Photos from Düsseldorf 2026 by Martin Kraft

Martin Kraft is no stranger to beyond tellerrand. Long before he was the man behind the lens, he was part of the team on the ground – a volunteer who helped make the conference run smoothly year after year.

Wide shot of the beyond tellerrand stage during James Victore’s talk. He stands barefoot at centre stage. Behind him, a large screen shows the MoMA website featuring his ‘Moët & Chandon, 2000’ poster. Illuminated ‘BT’ marquee letters stand on the left of the stage, and the audience fills the foreground in silhouette.

A few years ago, he swapped helping hands for a camera and ever since, he has been quietly documenting what makes beyond tellerrand special: the speakers, the crowd, the small moments in between, and the unmistakable atmosphere that brings everyone back.

Three people on stage at beyond tellerrand. In the centre, Friederike Rennen speaks into a microphone. To the right, Lars Terlinden holds a large rectangular cake decorated with the ‘beyond tellerrand’ logo and the text ‘Cheers to 15 years of a btconf’. On the left, Marc Thiele with long hair stands beside a vintage oscilloscope, partly turned away from the camera.

This year in Düsseldorf, Martin captured all of that across over 200 photos. Beyond the talks, his series gives a feel for the foyer chats, the laughs, the focused faces in the audience, and the community spirit that defines the event.

Close-up view of the beyond tellerrand audience seated in the venue, lit by warm purple and blue stage lighting. Dozens of attendees are visible in tight rows, attentively watching the stage, many wearing lanyards.

A huge thank you to Martin for once again sharing his eye and his time with us. Go take a look. The full set is well worth a slow scroll.

James Victore stands on stage with both arms raised, smiling, as the audience mirrors him with hundreds of hands lifted in the air. A technician at the console laughs along to his right, and a photographer captures the moment from the side of the stage.