From October 2 to 4, the Arturo Ghergo Festival returns to Montefano, in the province of Macerata. The event, under the artistic direction of Claudio Domini, with the special participation of Giancarlo Dotto as host and moderator of the talks and Cristina Ghergo as President of the Jury, reaches its 11th edition.
Created to preserve and renew the memory of the great photographer who was born in Montefano, over the past ten years the Award has developed into a platform bringing together established masters, emerging photographers, scholars, publishers and the general public.
With its 2026 edition, Montefano once again becomes, for a few days, a meeting place where photographic memory and contemporary research come together through exhibitions, talks, portfolio reviews, photobook publishing, education and experimentation.
With this new edition, the Festival continues the work developed around the figure of Arturo Ghergo and the Museum that bears his name, transforming his legacy into a living heritage capable of generating new images, new encounters and new opportunities for knowledge and discovery.
The recipient of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award will be Guido Harari, particularly renowned for his portraits of musicians, artists and leading figures from Italian and international culture.
On Saturday, October 3, at 5:00 p.m. at Teatro La Rondinella, Guido will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and give a special lecture in conversation with Giancarlo Dotto.
This will be followed by the opening, at the adjoining Arturo Ghergo Museum, of his new exhibition, “Muse”, dedicated to a series of inspiring women from a wide range of fields — from music and culture to cinema, art, science and sport — featuring portraits, many of which have never been exhibited before.
Among the women portrayed are Shirin Neshat, Patti Smith, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Ute Lemper, Milva, Alice, Sophia Loren, Bebe Vio, Alda Merini, Virna Lisi, Margherita Hack, Ornella Vanoni, Mia Martini, Loredana Bertè, Laurie Anderson, Tina Turner, Hanna Schygulla, Franca Rame, Alessandra Ferri, Laura Morante, Monica Vitti, Mercedes Sosa, Marina Abramovic, Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Letizia Battaglia, Greta Thunberg, Miuccia Prada, Krizia, Carla Fracci, Ornella Muti, Lina Wertmüller, Sade, Noa and Fatoumata Diawara.
The exhibition, which will run until January 10, 2027, marks Guido’s return to the Marche region four years after his successful “Remain In Light” exhibition at the Mole Vanvitelliana in Ancona. It also showcases a selection of portraits from the Caverna Magica, captured by Guido in recent years.
For the complete Festival programme, please visit www.festivalarturoghergo.com/en.