14th Conference on Computation, Communication, Aesthetics & X
8–10 July 2026 Torino, Italy

xCoAx 2026

Torino

xCoAx explores the intersections where computational tools and media meet art and culture in the form of multi-disciplinary enquiries on aesthetics, computation, communication and the elusive X factor that connects and affects them all.

xCoAx focuses on the unpredictable overlaps between creative freedom and algorithmic rules, between human nature and machine technology, aimed towards new directions in aesthetics.

xCoAx is a great chance for international audiences to exchange ideas in search of interdisciplinary synergies between artists, media practitioners, computer scientists, and theoreticians at the thresholds between digital arts and culture.

Since starting in 2013 in Bergamo, xCoAx has taken place in Porto, Glasgow, Bergamo again, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Graz, online, Coimbra, Weimar, Treviso, and Dundee. xCoAx 2026 will take place at the Palazzo Madama museum in Torino, Italy, under the auspices of the Department of Philosophy and Education Sciences of the University of Torino.

Christa Sommerer's keynote, 2024 Conference, 2024 Joanna Zylinska's keynote, 2023 Conference, 2022 Conference, 2021 Luciana Parisi's keynote, 2019 Performances, 2018 Exhibition, 2018 Mario Klingemann, keynote speaker 2018 Conference, 2018 Olia Lialina's keynote, 2017 Exhibition, 2017 Exhibition, 2017 Conference, 2016 Performances, 2016 Frieder Nake's keynote, 2016 Performances, 2015 Performances, 2015 Conference, 2014 Olga Goriunova's keynote, 2014 Philip Galanter's work, exhibition, 2014 Exhibition, 2014 Alessandro Ludovico's keynote, 2013 Performances, 2013

Call for papers, artworks, performances

xCoAx 2026 calls for papers, artworks, performances and research works-in-progress by scholars, artists, performers and students working on any of its multi-disciplinary facets.

You are invited to submit theoretical, practical or experimental research work in the form of papers, artworks, or performances, on a range of topics that includes but is not limited to the following:

Computation • Communication • Aesthetics • X • Algorithms • Systems • Models • Artificial Aesthetics • Artificial Intelligence & Creativity • Artistic explorations of digital game technologies • Audiovisuals • Multimodality • Design • Interaction • Generative Art & Design • History • Mechatronics • Physical Computing • Music • Sound Art • Performance • Philosophy of Art & of Computation • Computational Photography and Image Technologies • Technology • Ethics • Epistemology

Papers

Submit a paper (3,000 to 6,000 words, excluding references) following the formatting in the Word template for papers. Review of papers will be double-blind. Please ensure the PDF file is completely anonymised (i.e., it omits author-related information in the body of text, and explicit self-citations in notes and bibliography). Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, and authors will hold a 15-minute presentation at xCoAx 2026.

Artworks

Proposals should provide a clear description of the work in the form of a document, including the following:

  • A 200-word abstract;
  • A 700 to 2.000-word main text (excluding references);
  • At least one featured image of the artwork (1920 width × 1080 height);
  • Links to online documentation or preview of the work;
  • An appendix with a technical rider and setup details for online or on-site settings (including what the author provides and what they would like xCoAx to provide).

Important notice for artwork proponents:

As you can see in this official presentation video of the venue Scopri Palazzo Madama, xCoAx 2026 provides a truly exciting opportunity for artists to show their work in a unique, historical place that encompasses different eras of arts and cultures, ranging from the Roman Empire to Early Modern Europe. Your artwork will be displayed in a dialogue with the ongoing exhibitions at Palazzo Madama: the permanent collection of mosaics, paintings, sculptures, jewels, and ceramics from Ancient Times to the Gothic and the Baroque eras, and a temporary exhibition on architectural photography of the city of Torino.

This special character of the venue imposes some restrictions on the technical nature of the artworks in the xCoAx 2026 exhibition, as follows.

  • No alterations of the walls, floors, or ceilings are allowed: this means you won't be able to use nails or hooks to hang your artwork or part of it. As a consequence, freestanding artworks are going to make the logistic issues much easier. Of course, plinths and tables are going to be available.
  • The Palazzo is composed of enormous floor spaces, but they are already populated by a myriad of artworks from the museum’s collection: please ensure that the space needed for your artwork does not exceed an area of (roughly) 2 x 2 sq. meters.
  • The Palazzo does not have white, empty walls upon which to project media with a beamer. Hence, video-based proposals will have to be created with TV screens in mind.

