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IMMERSIVE X – The Global XR Festival in VR

2026
November
10 - 12

Program 2025
Attendees
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Presenters
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Sessions
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IMMERSIVE X 2025
A Look Back at This Year’s Festival

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This year’s edition of IMMERSIVE X once again showed the power of immersive media to bring people together. Across platforms, disciplines, and borders, creators, researchers, artists, and technologists explored how virtual worlds can foster real human connection.

What began five years ago as a response to a moment of global distance has now become a vibrant meeting place for a growing international community. In a time still shaped by polarization and digital fragmentation, IMMERSIVE X offered a space for dialogue, imagination, and shared experiences.

The 2025 festival highlighted a central insight: immersive technologies are not only tools for storytelling — they are bridges. They help us rethink how we meet, communicate, collaborate, and understand one another. Whether through VR worlds, interactive performances, live sessions, or community-driven experiments, IMMERSIVE X celebrated the culture of connection in all its creative forms.

As the festival continues to evolve, it remains guided by the spirit in which it was founded: shaping a more connected future together.

The next chapter begins in 2026 — and the community is already growing.

The Tracks

You ask for use cases? We got them! At IMMERSIVE X 2025 we will showcase inspiring highlights from the following areas:
Academia
Arts
Culture
Corporate
Entertainment
Health
Transformation
Technology
Society
Program 2025

How to Dive in

IMMERSIVE X is more than an event – it’s a community.

By invitation only, IMMERSIVE X brings together a curated network of forward-thinking minds who are shaping the future of immersive technologies. We believe that the right participants matter more than high ticket prices, which is why attendance is free.

Our goal is to foster a space where like-minded innovators can connect, exchange ideas, and explore the transformative potential of XR together. Joining IMMERSIVE X means becoming part of a community that extends beyond the event itself.

To ensure the best experience for everyone, we’d love to learn more about you.

Applications closed

Attend

If you would like to be a guest at the festival, please click here and tell us about your background and motivation.

Present

If you're an immersive tech innovator, creator, or entrepreneur, we welcome you to share your experiences. Click here to submit a proposal.

Partner

If you would like to become part of our thriving community and support the Festival as a sponsor, join our partner program. Please contact us to find out more.

Newsletter

Stay ahead of the curve! Subscribe to the IMMERSIVE X newsletter and be the first to access exclusive insights, event updates, and community highlights from the world of XR. Join the conversation – straight to your inbox!

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Presenters 2025

At IMMERSIVE X 2025, leading voices from across the XR industry and beyond will take the stage – from artists and innovators to educators, entrepreneurs, and activists. Each of them brings a unique perspective on how immersive technologies can transform the way we live, learn, and connect.  Here is a selection of our presenters.

