Visa pour l'Image Founder's Legacy Continues With 38th Edition
Visa pour l'Image's 38th edition opens following founder Jean-François Leroy's death from cancer.
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Visa pour l'Image Founder Death
Jean-François Leroy, founder and 37-year director of the Visa pour l'Image international photojournalism festival, died on August 31, 2026 from cancer at age 69. He passed away on the opening day of the festival's 38th edition in Perpignan, France.
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2026-08-31 to 2026-11-07 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 31 Aug, 12:46 UTC
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Jean-François Leroy, founder of Visa pour l'Image, dies of cancer
Jean-François Leroy, co-founder and longtime director of the Visa pour l'Image international photojournalism festival, died on August 31, 2026 from cancer. He was 69 years old. Leroy founded the festival in 1989 with Roger Thérond and directed it for 37 years until his death. He died at his home in Paris surrounded by family.
38th edition of Visa pour l'Image opens in Perpignan
The 38th edition of the Visa pour l'Image festival opened in Perpignan on August 31, 2026, the same day Jean-François Leroy died. This was the first opening in 38 years that Leroy was absent from. Despite his illness, Leroy participated in the preparation of this edition from beginning to end.
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