From June 13 to October 12, 2025, the elegant spa town of Baden near Vienna becomes something extraordinary: an open-air museum stretching over seven kilometers.
The La Gacilly-Baden Photo Festival returns for its eighth edition, turning the streets, parks, and gardens into a massive gallery of over 1,500 large-format images. It’s free, it’s open 24/7, and it’s all about photography with a message — environmental awareness, cultural identity, and global responsibility.
The Focus: Australia and the New World
This year’s theme dives into two distinct yet connected realms:
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Australia takes center stage as a vast continent of extremes — sparsely populated, yet bursting with stories. Its photographers bring a rich mix of humor, raw reality, surreal fiction, and poetic reflections. From outback landscapes to urban narratives, this section captures the country’s spirit through a deeply personal lens.
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The New World includes perspectives from across the Americas, with a strong emphasis on the United States and Central America. The selection explores everything from climate chaos and food systems to sacred forests and industrial scars. Austrian photographers also join the conversation, adding a local layer to a global theme.
Key Highlights
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The Spirit of Sport: A youth-driven project reflecting on the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” reimagined for today’s world.
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Brent Stirton presents a heartbreaking but powerful portrait series of individuals suffering from ME/CFS in Austria, bringing visibility to an often overlooked illness.
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Hans-Jürgen Burkard fuses photography and music to offer a fresh, unexpected view of modern Germany — colorful, contradictory, and deeply emotional.
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Special exhibitions explore a wide range of topics: the cosmic mysteries of the universe, the evolution of Austrian forests, 200 years of railway history, and even an underwater tribute to the world’s water challenges.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
Because it’s more than just a festival. It’s a celebration of visual storytelling, a place where nature and culture collide, where global crises are turned into personal narratives, and where photography isn’t just art — it’s activism.
Whether you go for the imagery, the walking tour, or just to breathe in fresh ideas, this festival offers a rare kind of inspiration. You don’t need a ticket or even a schedule — just curiosity and time.
Essentials
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Where: Baden, Austria
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When: June 13 to October 12, 2025
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Opening hours: Always open, day and night
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Entry: Completely free
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Extras: A bilingual catalogue packed with all the artists and highlights will be available onsite.
The La Gacilly-Baden Photo Festival is not just about photography. It’s about asking the big questions and letting images speak for the world. It’s where global meets local, and where creativity becomes a form of resistance.
