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 [email protected] with any
questions regarding submissions.
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
-
February 1 (end of day anywhere on Earth): Deadline
for applications
- March 23: Notification of acceptance
-
April to June: online sessions every two weeks
-
July 8: School of X presentations at xCoAx 2026
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 [email protected].
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.
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.
