Sirmione Photo Residency: Registration for the fifth edition is now open
A two-week residency on Lake Garda to independently develop a photographic project
With its fifth edition, the Sirmione Photo Residency reaches a significant milestone, marking a phase of full maturity for a project that, year after year, has established itself as a benchmark in the contemporary photography residency landscape, attracting the attention of artists and professionals internationally. This growth path is also evidenced by the selection, in the last edition, of Japanese photographer Hiro Tanaka.
The Sirmione Photo Residency is seeking talented photographers capable of revealing a unique image of Sirmione and Lake Garda through their sensitivity and vision, bringing to light unexplored aspects of its human and natural landscape. Photographers willing to be influenced by an extraordinary place, rich in history, nature, and culture, capable of influencing and enriching our way of seeing the world.
Selections for the fifth edition of the Sirmione Photo Residency are now open.
The selected photographer will spend two weeks in the city developing a photographic project dedicated to the fascinating Sirmione area. An immersive experience designed to transform impressions, encounters, and inspirations into coherent, profound, and meaningful images which will deserve publication in a dedicated photographic book.
The initiative stems from the Municipality of Sirmione‘s desire to observe its city in a new light, entrusting this gaze to photographers capable of offering an authentic, contemporary, and innovative representation of the area and its community.
The Sirmione Photo Residency inaugurates the 17th edition of the Sirmione Photography Award, consisting of six different competitions (the full calendar of events will be published soon).
A distinctive feature of the Sirmione Photo Residency is the great freedom granted to the selected photographer, who is asked to conceive, propose, and execute their photographic project entirely independently, guided by their encounter with Sirmione and the dialogue between the region and their personal poetics.
Two leading international photography experts will select and guide the photographers in the realization of their project and the book: Andréa Holzherr, Global Cultural Director of Magnum Photos, and Ludovica Pellegatta, Partnerships Director of Magnum Photos.
The call for applications for the fifth edition of the Sirmione Photo Residency is now available, along with information on how to participate (deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026).
A summary of the call for applications can be found at the bottom of the article
Following the presentation of Venature, the book by Mattia Marzorati, the protagonist of the third edition of the Residency, Hiro Tanaka, the protagonist of the fourth edition, has already been photographing in Sirmione and is working on his project, which will be presented in late summer 2026 and will culminate in the creation of Sirmione Photo Residency BOOK 04.
The gallery features some preview images of Hiro Tanaka‘s project:
The Sirmione Photo Residency is a research and development residency where photography can become a key tool for identifying connections between the various dimensions of collective life and translating into an opportunity for cultural and ethical growth in society.
In detail, to participate in the Sirmione Photo Residency it is necessary to deliver a single PDF document containing:
• a completed photographic project consisting of no fewer than 20 images, irrespective of the production date (the project does not need to be related to Sirmione and/or Lake Garda). The PDF document must contain no more than one image per page;
• a text describing the project (maximum one page, in English);
• the photographer’s CV (in English);
• a summary of the project proposed for the Sirmione Residency (in English);
The deadline for submitting your application is 11:59 PM on March 31, 2026.
The author of the selected project will be awarded:
• a two-week stay in Sirmione during October 2026;
• reimbursement of travel expenses (up to a maximum of €1,000);
• a total daily allowance of €2,500.00 for the two weeks;
• 50 copies of the volume that will be printed by the Municipality of Sirmione using the photographs from the photography project created during the Sirmione Photo Residency. The volume will be printed only if the Municipality of Sirmione and the project supervisors deem the material produced during the Photo Residency worthy of publication. Otherwise, no volume will be printed.
Sirmione Photo Residency: the press release
Participate in the Sirmione Photo Residency
The Sirmione Prize for Photography 2025 was supported by:
MAIN SPONSOR
New Free Photo in collaboration with Fujifilm
TOP SPONSOR
Hotel Catullo – Hotel Continental – Trattoria il Vecchio ‘800
OFFICIAL SPONSOR
Bertoldi Boats – Cantine Sgreva – Cascina Maddalena – Garda Tours – Ristorante Casa dei Pescatori – Ristorante il Girasole – Tenuta Frontelago
Is ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH
Direzione regionale Musei Lombardia
WITH THE SPONSORSHIP AND CONTRIBUTION OF
Regione Lombardia
WITH THE SPONSORSHIP OF
Comunità del Garda – Consorzio Lago di Garda Lombardia – Garda Musei – Provincia di Brescia
