Italy Media Art Festival opens 2026 global call

The Italy Media Art Festival has opened submissions for its third edition, inviting artists worldwide to respond to the theme of energy as a human, spiritual and technological force. Selected works will be shown during Rome Art Week in October 2026 and later at partner venues in Italy and abroad. Why it matters: - The Italy Media Art Festival is positioning media art as a way to examine how energy, technology and responsibility shape daily life and future development. - The 2026 edition expands the festival’s reach with two free international open calls and a global submission window. - The festival’s Rome showcase and later touring exhibitions give selected artists exposure in Italy and abroad. What happened: - The third edition of the Italy Media Art Festival opened submissions on June 15, 2026. - The festival is promoted by Associazione Piccola Venezia APS. - Artists can apply until July 15, 2026. - The call is open to artists and creatives age 16 and older from any country. - The festival theme is “The Energy That Transforms: Human and Spiritual Strength Becoming Action for the Future.” The details: - IMAF 2026 is divided into two free international open calls. - The VIDEO INSTALLATIONS call is promoted by Snam and runs from April 15 to July 15, 2026. - The VIDEO ART & VIDEO PERFORMANCE call is promoted by Enel and runs from May 15 to July 15, 2026. - Selected works will be presented during Rome Art Week from October 19 to 25, 2026, as part of the official IMAF program. - After the festival, selected projects will be shown through screenings and video installations at partner venues in Italy and abroad. - The list of selected artists will be published August 3, 2026, on the festival website: the festival’s official website . - The festival’s social channels are listed as Instagram and YouTube . Between the lines: - Festival founder and director Marinellys Tremamunno frames energy as more than infrastructure, casting it as a force that guides choices and creates responsibility. - The curatorial concept treats technology as an extension of human intention rather than an end in itself. - The manifesto also gives the theme a spiritual dimension, linking natural resources, technologies, moral responsibility and spiritual aspirations to the idea of a sustainable future. - The festival says art can be a space to question current development models and restore human dignity to the center of the discussion. - Support from Enel and Snam, plus collaboration with Lazio Innova, Rome Art Week and Maker Faire Rome, ties the event to a broader ecosystem of institutions and industry. What’s next: - Artists have until July 15, 2026, to submit work. - The selected artists will be announced on August 3, 2026. - The festival will unfold publicly during Rome Art Week in late October 2026. - Additional exhibitions at partner venues will follow in Italy and abroad. The bottom line: - IMAF 2026 is using an open international call to turn a broad theme — energy — into a platform for artistic, technological and ethical debate.