Alys Tomlison, The Queen, traditional costume, Venice. Photographs by Alys Tomlinson from the The Islander/Gli Isolani project.

Since its inception in 2011, Cortona On The Move has supported contemporary documentary photography, embracing the spirit of its name, “On The Move”: a festival that celebrates curiosity, observation, and engagement with a world in transformation, as well as the evolution of the language and codes of this expressive medium.

During the festival, events and photographic exhibitions animate the medieval town of Cortona, enhancing its artistic heritage, including the Fortezza del Girifalco, a Medici-era fortress overlooking the town, as well as historic palaces and evocative open spaces.

The theme for Cortona on the Move 2026 Edition is Beautiful Country. Festival Artistic Director Renata Ferri says:

“In this image-saturated age, Beautiful Country invites us to observe more carefully, to become more aware of the world around us and its fragile balance to which we are inextricably connected. It is from these thoughts that the architecture of the new edition of the Cortona International Photography Festival takes shape — dedicated to telling the story of Italy over recent decades, an incomplete atlas, since observation is by its very nature endless. A journey of journeys, where photographs become waypoints in an exploration — at times spontaneous, at times meticulous — of the visual and cultural identity of the country.

Italian and international photographers engage in a dual vision that blends the spirit of the Grand Tour with the depth of contemporary documentary inquiry. More than thirty exhibitions, cross-generational dialogues, and a major group show explore Italy in all its complexity — where wonder and disenchantment inevitably intertwine.”

To find out more and view the full festival program please go to the direct link.