Core Theme

Futures Unbound: Visualizing Tech, Culture, and Connection in an AI-and Robot-Driven World—a timely exploration of how emerging technologies—including AGI agents, collaborative robots, NeRF, AI-driven digital twins, AR/VR spatial computing, and generative AI—are reshaping artistic practice, creative communities, and global creative landscapes. This theme centers on visual communication as a unifying force: leveraging cutting-edge AI and robot technologies to redefine creativity, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and support the preservation and reinterpretation of cultural and heritage assets (tangible sites, artifacts, traditional crafts, oral histories), while navigating the dynamic interplay between human ingenuity and machine intelligence (AI and robots alike). It upholds VINCI’s core niche in visual information communication, interaction design, and information aesthetics, and ties global art-tech innovation to Hangzhou—China’s digital hub, where VINCI 2026 will be hosted. Below are concise track guidelines, followed by unified submission, review and presentation details.

Art Paper Track

Description:

Focuses on academic research at the intersection of visual information communication, art, and technology. Welcomes rigorous, original research exploring how visual media, interactive systems, and emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, XR, bio-digital tools) shape information dissemination, aesthetic expression, and critical discourse. Submissions should balance technical innovation, theoretical depth, and practical relevance to VINCI’s core mission.

Example Topics:

• LLM-Driven Dynamic Data Storytelling: Frameworks for human-AI co-created visual narratives that adapt to audience cognitive needs
• Explainable AI (XAI) Visualization: Transparent visual representations of algorithm decision paths and bias for ethical information communication
• Bio-Signal Information Visualization: Translating plant respiration, bee colony behavior, or human biometrics into accessible visual narratives for environmental advocacy
• XR Counter-Cartography: Designing immersive information maps to visualize hidden Indigenous histories or refugee migration routes
• NeRF/Diffusion Model-Powered Info-Visualization: Technical research on neural rendering for real-time, interactive 3D data narratives
• AI Co-Creation Authorship: Theoretical studies on intellectual property and data provenance in human-AI collaborative visual media
• Bio-Digital Ethics in Visualization: Critical research on data collection consent and representation of vulnerable ecological or biological data

Art Gallery Track

Description:

Showcases finished, concept-driven artworks exploring visual information communication through artistic expression. Works should embody VINCI 2026’s core theme and draw from 2025–2026 trends (AI symbiosis, bio-digital hybridity, XR counter-narratives). Prioritizes works that merge aesthetic innovation with critical engagement, balancing artistic expression with VINCI’s focus on information communication.

Example Topics:

• In-Between Data Landscapes: Mixed-media installations merging physical materials (textiles, 3D prints) with digital data projections to represent climate change or urban transition
• Digital Doppelgänger Portraits: Interactive installations visualizing users’ digital identity data (social media activity, online habits) as dynamic, evolving artworks
• Living Data Installations: Algae tanks or mycelium-based works where organic growth is controlled by environmental data to create self-evolving visualizations
• Counter-Narrative Fabric Maps: Textile-based cartography created with marginalized communities to visualize hidden histories
• Post-Truth Visual Archives: Curated collections of AI-generated vs. factual data visualizations, inviting viewers to critique visual media’s role in shaping perception
• AI Symbiotic Artworks: Collaborative pieces where human artists and AI agents co-create visual narratives about data ethics

Media Gallery Track

Theme Description:

Focuses on interactive tech demos, prototypes, and functional media tools that advance visual information communication. Unlike the Art Gallery (prioritizing finished artworks), this track highlights practical, experimental tools bridging art, technology, and usability. Submissions should demonstrate innovation in enhancing accessible, ethical information sharing.

Example Topics:

• AI Co-Creation Info-Tools: Open-source software that lets non-experts co-design ethical data visualizations with AI, balancing creativity and factual accuracy
• AR Counter-Map Demos: Mobile AR apps that overlay marginalized historical narratives onto physical maps
• Bio-Signal Interactive Demos: Wearable sensors that translate human/ecological biometrics into real-time visual experiences
• XAI Transparency Demos: AR interfaces that overlay algorithm bias heatmaps on real-time news or social media data visualizations
• Digital Twin Micro-Demos: Tabletop-scale digital twin systems that visualize local community data for public engagement
• Accessible XR Info-Kits: Low-cost VR demos for education, letting students explore counter-narrative maps with inclusive features

Publications

A number of selected high-impact full-text papers will also be considered for special issues in journals. For this year's VINCI, we are going to set up two special issues: One in the Journal of Visualization and the other in Information Visualization for selected extended papers. More details will be made available soon.

Tracks

Art Papers:

This track serves as a link between arts, design, technology, and science by offering creative views and artistic applications. We are especially interested in the submissions that demonstrate tangible and artistic ways of visual information communication and address information aesthetics. The topics range from experimental and interdisciplinary case studies and methodologies, novel and critical interfaces for VINCI topics to critical analysis of theory and reference works in the field.

The art papers call is open-theme, and this year, we have three types in the Art Papers: full papers, short papers and posters.

The page limits are strict so please ensure that you meet the requirements:

• Full Papers: max. 8 pages (incl. references!)
• Short Papers: max. 4 pages + 1 extra page which contains ONLY references
• Posters: max. 2 pages (incl. references!)

Art and Media Galleries:

The VINCI Art and Media Galleries celebrates artistic creations demonstrating conceptual and technological innovation related to visual information communication and interaction. We accept project topics, including data art, generative art and design, interactive graphics, real-time simulation, scientific illustration, creative and critical visualization, and more. The art and media galleries call is open-theme. This year, we have two types in the Art and Media Galleries: Media Demos and Artworks.

• Media Demos: It seeks submissions from media creators, producers, researchers, developers, startups, universities, institutes, companies, and others who can demonstrate novel experiences, productions, and applications (e.g., Metaverse, Digital Twin, Digital Human, AI Video, etc.).
• Artworks: It welcomes all forms and formats, exploring new artistic expression, creativity, and creation possibilities in any 2-dimensional form suitable for display on a digital screen or canvas. We also encourage submissions of innovative AIGC artworks.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit your manuscript via the Microsoft CMT system at: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/VINCI2026/.

All submissions must be written in English and formatted according to the ACM Proceedings Template (using sigconf format/template double-column style). The review process will be anonymous - please remove all identifying author information in your manuscript.

Important Dates

All deadlines are Anywhere on Earth (AoE, UTC-12) at 23:59. For reference, this corresponds to:
• 11:59 (UTC) the following day
• 07:59 (New York, EDT) the following day
• 13:59 (Paris/Berlin, CEST) the following day
• 19:59 (Beijing/Hangzhou, CST) the following day

Paper Submission Deadline: June 12th, 2026

Notification of Acceptance: July 24th, 2026

Paper Submission of the Revised Version: August 4th, 2026

Final Notification: August 11st, 2026