Join the 2026 edition of The New Atlas of Digital Art in Milan, where experts from around the world will explore the future of immersive digital experiences and their impact on culture.
The MEET Digital Culture Center in Milan is set to host the seventh edition of The New Atlas of Digital Art on June 23 and 24, 2026. This international event, curated by Maria Grazia Mattei, will delve into the evolving landscape of digital art and its cultural implications.
The event is a collaboration with the Museo Nazionale dell’Arte Digitale (MNAD)supported by Regione Lombardia and the Comune di Milano.
This year’s theme, Culture Domefocuses on immersivity as a cultural paradigm rather than just a technological advancement.
The event will explore how digital art is reshaping communication, storytelling, and cultural production, creating a dynamic and evolving creative ecosystem.
The Role of the Body in Digital Art
The 2026 edition emphasizes the central role of the human body in digital experiences.
Unlike traditional passive viewing, immersive art transforms the audience into active participants. Through interactive technologies and virtual environments, the boundary between the physical and digital worlds blurs, engaging movement, perception, emotion, and proximity.
Maria Grazia Matteifounder and president of MEET Digital Culture Center, highlights the event’s mission: “We aim to observe immersivity not just as a technological evolution but as a profound transformation in how we create cultural experiences. It redefines cultural spaces, connects body, space, and narrative, and invites us to rethink the role of cultural institutions as open, participatory environments.”
International Perspectives on Digital Art
The event will feature case studies from international institutions, including the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, Lucid Realities in France, Barbican Immersive in the UK, and artists from China and Qatar. These presentations will offer a comparative look at the most advanced immersive experiences globally.
Maria Paola Borgarinodirector of MNAD, notes, “The New Atlas of Digital Art 2026 presents a selection of museums experimenting with digital narration, expanding dialogue with the public. It’s an opportunity to reflect on creating new, inclusive, and accessible experiences.”
The Evolution of Museums in the Digital Age
The program will begin with a discussion on the evolution of museums and cultural spaces in the digital era. With the increasing integration of digital art and innovative technologies, these institutions are redefining their roles and identities. The convergence of physical and digital dimensions is paving the way for new forms of artistic expression and contemporary cultural languages.
An additional focus will be on the drammaturgia della telepresenzafeaturing a performance in collaboration with the SAT in Montreal and directed by Claudio Prati of AIEP. This performance will showcase the potential of telepresence in creating immersive cultural experiences.
