FUJIKINA NYC 2026: Your Guide to the Lower East Side Photography Festival (October 16-18)
Fujifilm’s FUJIKINA photography festival returns to New York this month, taking over the Lower East Side for three days of exhibitions, talks, photowalks, workshops, and portfolio reviews. It is the festival’s first New York edition in four years, and it is framed around the 200th anniversary of photography.
FUJIKINA NYC 2026 at a Glance
Dates: Friday, October 16 – Sunday, October 18, 2026 Where: Lower East Side, New York, anchored at the International Center of Photography (ICP), 84 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002 Tickets: $10 Experience Pass covers all three days; some workshops, photowalks, and other sessions with limited spots require a separate booking Official info:icp.org/events/fujikina-nyc-2026
What to Expect
FUJIKINA began as a photo exhibition and festival in Japan in 2017, and its previous New York edition took place in 2022. This year’s version turns the neighborhood into what organizers call a “living gallery space,” with five exhibitions spread across the festival’s venues. Fujifilm and ICP describe a walkable layout, with venues within a five- to eight-minute walk of one another.
The program mixes several kinds of activity:
- Exhibitions across the festival venues, with ICP as the main anchor
- Talks and keynotes, including a theater program
- Photowalks and workshops, with dozens of add-on sessions to book individually
- Portfolio reviews through FotoFest
- Gear demos and a Fujifilm Brand House for hands-on time with cameras (the gear demos and loaner program cover Fujifilm X and GFX systems only)
Partners include ICP, Magnum Photos, World Press Photo, FotoFest, and Femme Photo.
Highlights Worth Planning Around
World Press Photo Exhibition 2026
The World Press Photo Exhibition has a short New York run during the festival at 105 Eldridge Street, with different hours each day.
Address: 105 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002 Hours: Fri, Oct 16, 1-6pm; Sat, Oct 17, 10am-7:30pm; Sun, Oct 18, 10am-2pm
FotoFest: The Meeting Place
FotoFest brings its portfolio review program to the festival for a half day, with 25 reviewers looking at the work of 50 photographers. A FUJIKINA Experience Pass is required to take part, and registration runs through the FUJIKINA website.
More info: fotofest.org/fujikina-2026
Curator Tour at ICP: Laia Abril
On Friday, October 16, ICP Associate Director of Exhibitions Sara Ickow leads a walking tour of the Laia Abril exhibition On Rape and Institutional Failure.
When: Friday, October 16, starting at 11:00am Where: ICP, 84 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Meryl Meisler: Walking the 70s
On Sunday at 2:15pm, photographer Meryl Meisler leads a $10 walk to Lower East Side locations where she photographed in the 1970s.
Planning Your FUJIKINA Weekend
- Buy the Experience Pass first. The $10 pass gets you into the venues and exhibitions, and it is the starting point for booking add-on sessions and FotoFest reviews.
- Book add-ons early. Photowalks, workshops, and similar sessions have limited spots and are booked individually, so the popular ones may fill.
- Start at ICP. As the anchor, it is the natural first stop before you branch out to the other venues on foot.
- Check each day’s schedule. Friday and Sunday program counts differ, and the World Press Photo hours change daily.
- ICP members get in free. Members receive free access to the festival.
- Combine it with a gallery crawl. The festival sits in the middle of the neighborhood’s gallery district, so you can pair it with the new shows opening in the area. See our Lower East Side October gallery guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is FUJIKINA NYC 2026? Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Where does FUJIKINA NYC take place? At multiple venues across the Lower East Side, anchored at the International Center of Photography on Ludlow Street.
How much does FUJIKINA NYC cost? General admission is a $10 Experience Pass covering all three days. Some workshops, photowalks, and limited-capacity sessions cost extra.
Do I need a Fujifilm camera to attend? No. The festival is open to anyone who loves photography, though the gear demos and loaner program feature Fujifilm cameras.
Is FUJIKINA only for professional photographers? No. The program includes exhibitions, talks, and walks suited to general visitors, alongside portfolio reviews and workshops for working photographers.
Festival details are current as of early October 2026 and subject to change – check icp.org for the latest schedule, venues, and ticket information before you go.
