National Museum of Cambodia hosts Photo Phnom Penh from 22 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 02:53 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Photo Phnom Penh takes place at the National Museum of Cambodia from 22 October to 22 November 2026, with the museum hosting Configurations during the city-wide photography festival. The exhibition brings contemporary images into dialogue with the institution's historic Khmer collections.
Photo Phnom Penh brings Configurations to the museum
The seventeenth edition of Photo Phnom Penh runs across eleven venues in Phnom Penh under the theme At Home in the World. Its exhibitions begin on 22 October 2026 and continue until 22 November 2026, according to the festival programme.
At the National Museum of Cambodia, Configurations features Pasha Rafiy and Daniel Wagener. Rafiy photographs people from a distance in familiar places, while Wagener examines plants in the urban environment, from young shoots to large trees. The programme describes the exhibition as a meeting between contemporary practice and the museum's historical collections. The dates and venue list place the museum among the festival locations.
How the 1920 museum frames the photography exhibition
The museum was inaugurated on 13 April 1920 during the Khmer New Year celebrations. Its foundation stone had been laid on 15 August 1917, and extensions were added to the eastern facade in 1924.
George Groslier designed the building, which reinterprets forms drawn from Cambodian temple prototypes for museum use. The museum history records its closure between 1975 and 1979 and its reopening on 13 April 1979. In this setting, Configurations connects present-day photographic approaches with a collection shaped by the study and preservation of Cambodian art.
Eleven Phnom Penh venues share one photography programme
Photo Phnom Penh also includes the Institut français du Cambodge, Bophana, the French Embassy, Hiroshima House Cambodia, Studio Images, Vann Molyvann House, TiSamjort, Friends Futures Factory, Lumiere and Techo International Airport. The wider programme includes exhibitions, screenings, workshops, portfolio reviews and discussions.
The opening days run from 22 to 25 October 2026. The National Museum stop therefore forms part of a larger circuit rather than a standalone museum event, with photography shown in galleries, cultural institutions and public-facing spaces across Phnom Penh.
Visiting National Museum of Cambodia: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Photo Phnom Penh and Configurations are scheduled at the National Museum of Cambodia from 22 October to 22 November 2026.
- The museum is one of eleven festival venues, and the published programme places Configurations inside the museum rather than at a separate Phnom Penh site.
- The museum stands on Preah Ang Eng Street in central Phnom Penh, close to the Royal Palace. The festival venue list also includes the Institut français du Cambodge and Bophana for visitors planning a wider programme.
- Cambodia's official language is Khmer and its national currency is the riel.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for National Museum of Cambodia on social platforms
These links open searches for National Museum of Cambodia on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about National Museum of Cambodia
When does Photo Phnom Penh take place at National Museum of Cambodia?
Photo Phnom Penh runs from 22 October to 22 November 2026, with exhibitions at eleven Phnom Penh venues including the museum.
What is Configurations at National Museum of Cambodia?
Configurations is a photography exhibition by Pasha Rafiy and Daniel Wagener. It places contemporary images alongside the museum's historic Khmer collections.
Where is National Museum of Cambodia and how do you get there?
The museum is on Preah Ang Eng Street in central Phnom Penh, near the Royal Palace. It is one of the locations included in the Photo Phnom Penh 2026 programme.
