Formentera, 5 September 2026
Formentera once again turns its gaze towards the Mediterranean through photography. Until 21 September, Sant Francesc is hosting MARE’s travelling exhibition, featuring some of the most outstanding images from the latest edition of MARE FOTO and offering visitors a glimpse into the natural wealth of the waters surrounding the Balearic Islands.
The exhibition brings together 32 award-winning photographs from the sixth edition of the Balearic Sea Conservation Photography Competition. Through these images, residents and visitors can discover different species, underwater landscapes and scenes that reflect both people’s connection with the sea and the threats facing its conservation.
The exhibition arrives in Formentera, an island whose identity is intrinsically linked to the sea that surrounds it. The photographs are intended not only to captivate visitors with their beauty, but also to serve as a tool for raising awareness and sharing knowledge about the importance of the Balearic Islands’ marine heritage.
The open-air exhibition opened on 4 September and will remain on display in Sant Francesc until 21 September. Formentera thus becomes the first stop in the Pityusic Islands on MARE’s tour of different locations across the archipelago this year.
MARE returns to Formentera
The MARE exhibition returns to Formentera following last year’s experience, strengthening its collaboration with the Consell Insular de Formentera to bring local residents initiatives that combine culture, education and environmental protection.
The opening was attended by the Consell Insular de Formentera’s Councillor for Culture and Abraham Calero, representing MARE.
The exhibition’s previous visit to the island in 2025 already highlighted the potential of photography to convey the importance of conserving the marine environment. This year’s exhibition continues with the same philosophy, harnessing the visual power of the images to spark interest in what lies beneath the surface.
The richness of the sea and the threats it faces
The exhibition brings together the 32 photographs recognised across the different MARE FOTO categories. It includes work by both expert and amateur photographers, as well as images by young participants and photographs receiving special mentions.
This diversity offers very different perspectives on the Mediterranean. Posidonia seagrass, marine wildlife and underwater landscapes share the spotlight with photographs depicting people’s relationship with the sea.
The exhibition also draws attention to the pressures these ecosystems face. In this way, the beauty of the images is combined with an educational dimension that helps visitors understand the fragility of the marine environment and the importance of protecting it.
Chosen by the public
Among the works on display is Abraçant el futur, by Sebastià Pons Burguera. The image received the MARE Popularis award after becoming the photograph with the most votes from the public.
It joins the collection of works selected by MARE FOTO to offer a diverse perspective on the Balearic Sea. The photographs showcase its biological and scenic richness, while also highlighting human interaction with an environment that is fundamental to the Balearic Islands.
The exhibition invites visitors to pause in front of each image and discover the reality behind it. Photography thus becomes a powerful medium for sharing knowledge, inspiring curiosity and fostering greater awareness of the need to preserve the Mediterranean.
MARE’s first stop in the Pitiusas Islands
The exhibition in Sant Francesc forms part of MARE’s 2026 tour of different locations across the Balearic Islands. The initiative takes the competition’s award-winning photographs to different islands with the aim of reaching wider audiences and bringing its message to new visitors.
After visiting Mallorca and Menorca, the exhibition now arrives in Formentera, making it the first stop in the Pityusic Islands on the tour. Visitors can see the 32 photographs in Sant Francesc until 21 September, before the exhibition moves on to Ibiza at the end of the month.
I’m Ramón Tur, the person behind everything written and photographed on this website about Formentera. I discovered the island in 1972 when my parents, aboard the mythical Joven Dolores, took me on vacation from Ibiza for the first time, and it was love at first sight that has only grown stronger over time, making Formentera my place of residence for many years now. If you wish, you can follow me on Instagram @4mentera.com_
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