October of Photography
A warm autumn in Sirmione for photography and Lake Garda enthusiasts
«Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving»
In autumn, Sirmione invites you to slow down and observe with fresh eyes. The soft light, the colors of the lake, and the town’s more intimate pace provide the backdrop for numerous opportunities to gather, discuss photography, and take photos. Throughout October, exhibitions, meetings, and projects bring together photographers, journalists, and enthusiasts, transforming the Catullian peninsula into a hub for dialogue and discovery.
A highlight of the schedule is the Sirmione Photo Residency featuring resident photographer Alessio Cupelli, who will present his projects at Hotel Catullo in conversation with Francesca Roman. Also part of the Residency program is the presentation of a book by Hiro Tanaka and the unveiling of the 2025 edition’s photography project, discussed with journalist Luca Fiore and Ludovica Pellegatta of Magnum Photos.
Participation in the Lake Garda Photo Challenge is open until October 31, while the exhibition WOUND | FERITA featuring images from the 2025 Sirmione Photography Award continues at Palazzo Callas Exhibitions until November 8. (The exhibition will be closed for installation on October 16, 17, and 18, 2026).
On October 30, as part of the EQUILIBRI series, journalist and photography critic Michele Smargiassi will appear at Hotel Catullo to give a talk titled La rappresentazione della catastrofe e l’immagine come arma del terrore. (The Representation of Catastrophe and the Image as a Weapon of Terror).
Rounding out the program is Voci silenziose (Silent Voices), a photography project dedicated to the elderly by Antonello Perin and Cristina Treccani, hosted at the Social Resources Center.
The full schedule of events:
Giovedì 15 ottobre 2026, ore 18:00
AS IF I BELONGED (In Italian only)
Alessio Cupelli, il fotografo protagonista della Sirmione Photo Residency 2026 presenta il suo progetto e dialoga con Francesca Roman, giornalista
Hotel Catullo, Piazza Flaminia, 7 – Sirmione
Venerdì 23 ottobre 2026, ore 18:00
VISTE DA LAGO DI GARDA (In English)
Presentation of Hiro Tanaka’s book and the photographic project from the 2025 Sirmione Photo Residency
Photographer Hiro Tanaka in conversation with journalist Luca Fiore and Ludovica Pellegatta, Partnerships Director at Magnum Photos
Palazzo Callas Exhibitions, Piazza Carducci – Sirmione
Venerdì 30 ottobre 2026, ore 18.30
LA RAPPRESENTAZIONE DELLA CATASTROFE E L’IMMAGINE COME ARMA DEL TERRORE (In Italian only)
Il caso dell’11 settembre 2001: l’evento fondatore delle guerre contemporanee
Conferenza con Michele Smargiassi
Hotel Catullo, Piazza Flaminia, Sirmione
Fino a sabato 31 ottobre
Lake Garda Photo Challenge
Fino all’8 novembre 2026
WOUND | FERITA
Mostra del Premio Sirmione per la Fotografia, edizione 2025
Palazzo Callas Exhibitions
(The exhibition will be closed for installation on October 16, 17, and 18, 2026)
Fino a mercoledì 11 novembre 2026
Voci silenziose (In Italian only)
Il dialogo muto tra lettore e il suo libro del cuore
Progetto fotografico dedicato alla terza età in collaborazione con Antonello Perin e Cristina Treccani
Centro Risorse Sociali, Piazza Virgilio 19
Ph: Gian Pietro Deotto, Premio Sirmione per la Fotografia
