Française de Dhaka, British Council, Goethe-Institut and the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, among others.