Every summer since 1970, over the course of more than forty exhibitions at various of the city's exceptional heritage sites, the Rencontres d'Arles has been a major influence in dissiminating the best of world photography and playing the role of a springboard for photographic and contemporary creative talents. In 2018, the festival welcomed more than 140 000 visitors.

The Rencontres d’Arles will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July 2019. To mark the occasion, the festival is asking the visitors, participants and witnesses of those 50 years of photography to share their memories and archives.