Head On Photo Festival Launch 2026

Kickstart the month-long festival of the arts with music, photography, and community on the shores of the dazzling Bondi Beach.

Sydney's best creatives come together for Head On's annual festival launch party. The ocean-front Bondi Pavilion becomes the heart of Sydney's art scene as we take you on a journey. You'll watch artistry come to life and stories unfold. You'll meet the amazing artists and curatorial team. And, of course, you'll unwind with a drink, snack and music as we announce the $80,000 prize pool winners and the $5,000 Mayor of Waverley Prize for a single exhibition.

Image: Tim Levy
Image: Tim Levy

Be the first to know who won the Head On Photo Awards 2026 and get a taste of the photographers redefining visual storytelling. Join us as we celebrate our 17th year as Australia's leading photography festival. Secure your ticket to Australia's hottest event in photography, where you can experience the power of a global arts platform firsthand and be the first to see the Head On Photo Awards exhibitions.

Whether you're a gallerist, collector, or photography lover, there is something for everyone at our launch party. Doors open, music, bar and food available from 7:00 pm (AEDT) Formalities commence 7:45 pm (AEDT) Consider donating to Head On Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible for Australian taxpayers. All proceeds support the work of the Head On Photo Festival. Head On Foundation acknowledges the Bidiagal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal people, who traditionally occupied the Sydney Coast. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

May

Melbourne: Until March 2027. Rehearsing the City presents archival photographs from Victoria’s government collections, alongside new work by contemporary street photographers.

June

Sydney: Until 7 Feb 2027. From his archive of more than 200,000 images, Close Up celebrates the historic moments and pivotal people he famously captured.

August

Melbourne: Until 15 November 2026. This exhibition will present the most comprehensive survey of the work of the eminent Hungarian-born, French photographer Brassaï yet to be seen in Australia.

Sydney: 24 August 2026 – 18 July 2027. Featuring almost 200 images and original prints personally selected by Dupain for magazine and book publishers, the exhibition reveals the extraordinary breadth of his work.

September

Melbourne: Until 19 February 2027. Spanning 55 years from 1971, Chapman’s visual journey began aboard the ‘Green Bus’ from Elsternwick to Melbourne’s city centre – chronicling the evolution of Australian life along the way.

Melbourne: Multiple exhibitions including – Bowness Photography Prize 2026 + Sarah Rhodes | The Inner Sky. Both until 8 November 2026.

October

Perth: Until 31 January 2027. The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) presents No night is long enough for us to dream twice, a major exhibition of contemporary photography and video, bringing together more than 100 works by seven living artists and one artist duo from across South West Asia, North Africa and its many diasporas.

Sydney: 10 October – 14 November 2026. Metropolis: Street Photography 1985–2025 displays over four decades of life within the modern human environment. The work transitions from the tough, film-noir streets of 1980’s New York to the time surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall – to the modern colour saturated, hard-shadowed geometry of contemporary Australian streets.

Brisbane: Until 1 November 2026. The finalist exhibition of the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards brings together striking photographic works that capture the city’s spirit — from familiar streets and riverside scenes to the fleeting moments, routines and characters that make Brisbane feel like home.

Sydney: Until 31 October 2027. Explore five decades of extraordinary photography by one of Australia’s most important and influential photojournalists, Lorrie Graham.