Rencontres de Bamako — African Biennale of Photography
The Rencontres de Bamako, Africa's biennial of photography, has run since 1994. The 15th edition takes place from November 26, 2026 to January 26, 2027 in Bamako, themed 'Refabulation(s)'.
The **Rencontres de Bamako**, also known as the **African Biennale of Photography** (Bamako Encounters), is the oldest and most important international event dedicated to photography and video art on the African continent.
## Founded in 1994
The first edition of the Rencontres de Bamako took place in **1994**, on the initiative of French photographer Bernard Descamps, with the backing of then Malian president Alpha Oumar Konaré and the French cultural agency AFAA. More than thirty years after its founding, the event has become the reference point for contemporary African photography, giving international visibility to generations of photographers from the continent and its diaspora.
## The 15th edition: "Refabulation(s)"
The **15th edition** of the Rencontres de Bamako is scheduled for **November 26, 2026 through January 26, 2027** in Bamako, under the theme "**Refabulation(s)**." It is led by a new general delegate, El Hadj Amadou Diop, and a new general curator, Armelle Dakouo — the first francophone African woman to serve as artistic director of the event. The previous 14th edition (2024-2025) ran from November 16, 2024 to January 16, 2025, themed "Kuma" (meaning "word" in Bambara).
## A biennial, held every two years
As its name suggests, the event runs on a **biennial** schedule: a new edition is organized every two years, typically spanning the end of one year into the start of the next. The program combines group and solo exhibitions, screenings, professional meetings, and workshops, spread across several cultural and institutional venues in Bamako.
Sources: [Wikipedia — Rencontres africaines de la photographie](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rencontres_africaines_de_la_photographie), [UNESCO — Supporting the 14th edition of the Rencontres de Bamako](https://www.unesco.org/fr/articles/lunesco-soutient-la-14eme-edition-des-rencontres-de-bamako-biennale-africaine-de-la-photographie), [Biennial Foundation — Bamako Encounters](https://biennialfoundation.org/biennials/bamako-encounters/), [Rencontres de Bamako — official site](https://rencontresbamakophoto.org/), [Sahel Tribune — Rencontres de Bamako 2026](https://saheltribune.com/rencontres-de-bamako-biennale-africaine-de-la-photographie-refabuler-les-recits-pour-une-identite-nouvelle/)