the global composition 2026 - connective resonance for (post)humans

The conference adopts a posthuman perspective, approaching listening as a relational practice that connects humans, technologies, other species, and environments.

Keynote lectures by Mohammed Boubezari, Diane Schuh, and Barry Truax address questions of sonic environments, technological saturation, urban ecologies, and posthuman perception. Supported by the Hessian Film and Media Academy (hFMA), keynote workshops by Avan-Nomayo Ikponmwosa, Hildegard Westerkamp, and Lasse-Marc Riek offer participants opportunities for collaborative, practice-based exploration of active listening.

A special program highlight is The Club of the Future, an experimental evening event at Centralstation Darmstadt, developed within the framework of World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026. Through immersive 3D-audio soundscapes that respond to visitors’ presence and interaction, the club becomes a temporary laboratory for collective listening and new forms of togetherness.

The international Call for Proposals attracted a strong response from artists and researchers around the world. The programme was shaped through a rigorous double-blind peer review process, resulting in a high-quality selection of scientific and artistic contributions. Around 100 experts from across the globe are expected to participate in the conference. Alongside keynote lectures, paper sessions, workshops, soundscape compositions and sound installations, the conference offers immersive listening experiences across Dieburg and Darmstadt, inviting participants to encounter sound as an artistic, ecological, and social practice.

Registration is open until 8 August 2026.

Organised/supported by International Media Cultural Work (IMC) and the dkmi Research Centre at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

The conference is chaired by Prof. Sabine Breitsameter and Prof. Judith Bihr. It is hosted in collaboration with Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Hochschule Fulda, the Hessian Film and Media Academy (hFMA), Centralstation Darmstadt, Internationales Waldkunst Zentrum (IWZ), and World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026. The conference is endorsed by the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology (WFAE).