It feels like it’s been a minute since the ACM International Conference on Interactive Media Experiences (IMX) came to the Hidden Heartlands. This year, I was delighted to co-host the conference alongside General Chairs Dr. Katrien De Moor and Dr. Niall Murray. Held in Athlone, Ireland, from 9–11 June 2026, IMX brought together researchers, industry professionals, and creatives from around the world to explore the future of interactive media experiences.
I first attended ACM IMX in Nantes, France, in 2023. Fast forward three years, and I found myself welcoming the community to Athlone as one of the conference’s General Chairs. At last year’s conference in Rio de Janeiro, I had the privilege of introducing IMX 2026 to the audience. While Rio certainly set the bar high, I’d like to think the Hidden Heartlands gave it a good run for its money!
Human-Centred Interactive Media
As we progress towards an ever-growing world which places priority on AI, this year’s theme shifted the focus to interactive and multimedia experiences that are “empathic, multimodal, co-created and accessible”. Given the prevalence of AI, these words highlight key principles that are often overlooked as new technologies continue to move towards automated experiences. However, with over 130 attendees, this year’s presenters demonstrated an ever-growing collection of work aimed at keeping the human in the loop within multimedia experiences.
This year, we were delighted to host to three award winning Keynote Speakers, Nonny de la Peña, Tupac Martir, and Aljosa Smolic (Workshop Keynote). Their talks explored AI-driven creative workflows alongside thought-provoking applications of immersive technologies across journalism, the arts, culture, theatre, and media production. Each keynote offered a unique perspective on how emerging technologies can be applied to solve real-world challenges while pushing the boundaries in creativity, accessibility, and most importantly – meaningful human engagement.
Discovering the Hidden Heartlands 🍀
Social programmes have always been a key part of any conference, allowing researchers to relax, and socialise whilst experiencing the local culture.
The conference opened with a casual evening hosted at Dead Centre Brewing, where attendees could sample locally brewed craft beers (and Sodas!) guidance from the founder Liam Tutty. Later in the week, delegates gathered for the conference banquet at the Hodson Bay Hotel, overlooking the beautiful Lough Ree.
The final day, attendees took a journey aboard Viking Mike’s replica Viking ship, sailing along the River Shannon to Glasson Lakehouse for an outdoor barbecue. Thankfully the weather held up allowing guests take in the stunning lakeside views.
Beyond the organised events, many attendees took the opportunity to explore Athlone, visiting Sean’s Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland (recognised by Guinness World Records as Europe’s oldest pub!) along with beautiful views of Athlone Castle and the town’s riverside attractions. It was a delight to hear that others extended their stay to experience destinations such as Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Wild Atlantic Way, making the most of their visit to Ireland.
