In 2005, four Darmstadt-based photographers founded the Non-profit Promotional Association Darmstadt Photography Days. The idea to establish a photo festival emerged from a project entitled „Stadtfotograf“, which was initiated by Werkbundakademie Darmstadt. During an event in 2004 at Design Zentrum Hessen, the idea to establish an annual series of events on photography over the course of three days was publically announced for the first time. Since then, the initiators have been inviting photographers and artists to present their work to the public. Since 2010, the festival is taking place biannually. Today, Darmstadt Photography Days are among the most important photo festivals in Germany. The initiators were able to establish a pleasant and convincing festival, and to manage it competently and passionately with constant success over the course of 14 years.
Since 2019 the Darmstadt Days of Photography are organized by the Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt.
