Join Us for the Photowalk in Beautiful Istanbul

Once a year, the light over Historical Istanbul pulls street photographers from every corner of the world toward a single city. This is the seventh edition of the Istanbul Street Photo Festival, and this year we're doing something we've never done before: opening the streets not just to individual photographers, but to eight of the most respected photography hubs on Instagram — communities that have spent years building spaces where street photographers learn, share, and grow together. And that's only the start: from the third day of the festival onward, individual photographers from our own community step in to lead walks of their own, all the way through to the festival's close.

From 28 September to 11 October 2026, Istanbul becomes a working city for anyone who sees the street as their studio. On 10 October 2026, something special happens: eight guided photowalks, each led by a hub's own head or instructor, each capped at a small group so the walk stays personal, all converging on the same city on the same day, all starting from the same place. And starting 30 September 2026 — day three of the festival — individual photographers begin leading walks of their own, each on their own day, each with its own route, right through to the festival's final days.

If you've followed any of the hubs joining us — DreamInStreets, Street Avengers, Street Photography Brazil, MyStreetBnw, Visions, RRStreet International Hub, Street Macadam, or Mystreet_Women — you already know their eye. And if it's one of our participating photographers you're after, the same is true: a real walk through real streets with someone whose instincts you already trust. Either way, this isn't a workshop in a classroom or a lecture — it's a walk.

How Each Walk Works

Someone who knows the streets leads the way. Every walk is led by the hub's own head or instructor, or by the photographer running it — someone who's responsible for the route and the hours on the day.

The groups stay small. Every walk caps its group at a maximum of eight participants, so it stays a walk you can actually learn from, not a parade trailing behind one instructor.

Spots go first-come, first-served. There's no jury, no application, no portfolio review. If a walk is full, you're not simply turned away — every walk with a waitlist enabled holds your place and lets you know the moment a spot opens up, whether that happens automatically or because the walk's leader personally makes room for you.

The eight hub walks start together. The meeting point for all eight hub photowalks is the venue of the Istanbul Street Photo Festival itself, on 10 October. However different the eight routes end up being once the groups scatter into the city, they all begin from the same doorway. Walks led by individual photographers run on their own schedule and route throughout the rest of the festival — check each walk's own page for its day, time, and meeting point.

Getting Yourself Here

This part is on you, and we mean that in the most freeing way possible. There's no festival-run travel desk, no bundled package — you choose your own flight, your own neighborhood, your own extra days to explore Istanbul before or after your walk.

The one thing we do ask, if you're coming from outside Istanbul: send us your hotel and flight confirmation by 20 September 2026. If we don't hear from you by that date, your spot opens back up for the next person in line. If you're local, this step doesn't apply to you — just show up on the day.

Every Walk, One Festival

Above, you'll find every walk currently confirmed — the eight hubs, and the photographers joining them throughout the festival. More are added as the festival goes on, so it's worth another look if you don't see a day that works for you yet. Tap through to any walk to see more and reserve your spot. Whichever one you choose, you're joining a small group, led by someone who's spent real time developing their eye on the street, walking through a city that has been rewarding photographers with extraordinary frames for centuries.

Choose your walk above, send us your travel details if you're coming from outside the city, and meet your group on the day, camera ready.

We'll see you on the street.