Kick-off for the International Computer Music Conference
ICMC HAMBURG 2026 offers numerous concerts, events, and workshops for music professionals and the general public
11.05.2026
The international center for computer-based music will be located in Hamburg-Harburg for one week: From May 10 to 16, around 300 scientists, musicians, and developers from all over the world will come together at the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC). The annually held ICMC combines artistic practice and scientific research. It is dedicated to presenting and discussing the latest developments in music technology, artificial intelligence, interactive systems, and immersive audio formats.
The ICMC HAMBURG 2026 is organized by the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre (HfMT), the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). The thematic focus of the conference honors the transfer approach of the jointly founded ligeti center.
The festive opening of the conference now took place with a concert in the Recital Hall of the Elbphilharmonie. Among others, works by Alexander Schubert and Clarence Barlow were performed. TUHH President Prof. Andreas Timm-Giel: “ICMC HAMBURG 2026 brings together international top research, artistic practice, and technological innovation in a special way. For the TU Hamburg, it is a great pleasure to be part of the host team and to open our doors to a conference format that shows how new means of communication and new solutions emerge from the dialogue between art and technology – entirely in the spirit of ‘Technology for the people’.”
Science Slam in the newly renovated Kultur Palast
Prof. Georg Hajdu, head of the ligeti center and the ICMC: “The conference motto is ‘innovation, translation, participation’. It emphasizes the idea that art and research must reach the minds and hearts of the public to remain relevant. That is why we have revived the concept of Off-ICMC offering a translation format for larger audiences.”
This accompanying festival organized by the ligeti center – the Off-ICMC – is specifically aimed at the general public. Invitations are extended to workshops, performances, installations, and a science slam on May 12 at the newly renovated Kultur Palast Harburg. The goal is to make current developments from research and art accessible to a diverse audience. Participation in the Off-ICMC events is free of charge.
The ICMC HAMBURG 2026 program for professional audiences includes, among other things, concerts at TUHH, in the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, and at Stellwerk Hamburg. Works by international composers are performed by renowned ensembles and soloists, including Ensemble Resonanz, Ensemble 404, SPIIC+ Ensemble, as well as saxophonist Asya Fateyeva and double bassist John Eckardt.
The interdisciplinary ligeti center in Hamburg-Harburg unites different universities and research projects in which arts and sciences, culture and technology, as well as music and medicine come together.
Further information about ICMC HAMBURG 2026:
https://icmc2026.ligeti-zentrum.de/
Further information about Off-ICMC 2026:
https://ligeti-zentrum.de/off-icmc/
TUHH - Public Relations Office
Michael Tokarski
E-Mail: michael.tokarski@tuhh.de
Phone: +49 30601 3458