Maud Clavier
Director of Innovative Projects at Zorba 
Luvai Lijoodi
Health Technologist and MBChB student at Kenyatta University
Lisa Maria Egger
Co-Founder & COO at Arrival.Space
DJ Smith
Co-Founder and CCO at The Glimpse Group
Michael Barngrover
Managing Director atXR4Europe
Shaindy Alexander
Clinical Manager Child Life Program at SickKids Hospital
Yahuza Ahmed Magaji
MD/CEO Magarib Integrated Company Ltd.
Alina Mikhaleva
XR Producer & Founder at Less Media Group
Olga Kai
Head of Immersive Projects at Inloco Gallery
Ben Erwin
President of the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences
Diana Njeri
Co-Founder, Africa VR Campus and Center Director, XR Girls Africa
Jo Adrian Haavind
Founder at InPresence
Daniel Ljunggren
Senior Director Business Development & Strategy at Futurewei Technologies Inc.
Andy Fidel
Founder and Creative Lead at Spatial Networks
Ric Bower
Founder and CEO at Aomame Space
Edward Paul Munaaba
Director at Edwards Hamlet Regeneration Center
DustBunny
Professional Dancer + Founder at VRDance Academy 
Nadia Bey
VR Artist
Prof. Dr. Dr. Björn Bohnenkamp
Professor for Marketing
Nick Were
Orthopedic Surgery Resident and Medical Innovator
Marie Kuss
Project Management Immersive Exhibition at Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig
Chidi Nwaubani
Creator and Visionary at Looty
Dr. Amanda Wilson
Co-Founder and CEO of NorthStar
Wolf Arne Storm
Coordination and Product Ownership “GoetheVRsum,” at Goethe-Institut Headquarters Munich
Ferryman Collective
Immersive Theatre Company
Tom Nickel
Teacher and Digital Media Explorer
Birgit Giering
Head of the state-wide projects working group (DigitalPakt Schule) at Medienberatung NRW
Julian Reyes
Founder and Director at Virtual Worlds Museum™
VenusSX
Virtual Sensory Designer at PlayRoomSX
Adam Filandr
Founder at Neofables
Helen Erwin
Historical Novelist and VR Community Builder
Benjamin Daniel
XR-/ 3D-Software Engineer
Sarah Balman
Community Manager at Mighty Coconut
Ellie Sizemore
Technical artist at Mighty Coconut
Don Carson
Sr. Art Director at Mighty Coconut
Henning Koczy 
Lead Level Designer at Mighty Coconut
Andrea Luck
Head of Marketing at Rowohlt Publishing House
© Asja Caspari
Chris Madsen
Senior Sales Engineer at ENGAGE 
Kathrine Fremming
Head of Cultural Partnerships at Khora
Henning Westerwelle
Founder and Managing Director at Curious Company
Paul Simon Waiyaki
Founder at Africa VR Campus and Center
Paige Dansinger
Futurist and Founding Director at Horizon Art Museum
© Jeffrey Fortson
Sean Keogh
Partner at headroom
Ines Heitkamp
Product Manager HCM Solutions at MedTriX Group
Evo Heyning
Principal at Realitycraft VP of the Board at XRGuild
Austin Caine (Cause)
Co-Founder of Cause + Christi
Christi Fenison
Co-Founder of Cause + Christi
Cody Fenison
Game Developer
SHUSHU VR
VR Art & Drama Director VRium Creative Team
Carla Knopp
Virtual World Building Artist
Marc Neuhoff
Co-Founder and CEO of heyVR.io
Marlene May
Research Associate at the Real-World Laboratory “Future Democracies”, Karlshochschule International University
Erwin Küchel
XR-/ 3D-Software Engineer
Heather Dunaway Smith
Immersive Artist
Gerald Kottmann
Managing Partner at Alice to Bob
Lauren Schroeder
Creative Developer
Oliver Rosito
Senior 3D-Artist at igus GmbH
Chris Poelmann
Co-Founder at GoBanyo
© www.juliaschwendner.com
Stephanie Bagehorn
Brand Manager at vm-people
Christian Spiekermann
Founder at WeAre3D
Daniel Schaefer
Partner at headroom
Niko Lang
IT-Consultant and 3D-Artist at VRium
Björn Ognibeni
Practical Visionary and Strategic Director at XRLab@MCM
Anne Seubert
Managing Director at Brands & Places
Thomas Zorbach
Organizer and Curator IMMERSIVE X & Founder and CEO at vm-people
Ryan Astheimer
Presence Mentor
Dee Dee Chainey-Jones
Experience Designer
DJ Ru
VR Artist and DJ
Jonathan Hale
CEO/CTO of Create Worlds
Simeone Scaramozzino
Neuroaesthetic Artist & Director, Somatic Facilitator, and Transformational Coach
Dr. Ruth Diaz
Founder of Bridgemakers.world
Melissa Heidrick
Founder of mmData
Robin Moulder
CEO of 3lb Games & 3lbXR
Sophia Moshasha
Interactive Media at The World Bank and Co Founder XR Women
Teresa Balestrieri
Co-Founder at Bright Festival and Innovation Project Manager at Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig
Christopher Werth
Chief Creative Officer at VOK DAMS worldwide
Vanessa Borkmann
Head of Urban Systems Engineering Research Area and Head of Research Group and Innovation Lab eXtended Environments at Fraunhofer Institute
© Deniz Saylan
Pierre Kretschmer
Senior Specialist Digital Marketing and XR at WWK-Versicherungen
Lien Tran
Creative Technologist & Musician
Robert Alexander Heinrich
Product Manager Metaverse at ERGO Group AG
Dr. Anju Bhargava
Clinical Psychologist for Persistent Technology, Inc.
Adam Lieber
Director at Shtik
© Shtik & Chris Bianchi 2025
Mel
Social VR Pioneer
Klaus Lemm
New Media Experiencer

The Organizer

The Partners

Plattform-Partner

By clicking Send, I agree to the use of my data for the purpose of organizing my participation in IMMERSIVE X, including communication via email. The privacy policy is available here.

I want to contribute as a partner

The sixth edition of IMMERSIVE X will take place from November 10–12, 2026 and is guided by this year’s theme: Reclaim the Future.

We collaborate with organizations, platforms, and initiatives that actively shape the future of immersive technologies. As a partner, you can contribute to the festival through platforms, content, experiences, community initiatives, or other forms of collaboration.

We warmly invite you to share your ideas and explore how your organization could become part of our global XR community.

Please describe your partnership proposal in more detail below.

The deadline for partnership agreements is October 31, 2026.

Tell us about you and your company / organisation and how we can reach you.
IMMERSIVE X collaborates with organisations willing to contribute actively to our global XR community. Tell us how you would like to get involved.

IMMERSIVE X partnerships are based on shared values.

We collaborate with organisations that contribute to the spirit of open exchange, experimentation, and community-building within the immersive ecosystem.

Our partnerships go beyond traditional sponsorship models and focus on meaningful collaboration and long-term relationships.

I want to participate as a presenter

The sixth edition of IMMERSIVE X will take place from November 10–12, 2026 and is guided by this year’s theme: Reclaim the Future.

We warmly invite you to contribute to our program and actively shape the conversation around immersive futures. Share your ideas, xperiments, experiences, research, or bold visions with our global XR community.

Please describe your proposal in more detail below.

The submission deadline is August 31, 2026.

Make It Experiential
We believe in “Experience, don’t tell.” Your session should go beyond traditional presentations and actively engage participants. Whether through interaction, collaboration, or hands-on exploration, we ask you to create an immersive and participatory format that allows the audience to meaningfully engage with your content.

Commit to quality
We maintain high standards in both content and execution. After reviewing your submission, we will schedule a video call to discuss your proposal in detail. If accepted, you will be required to participate in an in-world rehearsal to ensure a smooth experience – both in terms of content and technical delivery.

Be part of the community
By presenting at IMMERSIVE X, you become part of a global network of innovators shaping immersive futures. We ask all speakers to uphold our community standards and contribute to an inclusive, respectful, and forward-thinking environment.

If you have a preferred VR platform for hosting your session (e.g. VRChat, ENGAGE, Spatial, RAUM, Arrival Space, Hubs etc.), please indicate it here. If not, we will coordinate the most suitable platform together.

By clicking “Send,” I agree to the processing of my data for the purpose of organizing my participation in IMMERSIVE X, including communication via email. The privacy policy is available here.

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