Universi Paralleli

From 12 to 27 September 2026, the Visconti Castle in Voghera will host the seventh edition of Voghera Fotografia, the National Photography Festival that invites visitors to look beyond the familiar and discover worlds that are often invisible to us.

The theme of the 2026 edition is “Universi Paralleli – The Beauty of Other Worlds”: a photographic journey through nature, wildlife, oceans, ice, mountains and the universe, featuring the work of seven leading photographers and around two hundred images.

The festival is promoted by Associazione Spazio 53 in collaboration with the Municipality of Voghera.

Beauty as an Answer to Our Times

We live in an age in which images often tell stories of war, conflict, violence and fear. Voghera Fotografia 2026 starts from this awareness to offer a different perspective: one of wonder.

“Universi Paralleli – The Beauty of Other Worlds” was inspired by the idea that extraordinary realities exist alongside us, present every day yet often difficult to perceive. Photography becomes a way to pause, observe and rediscover beauty as a fundamental part of our existence.

It is an invitation to change perspective and allow images to lead us on a journey through worlds that can feel both distant and surprisingly close.

Three Weekends of Photography in Voghera

Voghera Fotografia 2026 takes place over three consecutive weekends: 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 September.

For three weekends, the Visconti Castle in Voghera will become a meeting place for photography enthusiasts, travellers, nature lovers, students and curious visitors, offering the opportunity to explore different photographic languages and subjects through the work of the seven featured photographers.

The official opening will take place on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 11:00 am at the Visconti Castle in Voghera.

Seven Exhibitions, Seven Universes to Discover

The heart of Voghera Fotografia 2026 is its seven major photography exhibitions, featuring around two hundred images that explore seven different “parallel universes”.

Microworlds – Alberto Ghizzi Panizza

Insects, plants, water droplets and tiny details of nature become the subjects of Alberto Ghizzi Panizza’s macro photography. His work invites visitors to take a closer look at what we normally see only in passing and discover the extraordinary beauty hidden in the smallest details.

Macroworlds – Luca Fornaciari

From the tiny details of nature, the journey moves towards the vastness of the universe. Luca Fornaciari takes visitors among nebulae, galaxies, the Northern Lights and astronomical phenomena that normally escape the human eye, in a spectacular exploration of astrophotography.

Parallel Worlds – Milko Marchetti

Nature and wildlife are at the heart of Milko Marchetti’s work, offering a glimpse into ecosystems and animal behaviour and revealing realities that coexist with us, often without being noticed.

Underwater Worlds – Francesco Turano

With Francesco Turano, the journey continues beneath the surface of the sea. His underwater photography explores the beauty of our seas and of an environment that remains largely beyond our everyday view.

Worlds of Ice – Davide Camisasca

Ice, extreme landscapes and vast white expanses are the protagonists of Davide Camisasca’s “Worlds of Ice”, a photographic journey dedicated to the power and beauty of some of the planet’s most extreme environments.

Worlds of Stone – Marco Cavazza

Marco Cavazza takes visitors into the “Worlds of Stone”, among mountains and rock formations shaped by nature. His images tell the story of the power of the elements and the slow transformation of the landscape over time.

Worlds Suspended Between Sky and Earth – Erminio Annunzi

The journey concludes between sky and earth with Erminio Annunzi, through images dedicated to mountains and high-altitude landscapes, places where photography also becomes an experience of observation and contemplation.

The Festival’s Direction

Since the very first edition, Voghera Fotografia has been directed by Arnaldo Calanca, President of the cultural association Spazio 53.

The artistic direction and curation of the exhibitions are entrusted to Michele Dalla Palma, an Italian reporter and photography communicator.

More Than Exhibitions: Workshops, Talks and the Camera Obscura

Voghera Fotografia is about much more than exhibitions.

The programme includes workshops, meetings with photographers, book presentations, technical demonstrations, conferences, educational activities, guided tours of companies and places of interest in the Oltrepò Pavese, as well as events exploring the history of photography.

One of the most eagerly awaited attractions is the return of the Camera Obscura, housed in the tower of the Visconti Castle. The installation offers visitors a chance to rediscover the origins of photography through an experience centred on light, space and image. The festival describes it as the largest and most acclaimed original installation of its kind in Italy.

Voghera Fotografia and the Oltrepò Pavese

Voghera Fotografia is also an opportunity to discover Voghera and the Oltrepò Pavese, combining a visit to the festival with the exploration of the surrounding area.

The programme includes guided visits to businesses and places of interest in the Oltrepò Pavese, creating a direct connection between photography, culture, landscape and local heritage.

With more than 5,000 visitors expected, the festival aims to be one of the leading independent events in Italy’s photography scene, as well as an important opportunity for cultural and tourism promotion in the Oltrepò Pavese.

Voghera Fotografia 2026: Practical Information

When: 12-27 September 2026
Opening days: 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 September
Opening ceremony: Saturday 12 September 2026, 11:00 am
Where: Visconti Castle, Voghera
Organised by: Associazione Spazio 53 in collaboration with the Municipality of Voghera
Festival Director: Arnaldo Calanca
Artistic Director and Curator: Michele Dalla Palma

For information and programme updates, visit the official Voghera Fotografia website: www.vogherafotografia.it.

Voghera Fotografia 2026 is an event worth adding to your itinerary if you love photography, nature and spectacular landscapes, but also if you simply want to take a few hours to look at the world from a different perspective. In September, the Visconti Castle in Voghera becomes the starting point for a journey through tiny details and infinite spaces, from insects to galaxies, from the depths of the sea to glaciers, from mountains to the “parallel universes” captured by the festival’s seven photographers.