Hypernoma 2026

Event Period: Year-round

Curatorial Team: Michael Schitnig (studio ASYNCHROME) and Martin BaaschHYPERNOMA – A Game Festival between Art, Culture, Play and DiscourseThe present is shaped by algorithms, efficiency, and structure. Yet amid this optimized framework, a longing grows for spaces that transcend the measurable. Gaming opens precisely such spaces: it questions rules, promotes interaction, and crosses boundaries between reality and imagination. Games like Dark Souls, Journey, Grand Theft Auto, or Minecraft have long been more than entertainment – they are spaces for reflection on systems, control, and creative freedom. Here, excess becomes a field for artistic and philosophical experimentation.HYPERNOMA connects art, gaming, and society. Hyper stands for transgression and complexity, Noma for order and rules. Together they form a festival format that opens new spaces for play and aims to radiate as a cultural landmark far beyond national borders.The festival develops along a clear 3-year plan, which also serves as an evaluation model:2026 – Network Building & VisionDefinition of a shared festival vision in close collaboration with local and national partnersBuilding an interdisciplinary network of artists, scientists, and institutionsFirst public presentations, panels, and keynotes (including Margarete Jahrmann, Experimental Game Cultures Vienna; Johanna Pirker, TU Graz)Networking sessions to initiate new collaborationsFirst media attention and positioning of the festival

2027 – Discourse & Cooperation (FORECAST)Kick-off exhibition at Schaumbad as artistic-curatorial frameworkWorkshops & Game Jams: Development of new game mechanics, artistic tools, and experimental projectsPerformative interventions: Live performances, experimental installations, and discursive formatsBuilding an Austria-wide and first international audience

2028 – The International Festival (FORECAST)Multi-day festival in Graz with international participationSymposia, lectures, performances, concerts, and interactive formatsEstablishment as a platform for digital art, game studies, and experimental play forms in the European context