Long lines and crowded exhibition halls were impossible to avoid during the opening week of the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival. Not to mention the ever-increasing number of parties and photography events that dotted the small southern town of Arles from July 7 to 13 as part of the festival's "off" program. Visitor numbers rose by 15% compared to 2024, reaching 23,000 people.

Despite the extended hours in the mornings and evenings to avoid the hottest parts of the day, the crowds raised the temperature inside the exhibitions. The record turnout bodes well for the rest of the summer for the renowned photography festival that draws 70% of its €8 million annual budget from its ticket sales and sponsorship.

However, success and crowds have drawn their share of criticism. Some argue that the city's dramatic changes are due to the influx of cultural institutions, foundations and galleries following the opening of the Fondation LUMA in 2021. The city's walls have never before displayed so many posters denouncing the collateral damage caused by the development of the cultural sector in Arles, where 24% of the population lives below the poverty line. Some signs accused the Fondation LUMA of accelerating gentrification, while others accused Airbnb of reducing the availability of housing for local residents and BMW, one of the festival's sponsors, of greenwashing.

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