Photo hosting community Flickr has announced Mode by Flickr, an in-person “photo festival” taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in late September 2026. The company says its goal is to bring the spirt of online photo sharing “away from devices” so photographers can connect “in the real world.”
The three-day event will include keynote speeches from guest photographers, such as Chris Burkard and Penny De Los Santos, along with activities including workshops, editing tutorials, film screenings and photowalks. Flickr’s COO Ben MacAskill describes it as “a festival built for creativity and the future of photography and visual arts.”
The festival is structured around seven themes, covering a broad range of photography topics, from art and technique to technology and gear, and the business of making a business out of your work. The themes are described by the company as follows:
- Change: spotlighting world-shifting storytelling
- Next: focused on emerging tools and technology
- Money: exploring the business of photography
- Motion: celebrating video and moving images
- Culture: capturing the music, fashion, food, and moments that shape us;
- IRL: honoring analog processes
- Earth: dedicated to the intersection of the environment, sustainability, and art
Flickr, which has been owned by photo hosting company SmugMug since it was sold by Yahoo! in 2018, is now in its 22nd year, having launched in 2004.
Three-day passes start at $330, with a $30 discount for Flickr Pro subscribers, though the cheapest tickets only get you access to “select events.”
Press release:
Flickr Announces MODE Festival: Leading Photographers, Chris Burkard, Brooke Shaden, Penny De Los Santos, and Jimmy Steinfeldt Headline Minneapolis’ New Three-Day Experience
The citywide celebration blends culture, creator-led programming and photography events across downtown Minneapolis this September
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Flickr announced the launch of MODE by Flickr, an immersive three-day photography festival taking place September 18-20, 2026, in the heart of Minneapolis. The inaugural lineup includes keynotes from Chris Burkard, Keith Ladzinski, Minneapolis native Jimmy Steinfeldt, and Brooke Shaden as MODE’s Artist-in-Residence, alongside special programming in partnership with Black Women Photographer’s Polly Irungu and Inside Out Project, with sponsorship support from Fujifilm, HOVERAir, and additional partners. The festival will also feature leading photographers including Sandro Miller, Art Streiber, Penny De Los Santos, Rob Grimm, David Johnson, and more. Designed as a first-of-its-kind photography festival, MODE will bring together craft, community, and visual storytelling like never before.
“MODE is photography in motion – alive, interactive, and deeply rooted in community,” said Ben MacAskill, President, COO at SmugMug & Flickr. “For more than 20 years, Flickr has brought the world’s photographers together online. Now, we’re bringing that spirit away from devices and connecting in the real world with a festival built for creativity and the future of photography and visual arts.”
From workshops led by industry legends to hands-on demos with emerging tools and gear and immersive exhibitions, MODE will create spaces for learning, exchange, and shared creative energy, anchored in community and underscoring the belief that photography thrives in culture, not in isolation.
MODE brings the full spectrum of photography to life through its seven thematic pillars – Change, spotlighting world-shifting storytelling; Next, focused on emerging tools and technology; Money, exploring the business of photography; Motion, celebrating video and moving images; Culture, capturing the music, fashion, food, and moments that shape us; IRL, honoring analog processes; and Earth, dedicated to the intersection of the environment, sustainability, and art. Across these tracks, attendees will experience hands-on workshops, live portrait shoots, tech demos, editing workshops, photojournalism panels, film screenings, gear demos, darkrooms, instant-film activations, photo walks, and climate-focused conversations.
Passes are available now, starting at $300.00 for Flickr Pro Members and $330.00 – $660.00 for general admission and VIP passes. For ticketing information, visit http://modefestival.com/. Additional speakers and workshops will be announced throughout the year.
“Minneapolis is proud to host the inaugural MODE Festival,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “This is a city that believes in artists and backs them up. From downtown to neighborhoods across Minneapolis, MODE will showcase the creativity, small businesses, communities, and public spaces that make our city special. We’re excited to welcome creators from around the world and show them what Minneapolis is all about.”
MODE was created to celebrate creativity and community while prioritizing accessibility, inclusion, and safety. The festival features accessible venues, diverse and thoughtfully curated programming, and a talent selection process rooted in artistic quality and representation. Sustainability measures, from recycling to reduced single-use materials, are built into every layer of planning, alongside comprehensive safety and emergency protocols to ensure a smooth, secure experience for all attendees.