31st international conference on auditory display: ICAD annual meeting 2026
July 28-31, 2026 | Bielefeld
EDGE is seeking sound artists and scientific researchers for a collaborative project with the international community for auditory display (ICAD). After more than three decades of research, ICAD demonstrated that sound has become not only a medium for conveying data but also a powerful catalyst for engagement, reflection, creativity, and community. At this year’s annual meeting, ICAD will consider how auditory displays can extend their impact: sound to inform, inspire, and include.
Under the motto UNERHÖRT! (“unheard of” or “scandalous”), EDGE will be listening to unheard (of) processes at ICAD 2026: UNERHÖRT! is the conviction that cerebral phenomena, biological rhythms, and bodily processes too often go unfelt and unheard in our daily lives, drowned out by the noise of the virtual and the abstract. Through interdisciplinary exchange between sound art and the natural sciences, UNERHÖRT! believes that auditory display is capable of dissolving hierarchies between scientific knowledge and lived experience. We are currently seeking proposals for contributions that explore this intersection in participatory, hands-on, or performative formats.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome proposals in two tracks:
Track 1 — Interactive Contribution
(Workshop, Tutorial, Demo, Panel)
We are looking for interactive formats at ICAD 2026 in the spirit of Unerhört! This could take the form of a workshop, tutorial, hands-on demo, or participatory installation that engages conference attendees directly. We are particularly interested in formats that:
- blur the boundary between scientific method and artistic inquiry
- invite participants to experience data and bodily/neural processes through sound
- open up access to complex scientific content through sensory and aesthetic engagement
- foster dialogue between auditory display researchers, sound artists, and a broader public
Track 2 — Performance
(Concert or Sound Performance)
We are also seeking sound performances that draw on scientific data, (neuro)physiological processes, or natural phenomena as source material and sonic core of the work. Performances that engage the audience, challenge the concert format, or integrate elements of live science communication are especially welcome.
Key Information
Submission deadline for expressions of interest: March 10, 2026
ICAD 2026 conference dates: July 28–31, 2026 Location: CITEC Bielefeld, Germany
Conference website: icad2026.icad.org
Please note: ICAD is a non-profit event. Third-party funding is being pursued but not yet confirmed. Organizers will gain access to all ICAD events on the same day as their program. We welcome proposals from contributors who are open to developing the collaboration under these conditions.
How to Get Involved
Please send the following documents to info@edge-neuro.art (one pdf file):
- a short expression of interest (max. 2 pages) outlining:
- which track you want to apply for
- your proposed concept or format, its timespan, and its alignment with the ICAD and UNERHÖRT philosophy
- your relevant background and practice
- any technical or logistical requirements you anticipate including a timeframe for event planning
- CV/portfolio
- in case the work has been presented before: relevant documentations
What is Auditory Display? Wikipedia says: Auditory display is the use of sound to communicate information from a computer to the user 🙂
Any more questions? let us know! info@edge-neuro.art
