FAQs

ISEA2026 is the 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art, scheduled to take place from 10 to 19 April 2026, in Dubai, UAE. The symposium invites artists, researchers, and practitioners to explore and present works that engage with the theme ‘ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity,’ through various formats, including performances, exhibitions, screenings, academic papers, and workshops. ISEA2026 will unfold across a constellation of venues that fuse art, technology and innovation; and will be equipped to support diverse practices in electronic and emerging art.

Electronic art refers to artworks that use electronic devices, technologies, and processes as integral components of the creative or presentation process. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Digital Media: Artworks created using computers, digital imaging, or video.
• Sound Art: Works that explore sound as a medium, often through electronic manipulation or production.
• Interactive Installations: Artworks that require the viewer’s participation or interaction, often utilising sensors, touchscreens, or virtual environments.
• Projection Mapping: Digital projections on physical objects or buildings to create immersive art experiences.
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Artworks that immerse the viewer in a digital space or overlay digital elements onto the real world.
• Robotics: Artworks that use autonomous or semi-autonomous robots as creative tools or subjects. These can include robot sculptures, interactive robotic installations, or robotic performances, where the robot itself becomes part of the art experience.

Emerging art refers to innovative and evolving artistic practices that explore new ideas, materials, cutting-edge technologies, and diverse forms of expression. This field highlights forward-looking approaches, introduces new creative perspectives, and uses the latest technological advances to help shape the future direction of the arts landscape. This includes, but is not limited to:

• AI-Generated Art: Art created with the assistance of artificial intelligence algorithms, often blending human creativity with machine learning.
• BioArt: Artworks using biological materials, biotechnology, and processes, frequently exploring themes of life, nature, and the intersections of art and science.
• Wearable Art: Artworks designed to be worn on the body, incorporating fashion, technology, and artistic expression.
• Digital Performance: Live performances that integrate digital technologies, like holograms, projections, or interactive elements.
• Environmental and Ecological Art: Art that uses emerging technologies to address ecological concerns, often emphasising sustainability and environmental consciousness.

Emerging art often explores new media, technologies, and interdisciplinary methods that were not available to traditional artists. Some key differences include:

• Technology Integration: Emerging art uses technological tools (e.g., AI, VR, bioengineering) to create experiences that are not possible through traditional media.
• Interactive and Immersive: While traditional art focuses on visual aesthetics, emerging art often invites interaction, creating experiences that evolve with the audience’s input.
• Conceptual Focus: Emerging art can focus more on concepts, exploring new ways of thinking about human experience, identity, or the environment. This contrasts with traditional art’s emphasis on craftsmanship or formal techniques.

Technology serves as both the medium and the tool for creation, enabling new forms of artistic expression that are immersive, interactive, and data-driven. In electronic and emerging art, technology is integral to both the process and the presentation, shaping how art is conceived, experienced, and interpreted. The role of technology often transcends just being a medium and becomes central to the artwork’s thematic exploration. For example, an artwork might explore artificial intelligence, virtual space, or sustainable technology as core themes.

If your work includes electronic media, challenges traditional boundaries, uses new technologies, or addresses contemporary issues in innovative ways, it is likely to be considered electronic/emerging art. Examples might include but not limited to:

• Incorporating artificial intelligence to create generative works.
• Generating immersive environments using virtual or augmented reality.
• Exploring bio-art or ecology-based practices with genetic modification or other technologies.
• The list goes on and on….

Yes, works that combine digital technologies with physical exhibits, such as interactive installations, hybrid performances, or projection-based works, are highly encouraged. ISEA2026 welcomes proposals that explore the convergence of the digital and physical realms to create immersive and boundary-pushing art experiences.

Submissions are invited in the following categories:

• Artistic Proposals: Including performances, exhibitions, artworks, screenings, installations, and interdisciplinary projects.
• Academic Proposals: Full papers, institutional presentations, and special track proposals.
• Workshops and Panels: Interactive sessions that engage participants in discussions and activities.
• Artist Talks: Presentations by artists discussing their work and creative processes.

Funds will be provided to selected artistic and academic proposals

The submission deadline for all proposals is December 20, 2025, by 11:59 PM (GMT+4). Special track proposals have a rolling deadline until December 1, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.

All proposals must be submitted through the official submission portal: https://easychair.org/cfp/ISEA2026-Dubai, with more information on https://isea-2026.isea-international.org/call-for-proposals/.

The symposium is structured around four thematic pillars:

• Charting Constellations: Exploring the intersection of art and environmental responsibility, focusing on ecological awareness and sustainable technological engagement.
• Celestial Dialogues: Investigating the relationship between technology and human experience, including ethical, philosophical, and speculative dimensions.
• Eco-Tech Futures: Examining practices that advocate for ecological awareness and critical futures thinking.
• Starlinked Worlds: Considering the evolving relationship between technology and human experience, inviting reflection on emerging futures.

Artistic proposals should include:

• Artist biography (max 300 words)
• Thematic statement (200–500 words)
• Artwork proposal (300–800 words)
• Images, sketches, and/or drafts
• Technical and logistical requirements
• Links to video documentation online (required for all performance proposals)
• CV/portfolio

Academic proposals should include:

• Full Papers: 5–8 pages
• Institutional Presentations: Max 2 pages
• Special Track Proposals: Details as per the specific track guidelines

All submissions must align with the symposium's themes and adhere to the provided formatting instructions.

Yes. In addition to the registered sessions, a dedicated public programme will be offered across Dubai’s cultural venues, featuring exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, and performances, as well as networking opportunities and creative showcases. This provides an opportunity for broader community engagement and interaction with the symposium's themes. The full agenda and schedule will be announced closer to the date.

For questions about submissions, please email: 📧 isea@dubaiculture.ae