Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to speak with the people who make the Dublin Street Photography Festival what it is, from organizers Paul Murray and Des Byrne to this year’s winners, judges, exhibitors, and attendees. While each conversation was different, they all circled back to the same idea: yes, the photographs matter, but it’s the people who leave the biggest impression. That certainly seems to be the case for Dublin.

Now in its third year, the Dublin Street Photography Festival continues to grow, both in size and reputation. This year’s festival featured 281 photographers exhibiting 890 photographs, welcomed a significant increase in visitors from mainland Europe and the United States, and introduced a new digital showcase that gave semi-finalists an opportunity to exhibit their work beyond the competition shortlist.

One of the highlights, organizers Paul Murray and Des Byrne told me, was New York Visionaries, a special exhibition featuring the work of Louis Stettner, Meryl Meisler, and Phil Penman, all shown together in Ireland for the first time. The festival also hosted a record 15 speakers over two days, with photographers traveling from as far away as Australia to share their work and perspectives.

Yet when I asked Paul and Des what stood out most after the festival had wrapped, they didn’t point to attendance numbers or exhibitions. Instead, they said, “Many people have commented on the welcome they received from the people of Dublin and the overall feeling of community and camaraderie at the festival itself.” That theme surfaced in nearly every conversation I had.

Judge, exhibitor, and keynote speaker Meryl Meisler called the festival a “three-day extravaganza,” describing it as “a joyous opening reception; an exquisite, multi-level indoor and outdoor exhibition; hundreds of street photography enthusiasts; speakers and panelists from around the world; workshops; photo walks; and fun, fun, fun!” (More from Meryl later in this issue.)

For Meisler, who exhibited alongside Louis Stettner and Phil Penman in the festival’s New York Visionaries exhibition, one of the greatest rewards was meeting photographers from across the globe. “Street photographers are generally interested in people,” she wrote, “and are very friendly! I met and made new photography friends across continents.”

Three-time attendee and finalist Andrew Glickman shared a similar perspective on the SPM Podcast. While he praised the talks and exhibitions, he said it’s the atmosphere that keeps bringing him back. “There’s a great community that shows up in Dublin… I really enjoy the social aspect of this as well as the opportunity to see so much really good work by so many different people.”

Later in our conversation, he reflected on what makes street photography festivals different from larger commercial photography events. He says that when the street photography community comes together like it does in Dublin, he knows he’s found “his people.”

Perhaps no one understands the significance of the festival better than this year’s Series winner, Michele Zousmer. Her winning project documents the lives of the Irish Traveller community, a body of work built over years of trust and mutual respect. Having that work recognized in Ireland carried special meaning.

“Winning the Dublin Street Photography Festival with my Irish Traveller series was both an honor and a deeply meaningful moment,” Michele told me. “After years of building trust within the Traveller community and documenting their lives with respect and authenticity, having this work recognized in Ireland, their home, was especially rewarding.” She added that the award affirmed her belief in “the power of photography to foster understanding, challenge stereotypes, and give voice to communities that are too often misunderstood.”

It’s a reminder that the strongest street photography isn’t simply about capturing decisive moments. It’s about creating lasting connections, both with the people we photograph and with one another.

The pages that follow celebrate this year’s winners in the Series, Single Image, and Street Portrait categories. Their photographs represent some of the finest work submitted to this year’s festival. But together, they also tell a larger story about a festival that continues to bring photographers together from around the world, united by a shared curiosity about people and the streets we all walk.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, finalists, and to Paul, Des, and the volunteers who continue to build one of street photography’s most welcoming gatherings.