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University of Southampton launches AI Arts Festival 2026

Event artwork for University of Southampton launches AI Arts Festival 2026

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What to expect

Discover how artificial intelligence and human creativity intersect at this groundbreaking one-day festival hosted by the University of Southampton. The AI Arts Festival 2026 brings together artists, technologists, and researchers to explore the creative possibilities emerging when AI meets performance, visual arts, and interactive media. Whether you're an artist curious about AI tools, a technologist interested in creative applications, or simply fascinated by the future of human-machine collaboration, this festival offers something unique.

The event takes place across two iconic Winchester venues — The Arc and the Theatre Royal Winchester — featuring a diverse programme of performances, exhibitions, demonstrations and panel discussions. This multidisciplinary approach spans photography, film, robotics, theatre, music, and comedy, showcasing how AI is transforming creative practice across every artistic medium.

Festival Highlights

The programme includes several standout experiences. Improbotics Kids! delivers an award-winning, family-friendly performance that blends improv comedy with genuine AI science, helping audiences of all ages build AI literacy while celebrating human creativity. RoboPaws Live! offers hands-on exploration of robotic dogs, examining how AI is reshaping companionship and artistic expression through autonomous systems. Ghost in the Machine creates an atmospheric encounter where audiences interact in real-time with a projected humanoid figure, pushing the boundaries of AI-driven performance art. The day culminates with AI Mozart, a unique piano concert featuring works composed entirely by artificial intelligence, ending with an interactive audience-led finale.

Dr Boyd Branch, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, leads the Improbotics performance, demonstrating how AI can augment rather than replace human creativity in live theatre. The festival creates space for critical conversations about AI's role in creative industries while celebrating the innovative work happening at the intersection of technology and art.

This event is ideal for creative professionals exploring AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Midjourney in their practice, as well as families wanting to

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