Italia Media Art Festival heads to Zagarolo after Maker Faire Rome

Italia Media Art Festival will bring video art, AI and immersive installations to Palazzo Rospigliosi in Zagarolo from November 20–22 after drawing large crowds at Maker Faire Rome. The 2026 edition marks a record 144 international submissions and expands the festival’s Italy-Venezuela cultural circuit.

Why it matters: - Italia Media Art Festival is pushing media art into mainstream public spaces, expanding access beyond museums and specialist venues. - The 2026 edition connects artists, technology and social themes across Italy and Latin America. - The Grand International Exhibition in Zagarolo will combine digital and traditional art inside a historic setting, underscoring how emerging technologies are reshaping exhibition formats.

What happened: - Italia Media Art Festival continued its third edition after appearing at Maker Faire Rome 2026, held October 23–25 at the Gazometro Ostiense in Rome. - The festival will stage its Grand International Exhibition November 20–22 at Palazzo Rospigliosi in Zagarolo, Italy. - Maker Faire Rome drew about 55,000 visitors, up 22% from the previous edition. - IMAF showed 17 video artworks and two interactive installations at Maker Faire Rome. - The festival’s 2026 theme is “The Energy That Transforms: Human and Spiritual Strength Becoming Action for the Future.” - IMAF received 144 international submissions this year, including 113 for Video Art & Performance and 31 for Video Installations.

The details: - IMAF was founded in 2024 by Italian-Venezuelan journalist Marinellys Tremamunno and is promoted by Associazione Piccola Venezia APS. - The festival positions itself as an international platform linking artistic creation, emerging technologies and contemporary social issues. - At Maker Faire Rome, the interactive works included Prabhā Aura by Claudio Marani and Breathearth by Maria Korporal. - Prabhā Aura explores the relationship between energy, body and perception. - Breathearth uses visitors’ breathing to activate a digital ecosystem and make human-environment interdependence visible. - Tremamunno said the Maker Faire response showed how important it is to bring digital art beyond museums and make it accessible to everyone. - The video art selection includes 13 works chosen through an international Open Call supported by Enel and four works by invited artists. - The five selected Italian artists are Uta Dag, Giorgio Gerardi, Filippo Prestinari, Ylenia Raviola and Michela Sbrana. - Uta Dag presents Time and Space, an autobiographical collage-based journey. - Giorgio Gerardi’s Tree explores perception and technology. - Filippo Prestinari’s Vis Viva reflects on humanity’s legacy. - Ylenia Raviola’s Veemente examines energy as transformation. - Michela Sbrana’s Sacrificio combines real imagery, artificial intelligence and original music. - The international selection includes Joseph Ayerle, Johan Barbosa, Andre Figueroa, Anastasia Pavlova, Kenneth Russo, Negar Samadikia, Angelina Voskopoulou and Nan Zhang. - Joseph Ayerle’s 1058 MHz. Basel Club Edit explores algorithms and movement. - Johan Barbosa’s Jungle Souls addresses nature’s spirituality. - Andre Figueroa’s El Salar draws on Andean mythology. - Anastasia Pavlova’s From One Point explores the origins of artistic expression. - Kenneth Russo’s Doubt addresses critical thinking in the digital age. - Negar Samadikia’s Time examines migration. - Angelina Voskopoulou’s I Soli che Bruciano reflects on memory and loss. - Nan Zhang’s Hyperdimensional Symbiote explores connections between life and technology. - Four invited artists complete the program: Marco Caridad, Bruno Cerboni, Victoria Thomen and the Naples-based duo GlitchA/V Project. - Marco Caridad’s Noche de San Juan is inspired by a Caribbean ritual. - Bruno Cerboni’s Lux Humana is an AI-generated visual poem about human-centered energy transformation. - Victoria Thomen’s Mons Movens explores invisible transformations in nature and humanity. - GlitchA/V Project’s Emergent Thoughts combines evolving imagery and electronic music. - The works collectively focus on identity, memory, environmental awareness, technological transformation and the relationship between humanity and digital innovation. - IMAF opened its international program on October 20 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, at the Centro de Bellas Artes – Ateneo de Maracaibo. - The Italian premiere took place October 22 at the Università degli Studi di Roma UnitelmaSapienza. - Alessandro Zehentner, chairman of Snam, attended the Roman premiere with institutional representatives, international artists and cultural partners. - The festival continued October 30 in Caracas at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. - The Zagarolo exhibition is being organized with the Lazio Region through Lazio Innova and the Palazzo Rospigliosi Institution of the Municipality of Zagarolo. - Curators Marinellys Tremamunno and Mariia Plekhova will bring together video art and 11 interactive installations, alongside works by artists using traditional techniques. - The Palazzo Rospigliosi exhibition will feature virtual reality, artificial intelligence, immersive environments and audiovisual experimentation alongside conventional visual arts. - The 2026 edition is supported by Enel and Snam, with collaboration from Rome Art Week, Maker Faire Rome and UnitelmaSapienza. - The Grand International Exhibition opens Friday, November 20, at 5:00 PM. - Admission will be free Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. - More information is available at the festival website.

Between the lines: - IMAF is using a mix of high-traffic innovation events, university partnerships and international venues to build visibility for media art. - The festival’s Italy-Venezuela route suggests a deliberate cultural bridge between Europe and Latin America. - The emphasis on AI, immersive media and audience interaction points to a broader shift toward participatory art experiences.

What's next: - The key next milestone is the November 20–22 exhibition in Zagarolo. - The free weekend opening should broaden public attendance and test how well the festival’s digital works translate in a historic venue. - IMAF is likely to use the exhibition to deepen institutional ties and extend its international artist network.

The bottom line: - IMAF’s 2026 edition is scaling up from a festival showcase into a cross-border platform for media art, technology and public engagement.