What Happens When The City Becomes a Gallery?

The Photoville Festival returns for its 14th edition from June 7–22, 2025, bringing more than 80 photography exhibitions to its flagship location at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The annual outdoor event offers artist talks, hands-on workshops and interactive programs aimed at inspiring and connecting communities through visual storytelling.

Founded in 2011 by Laura Roumanos, Sam Barzilay and Dave Shelley, Photoville has transformed shipping containers, parks and unexpected public spaces into open-air galleries across New York City. Free and open to the public, the festival has grown into one of the largest outdoor photography events in the country, drawing more than a million visitors annually.

“In the city that never sleeps, we envisioned a haven where visual storytellers could converge, connect, and be seen,” said Roumanos, Photoville co-founder.

The festival opens with a free community celebration on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8. More than 60 exhibitions will debut that weekend, showcasing a wide range of work, from bold documentary photography to intimate personal stories, spanning cultures, disciplines and generations.

“Photoville is an annual favorite for locals and visitors alike, and we’re delighted to welcome them back to Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Eric Landau, president of Brooklyn Bridge Park. “It’s such an incredible and unique presentation of free photography exhibits; we love hosting them and being a part of it.”

This year’s programming highlights themes of resilience, identity, migration and shared human experiences. The curated lineup includes student projects and award-winning photojournalism, offering a spectrum of voices and visual styles.

“From the time of flickering flames illuminating a painted cave wall, humans have always gathered in the light to share stories and look at beautiful and touching pictures. That’s what Photoville is, a place to gather in the light,” said festival producer Suchan Vodoor.

Key Brooklyn locations include the Photoville Village, Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn, Main Street Park, Jane’s Carousel Plaza and the Pier 1 Promenade and Granite Prospect. Events and exhibitions will also extend to all five boroughs, though Brooklyn Bridge Park remains the festival’s central hub.

Admission is free, and all exhibitions are outdoors, designed to be accessible and inclusive.

For the full schedule, exhibition map and list of participating artists, visit www.photoville.com.