The artwork document must follow the formatting in the Word template for artworks and performances.

Review of proposals will be single-blind. On notification day, “conditional” acceptances will be notified to the artists whose work obtains positive enough reviews from the Scientific Committee. This means that the acceptance is still pending and the logistic details will have to be worked out between the artists and the curators of xCoAx 2026. If an agreement is reached, then the work is fully accepted and will be part of the exhibition and featured on the xCoAx 2026 website, and the artists will hold a 5-minute presentation at xCoAx 2026. The proceedings will publish the abstract, the main text, and at least one featured image of the artwork provided by the authors.

Performances

Proposals should provide a clear description of the work in the form of a document, including the following:

  • A 200-word abstract;
  • A 700 to 2.000-word main text (excluding references);
  • At least one featured image of the artwork (1920 width × 1080 height);
  • Links to online documentation or preview of the work, namely audio or audiovisual documentation of the performance or documentation of previous works;
  • An appendix with a technical rider and setup details of the performance, including performance duration and technical requirements (including what the author provides and what they would like xCoAx to provide).

The document must follow the formatting in the Word template for artworks and performances. Review of proposals will be single-blind. Accepted works will be part of the performance program and featured on the xCoAx 2026 website, and the authors will hold a 5-minute presentation at xCoAx 2026. The proceedings will publish the abstract, the main text, and at least one featured image of the performance provided by the authors.

Additional information and submission details

  • All works must be submitted via Microsoft CMT;
  • Submissions must be original and will be rigorously reviewed by an international and multidisciplinary scientific committee in a process that will assess originality, relevance, artistic and technical achievements;
  • Submissions should be presented as .pdf files with all the media files embedded or linked to online resources;
  • Accepted works will be required to be revised in accordance with the suggestions of the reviewers and submitted in .docx for publication, with all the images and other media files attached as independent files;
  • All images and media assets must be cleared for publication by the authors;
  • All submissions must include a statement about if and how generative AI were used in authoring the submissions;
  • At least one of the authors of each selected contribution must register for the conference before the first author registration deadline for the work to be published in the proceedings;
  • xCoAx’s working language is English;
  • xCoAx’s conference proceedings (with ISBN) will be published online with free access;
  • Please contact the program chairs at info@xcoax.org with any questions regarding submissions.

Important Dates

Conference Program

Registration

For each accepted submission, authors must register as below before April 20. Registration is required from anyone (authors and audience) who plans to attend xCoAx 2026. Information on payment methods will be provided in due time.

No refunds are possible in case of a no-show.

Co-authors of already registered authors and the general audience can register up to the beginning of xCoAx 2026, unless capacity is reached earlier.

Call for the School of X

The School of X is a virtual and physical space where PhD candidates are invited to submit a text on their current research project and/or artistic endeavour for the chance to exchange ideas, discussing theory and practice, give and receive feedback, both with fellow participants and with the School of X mentors: André Rangel (Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto), Angela Ferraiolo (Sarah Lawrence College), Deniz Jones (Lancaster University), Kim Albrecht (Folkwang University of the Arts), Mario Verdicchio (Università degli Studi di Bergamo), Martin Zeilinger (Abertay University), Miguel Carvalhais (University of Porto), Rodrigo Hernández Ramírez (University of Sydney), Rosemary Lee (University of Porto).

SCHEDULE

Online sessions every two weeks starting in April.
Participation at xCoAx 2026 in Torino, July 8-10 2026.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

The pillar themes of xCoAx — Computation, Communication, Aesthetics, X — together with all the topics that are welcome at xCoAx, including but not limited to: Artificial Aesthetics, Artificial Intelligence & Creativity; Philosophy of Art, Philosophy of Computation; Ethics, Epistemology; Design, Visual Arts, Sound Art, Music, Performance; Interaction, Games; Generative Art.

