Prix Ars Electronica
Photo: Ars Electronica / Martin Hieslmair
Interactive Art +
Win the Prix Ars Electronica’s Golden Nica, up to 10,000 euros and a prominent appearance at the Ars Electronica Festival with your media artwork!
Projects in this category can be submitted for the Prix Ars Electronica 2026, starting in January 2026.
The “Interactive Art +” category is dedicated to interactive works in all forms and formats, from installations to performances. At the top of the agenda is artistic quality in the development and design of the interaction as well as a harmonious dialog between the content level and the interaction level—that is, the inherent principles of interaction and the interfaces that implement them. Of particular interest are relevant works with an explicit sociopolitical agenda, those that represent noteworthy technological or scientific achievements, as well as works that have strong innate potential to expand the scope of human action and participation. Innovation and uniqueness are additional key criteria.
In response to the increasing diversity of artistic works and methods, a “+” has been added to this category’s name. This is meant to signify that the category is also receptive to new experiments and broadened interpretations of interactive art.
Golden Nica 2022: Bi0film.net: Resist like bacteria / Jung Hsu, Natalia Rivera
Golden Nica 2020: SOMEONE / Lauren Lee McCarthy, Credit: Stan Narten
Golden Nica 2016: Can you hear me? / Christoph Wachter, Mathias Jud
Golden Nica 2014: Loophole for All / Paolo Cirio, Credit: vog.photo
What can you win?
| 1 | Golden Nica | Statuette, 10.000 Euro prize money, Award certificate, prominent appearance at the Ars Electronica Festival |
| 2 | Awards of Distinctions | Award certificate, prominent appearance at the Ars Electronica Festival |
| up to 12 | Honorary Mentions | Award certificate |
What should you enter?
installations
performances
audience participation
network projects
projects using AI, machine learning
VR, AR, MR, XR
telepresence and -communication
innovative interfaces
robotics
software
apps
+
Who can submit an entry?
- It is a prerequisite that the projects have already been realized to the extent that they may be judged on the basis of a documentation.
- The work entered must have been created, realized or significantly updated within the last two years.
- Participants may be individuals, groups, institutions, companies etc.
- Exclusively commercially oriented activities in the sense of product advertisement are excluded.
Checklist
The following materials are needed for the submission.
- Video documentation (approx. 3 min. recommended) via upload
- Images of the work (JPG, TIF, BMP, PNG (at maximum quality. Compressed file (like .zip .lzh file) is not acceptable)
- Detailed description of the artistic concept, form of interaction and technical realization (Since a presentation of an outstanding interactive work naturally also depends on the technical requirements for on-site realization, please include information that is as specific as possible about technical (Hardware/Software) and spatial requirements, as well as what you could contribute to a presentation of your work and what would need to be provided by the Ars Electronica)
- A portrait photo and biography of the artist(s)
- Optional: additional material (images/documents(PDF)/drawings(JPG, PDF))
Jury
All entries will be judged by a Jury of experts in the order of their arrival. In addition to the works entered by participants, each Jury may also nominate other works.