Analog Art Affair 2026 in Cologne: a trade fair only for film, print and cameras
On September 5, 2026, the Analog Art Affair took place at BASE in Carlswerk in Cologne-Mülheim, a trade fair and community event centered on analog photography. Dirk Trampedach wrote a detailed review on fotowissen, and I enjoyed reading it because it shows so well how lively the scene is right now.
The event has only existed since 2025. Across about 1,500 square meters, more than 50 exhibitors came together: artists, labs, publishers, brands and collectors. Entry was free, and there were free photo walks, live podcasts and, in the evening, a get-together with live vinyl sets. The event was organized mainly by Ben Hammer and his team.
According to the report, even before the doors opened, photographers were standing outside the building with cameras ranging from a Leica M3 and Pentax, Canon, Minolta and Olympus to rarities like Plaubel and Zeiss. The author himself came with a Nikon F3 HP, a Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4 lens and Wolfen NP 100 film. Inside there was a bright area and a dark one, and in the dark area talks ran, including one by Ilford about its own films.
The encounters he describes stood out to me. Dan Hummel hand-colors black-and-white photos with brush and paint. Hannah Sophie Huber shows photos of everyday encounters. At one booth, pictures in a 65×24 format hung on the wall, shot with a small 35mm camera that exposes only a narrow strip in the middle of the negative. The photo walk led by the Berlin Filmriss photo club was about lines that continue within other lines. As the author himself writes, he needed half of the 90 minutes just to understand the approach.
His conclusion is very positive: good organization and infrastructure, many fresh ideas, and a well-balanced presence of professional companies. He explicitly highlights that such a large fair is free. A report like this makes me curious about the next edition.
Source: fotowissen
The event has only existed since 2025. Across about 1,500 square meters, more than 50 exhibitors came together: artists, labs, publishers, brands and collectors. Entry was free, and there were free photo walks, live podcasts and, in the evening, a get-together with live vinyl sets. The event was organized mainly by Ben Hammer and his team.
According to the report, even before the doors opened, photographers were standing outside the building with cameras ranging from a Leica M3 and Pentax, Canon, Minolta and Olympus to rarities like Plaubel and Zeiss. The author himself came with a Nikon F3 HP, a Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4 lens and Wolfen NP 100 film. Inside there was a bright area and a dark one, and in the dark area talks ran, including one by Ilford about its own films.
The encounters he describes stood out to me. Dan Hummel hand-colors black-and-white photos with brush and paint. Hannah Sophie Huber shows photos of everyday encounters. At one booth, pictures in a 65×24 format hung on the wall, shot with a small 35mm camera that exposes only a narrow strip in the middle of the negative. The photo walk led by the Berlin Filmriss photo club was about lines that continue within other lines. As the author himself writes, he needed half of the 90 minutes just to understand the approach.
His conclusion is very positive: good organization and infrastructure, many fresh ideas, and a well-balanced presence of professional companies. He explicitly highlights that such a large fair is free. A report like this makes me curious about the next edition.
Source: fotowissen
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