CultTech Lab 2026
CultTech Association
Funding
Up to €2,500 EUR (production grant, Studio phase only)
Deadline
9 April 2026
Location
Vienna, Global
Entry Fee
Free
About
International incubator and grant programme for artists and technologists developing new works at the intersection of art, music, AI, and game design.
CultTech Lab 2026 is an international incubator and development programme for artists, musicians, designers, technologists, and interdisciplinary teams who want to push creative work into new territory. Run by the CultTech Association in collaboration with Zafraan Ensemble, Shrine, and Voices Berlin Festival, the Lab supports projects from early concept through to production-ready prototype.
Applicants choose one of two tracks
Track 1 – Contemporary Classical Music (Understanding Through Gamification): Design interactive, game-based experiences — think Web3, boardgames, or escape rooms — that make complex contemporary music accessible and engaging.
Track 2 – Memory and Identity (Reconnection Through AI): Use AI as an artistic research tool to develop performative, spatial, or digital works exploring themes of migration and cultural displacement.
The programme runs in two phases
School Phase (Online, April 25 – June 20, 2026):** All selected teams join a two-month online programme with mentorship from art and tech curators, project plan development, feature visibility through CultTech Weekly, a Summit pass, and a one-year CultTech membership. Participation requires a fee of €450 per team, though grants covering up to 100% of this cost are available through the CultTech Association.
Studio Phase (Hybrid, June 26 – November 1, 2026):** A competitive selection of teams advance to the Studio phase, which is fully funded. Benefits include a production grant of up to €2,500, a 4-day onsite Studio Camp in Vienna (travel and accommodation covered), dedicated producer support, and a presentation at the CultTech Summit 2026 in Vienna (travel and accommodation also covered).
The programme is open to individuals and teams from anywhere in the world, with no restrictions on age, gender, education, or professional background. Applying is free.
If you're developing work that sits at the edge of art and technology — whether rooted in music, cultural research, or experimental digital forms — this is a well-resourced pathway to take that idea somewhere real.