5 things to do this weekend in Arles From the 10th of July to the 12th
Every July, Arles transforms into one of the most vibrant cultural events in Europe. On the occasion of the Rencontres d'Arles, photographers, artists, designers, chefs, and creatives from all over the world take over the streets of the city, from early morning until late at night. The best way to enjoy it? Move from one exhibition to a long lunch, from an improvised aperitif to a party that naturally continues on the dance floor. With Bureau Classico, we have selected some of our favorite spots. The city is of course full of many others, but here is a good starting point for this opening weekend.
Where to eat: At Grand Snack Bar by Baïta
For the third consecutive year, BAÏTA takes over the Grand Snack-Bar just steps from the Arènes d'Arles. An ephemeral restaurant that has become a true meeting point during the opening week of the Rencontres d'Arles, where photographers, foodies, and creatives cross paths. This edition welcomes chef Ella Aflalo, who rose to prominence in Marseille with Yima, and who has created a Mediterranean menu with Niçoise, Levantine, and North African influences: oysters with watermelon granita, clams in a cold broth of burnt tomatoes, glazed duck heart skewers with vermouth, or peach Melba with pollen. This year, Carhartt WIP is also partnering with the project by presenting, in the Grand Snack-Bar space, an exhibition around HANDOVER, a book bringing together the perspectives of 17 British photographers, accompanied by a musical program and an exclusive t-shirt designed for the occasion.
62 Rue du Refuge, 13200 Arles
To discover: The 2026 edition of the Rencontres d'Arles
As every summer, Arles becomes for a few months the European capital of photography. For this 57th edition, the Rencontres d'Arles explore the theme Des mondes à relire through a program that gives an important place to stories from the African continent and the Mediterranean. Between major monographic exhibitions, unpublished archives, and emerging international scenes, the festival questions issues of identity, memory, territory, and representation. From churches to former industrial wastelands, via historic monuments, the entire city turns into an exhibition trail. Whether you come for a day or the entire opening week, it’s hard to leave without having discovered a new way of looking at the world.
Where to have fun: At the Archevêché by Fisheye
Throughout the opening week of the Rencontres, the courtyard of the Archevêché becomes one of the liveliest hubs of the festival. Conceived by Fisheye magazine, this hybrid venue brings together everything that makes contemporary photography so exciting: an open-air exhibition dedicated this year to five artists exploring feminine surrealism, conferences, portfolio reviews, meetings with photographers, curators and publishers, as well as DJ sets, workshops, and a space to have a drink between exhibitions. Whether you’re an image professional or just curious, it’s probably one of the best places to feel the pulse of the Rencontres and extend the conversations until nightfall.
Pl. de la République, 13200 Arles
Where to shop: At the Arles Books Fair
If there’s one purchase to make during the Rencontres d'Arles, it’s probably not clothing but something more timeless, like a book. Every year, the Arles Books Fair brings together more than 80 publishing houses from around twenty countries and confirms that the photobook has become a collectible object in its own right. Between independent editions, beautiful books, signings, and meetings with photographers, you can easily spend an hour flipping through the latest releases before leaving with the one that will extend the festival a little once you’re back home.
2 Rue de la Calade, 13200 Arles
Where to party: At Print
Conceived by chef Alexis Bijaoui, Bureau Classico and Cracki Records, PRINT returns to Arles after a successful first edition last year and a stop in Paris. This time, the project takes over the LUMA gardens with the same idea: blurring the boundaries between gastronomy, art, and celebration. People come to discover an exhibition, taste Alexis Bijaoui’s semi-gastronomic cuisine, and then let the evening transform with cocktails, performances, and DJ sets under the Arles sky. For one week, the TRANS(FORM)ANSE collective also takes over the space with a series of immersive performances where image, sound, and movement meet, before the music takes over definitively.
35 Av. Victor Hugo, 13200 Arles
