When the 57th Rencontres d’Arles photography festival opened in July, it brought a whirlwind of contemporary photographs to Arles. The ancient city buzzed with visitors, who navigated between medieval churches and modern galleries, all under the relentless sun.

The festival’s over-40,000 attendees filled 47 exhibitions, yet most needed no air conditioning—a sign of the times. Despite its small size, Arles has a vibrant scene: everyone seemed to know who everyone was, even if they didn’t know each other personally.

Over 115 public events spanned the first week—artist talks, curator tours, and free films by Tënk. However, some gatherings required an invitation or just knowing where to find them. Perry Shimon, a contributing editor, noted that while it might seem less pretentious than other events, seasoned festival-goers might disagree.

Director Christoph Wiesner aimed for complexity and attentiveness in the 57th edition, creating space for those typically marginalised by Western art canons. Yet, as climate crises heat up, so too do the summer fans needed to walk through Arles's ancient streets.