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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.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
12 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat, VIC, Australia, Victoria 3350
Tickets