We are particularly interested in proposals that aim to develop original work during the School of X experience. Summaries of already developed PhD chapters and/or already-published work will not be accepted. Participating in the School of X is a unique opportunity to develop some ideas with the support of an interdisciplinary cohort of mentors and peer students, do take advantage of that!

HOW TO APPLY

Those interested in attending the School of X must submit their application through Microsoft CMT, following the Word template for papers. The submission should contain the following: 1) a short bio (100 words) and 2) a text which describes and discusses the project they want to develop through the School of X. Depending on the kind of project, the submitted text can vary. Its content, scope, and length should match the following requirements in accordance with the chosen type:

General paper: text describing and discussing a research topic of choice, which can be a theme from the applicant’s PhD thesis or another topic they are currently engaging with. Word count: 2,000-3,000 words.

Technical paper: text detailing the method, procedure, and technical details of one of the applicant’s works or a technical topic. The text should discuss the aims and techniques of the applicant’s work in adequate detail to be understood and discussed during the School of X sessions. Word count: 1,500-2,500 words.

Position paper: text engaging with a debated topic in which the applicant describes and defends their position. Word count: 1,500-2,000 words.

Artistic writing: text illustrating a current artistic work of the applicant. The text should discuss the aims and techniques of the applicant’s work in adequate detail to be understood and discussed during the School of X’s sessions. Word count: 2,000-3,000 words.

THE PROGRAM

The School of X program includes online discussion-based sessions in which successful applicants present their project and discuss it with the School of X’s mentors and with participating peers. The goal is for participants to use this feedback to improve their skills as critical thinkers and creators, shaping each proposal towards its full potential under the mentorship of the mentors and the peer review of other participants. The final versions of the projects will be presented at xCoAx 2026 during an open session dedicated to the School of X and published on a dedicated website after xCoAx 2026. Here is the website dedicated to the works presented at the School of X 2025: classof25.xcoax.org.

SCHOOL OF X IMPORTANT DATES

REGISTRATION FEE

Accepted applicants must register by April 12, 2026. The fee is EUR 175 and it includes participation in xCoAx 2026. Information on payment methods will be provided in due time. For any enquiries regarding the programme, please contact mario.verdicchio@unibg.it.

Travel and accommodation

Torino, nestled at the foot of the Alps, is a city rich in history, culture, and elegance. Known as the first capital of unified Italy, it boasts grand boulevards, baroque architecture, and charming piazzas. The city offers world-class museums like the Egyptian Museum, the National Cinema Museum, and Palazzo Madama, as well as the iconic Mole Antonelliana. Torino is also famous for its chocolate, café culture, and aperitivo tradition. The Juventus Stadium and the Museo dell’Automobile have been attracting football fans and car enthusiasts from all over the world for decades. With its blend of history, art, and gastronomy, Torino is a captivating destination and an ideal host city of xCoAx 2026.

How to get to xCoAx 2026

The conference venue (Palazzo Madama) is located in the town centre of Torino, in Piazza Castello.

map

The airport of Torino (IATA: TRN) is located in the nearby town of Caselle Torinese, and it is connected to the city both by train (to Porta Susa train station) and by bus (to Torino bus station).

From Porta Susa there are several ways to get to Palazzo Madama: Bus 8, Bus 55, or Tram 13.

Bus 55 also connects Torino bus station (from the Palagiustizia bus stop) to xCoAx 2026’s venue.

Porta Nuova is Torino’s main train station. If you fly to Milano Linate airport (IATA: LIN), Milano Malpensa Airport (IATA: MXP), or Milano Bergamo Airport (IATA: BGY), you can get to Milano Centrale station (by bus from BGY; by bus or train from MXP; by bus, metro, or taxi from LIN) and from there take a train to Torino. All trains from Milano stop at Porta Susa first, and then at Porta Nuova. There are two train companies connecting Milano and Torino: Trenitalia and Italo.

We encourage you to travel sustainably.

Where to stay at xCoAx 2026

The conference venue is located in the town centre, with several hotels nearby you can find on the usual hotel reservation portals.

We will also keep you posted on the possibility of cheap accommodation at student housing premises of the University of Torino.

Committees

Scientific Committee

Organising Committee

Past Organisers

GET IN TOUCH

email: info@xcoax.org
instagram: @xcoaxorg
bsky: xcoax.org

The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.