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The annual gathering of Europe’s Virtual Worlds community

VWP Annual Forum 2026

2–3 November 2026 Valencia, Spain

The Virtual Worlds Partnership (VWP) Annual Forum is a reference meeting point for Europe’s immersive technologies ecosystem. The Annual Forum reflects this mission: it is where strategic priorities are discussed, cross-sector alliances are formed, and Europe’s Virtual Worlds agenda takes shape. In 2026, we invite you to join us in Valencia to collectively define the next phase of Europe’s immersive transformation.

Event details

  • Date: 2–3 November 2026
  • Venue: Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Building 8B
  • Address: Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Organised by

The VWP Annual Forum 2026 is organised by the Virtual Worlds Partnership (VWP), in collaboration with EuroXR and supported by European and local partners.

The event is funded by the Coordinated and Support Action (CSA) NOVA, grant agreement number 101296278.

Register now VWP Annual Forum 2026 in Valencia, Spain, 2–3 November

About the Forum

As the private association supporting the co-programmed European Virtual Worlds Partnership, the VWA plays a central role in structuring dialogue between industry, research organisations, policymakers and investors.

The VWP Annual Forum 2026 will be held in conjunction with EuroXR 2026, creating a unique convergence of scientific excellence, industrial innovation and policy leadership.

This co-location reinforces the VWP’s commitment to bridging communities and accelerating deployment pathways — from research results to market uptake and societal impact.

For two days, Valencia will become Europe’s central hub for Virtual Worlds dialogue.

Participants will engage in

  1. 01High-level strategic keynotes
  2. 02Industry–policy roundtables
  3. 03Cross-sector working sessions
  4. 04Targeted networking opportunities
  5. 05XR innovation showcases and demonstrations

Strategic Focus 2026

Building on recent European initiatives and strategic reflections — including work on Human Rights in Immersive Realities — this year’s Forum will concentrate on:

  • Strengthening Europe’s global positioning in Virtual Worlds and XR
  • Industrial deployment and scale-up strategies
  • Regulatory and ethical frameworks for immersive environments
  • Investment and ecosystem development

The discussions will directly contribute to shaping future research, innovation and policy directions at European level.

Why attend?

The VWP Forum is not just another conference. It is the platform where Europe’s immersive stakeholders align visions, identify priorities and generate coordinated action.

If you are shaping, funding, regulating, deploying or researching Virtual Worlds technologies in Europe, this is where your voice belongs.

Who should join

Researchers, companies, start-ups, creators, investors and decision-makers working on immersive technologies, extended reality, digital twins, virtual collaborative spaces, interoperability and digital skills.

Speakers

Keynote speaker

Prof. Frank Biocca

Additional speakers and session contributors will be announced.

Agenda

Two days of strategic dialogue, working sessions, demonstrations and networking across the European Virtual Worlds ecosystem.

Draft programme — timings and rooms may be updated.

Day 1 Monday, 2 November 2026
  1. Registration Blue Cube Hall
  2. VWP Annual Forum Opening Session Blue Cube Auditorium
  3. Virtual Worlds Association General Assembly Members only Blue Cube Auditorium
  4. Keynote SessionProf. Frank Biocca Blue Cube Auditorium
  5. Coffee Break Blue Cube Hall
  6. VWP EC Event & Round Table Blue Cube Auditorium
  7. VWP Brokerage Event & Networking Blue Cube Auditorium & Hall
  8. Cocktail Dinner By registration only Àtic Palau Alameda Restaurant
Day 2 Tuesday, 3 November 2026
  1. XR4CE Workshop (I) Independent registration Yellow Cube Auditorium
  2. Coffee Break Yellow Cube Hall
  3. XR4CE Workshop (II) Independent registration Yellow Cube Auditorium
  4. Lunch Break Blue Cube Hall
  5. Breakout Sessions
    • Session 1: Visualisation, sensing, devices & immersionBlue Cube Auditorium
    • Session 2: Human Rights, Safety, ParticipationRed Cube Auditorium
    • Session 3: Authoring & Experience designYellow Cube Auditorium
     Parallel sessions
  6. Breakout Sessions
    • Session 4: Intuitive, real-time user-interactionBlue Cube Auditorium
    • Session 5: Governance and Law EnforcementRed Cube Auditorium
    • Session 6: Trust and Human OversightYellow Cube Auditorium
     Parallel sessions
  7. Coffee Break Blue Cube Hall
  8. Breakout Sessions
    • Session 7: Applied Artificial IntelligenceBlue Cube Auditorium
    • Session 8: Economics and InnovationRed Cube Auditorium
    • Session 9: Interoperability and StandardsYellow Cube Auditorium
     Parallel sessions
  9. Breakout Sessions
    • Session 10: Digital TwinsBlue Cube Auditorium
    • Session 11: Web 4.0Red Cube Auditorium
    • Session 12: Sustainability, Health and EnvironmentYellow Cube Auditorium
     Parallel sessions
  10. Final Interactive Event Blue Cube Auditorium
  11. Closure Blue Cube Auditorium
  12. Social Event Blue Cube Hall

Participation & Registration

We look forward to welcoming you to Valencia.

Register now