The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is a thrilling blend of curated exhibitions, city‑wide pop‑ups, workshops, talks, and more—all under the festival’s central theme, Lifeforce, running from 23 August to 19 October 2025.
Presented by Intrepid Travel, this eight-week festival brings the world’s leading photographers, digital creators and innovators together in a celebration of the vital energy and creative spark that animates both artist and audience.
Among the headline exhibitions are:
I ❤ Campbell | Campbell Addy (GHA/GBR)
Australian Exclusive | Ballarat Mining Exchange
Enninful x Mapplethorpe | Robert Mapplethorpe (USA)
Australian Exclusive | Post Office Gallery
Catherine Leroy: One Way Ticket to Vietnam 1966–1968 | Catherine Leroy (FRA)
World Premiere | Ballarat Town Hall
Long Exposure: The Legacy of Prahran College
World Premiere | Miners Tavern
Thành Phẩm | Lê Nguyên Phương (VNM/AUS)
World Premiere | Ballarat Library
Nature~ista
World Premiere | RACV Goldfields Resort
Prompted Peculiar International AI Prize
World Premiere | Miners Tavern
Martin Kantor Portrait Prize
World Premiere | GovHub
Ballarat’s streets and laneways come alive with a vibrant outdoor program, transforming the regional city into a walkable art tour.
Among the public art highlights include:
Mumu Mirri | Dave Jones (AUS) & Dr Deanne Gilson (AUS)
Exterior of the National Centre for Photography
Memory Matrix | Jody Haines (AUS) & Debasish Mukherjee (IND)
Bridge Mall & The Goods Shed
High Exposure | Annelìse Seréna Belladonna (AUS), Max Deutscher (AUS), Jett Leduc (AUS)
Various laneways around Ballarat
GradFoto | Monika Makour (AUS), Harry Merriman (AUS), Jesse Pretorius (AUS), Emily Raffaele (AUS)
GovHub Precinct Gardens
Leicolhn McKellar (AUS)
Guma
Key Events & Experiences
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is filled with events, hands-on workshops, artist talks, live podcasts, dancing, and more—inviting everyone to engage with photography in unexpected and inspiring ways.
Lifeforce Gala | Ballarat Mining Exchange
23.08.2025, 7pm
Todd Hido in person | The Goods Shed
04.09.2025, 6pm
Women Shaping Photojournalism | 101 Lydiard
14.09.2025, 2pm
Negotiating the Nude | Craig’s Royal Hotel
13.09.2025, 10am–5pm
Boot scooting with Country Struts | Ballarat Mining Exchange
18.10.2025 5:45pm
The Passion of Joan of Arc | Ballarat Performing Arts Community
19.10.2025 7:30pm
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale features more than 360+ artists and spans more than 100 indoor and outdoor venues, with pop-up exhibitions in cafes, bars and laneways inviting visitors to wander and explore.
Thanks to Intrepid Travel, all Ballarat International Foto Biennale ticket holders can go into the draw to win a Golden Ticket: an Intrepid adventure worth up to $15,000.
You may also like the following events from Ballarat International Foto Biennale:
- This Wednesday, 27th August, 02:00 am, Workshop: Accessible Art Writing Practices | Sim Lüttin | 27.08.25 in Ballarat, Victoria
- This Saturday, 30th August, 05:00 am, Workshop: Hard Light, Real Life: Flash Techniques for Street Photographers | 30.08.25 in Ballarat
- Next Thursday, 4th September, 08:00 am, Artist Talk: Todd Hido presented in partnership with Leica Australia | 04.09.25 in Ballarat
Also check out other
Arts events in Ballarat,
Exhibitions in Ballarat,
Festivals in Ballarat.
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