New stages. New formats. New audiences.
Festival for Immersive Storytelling + Virtual Production
// 001_ABOUT
What is MUNICH Beyond?
MUNICH Beyond brings together festivals, venues and cultural institutions from Munich and Bavaria with artists, creators and producers from around the world to explore the future of immersive arts. Expect international XR experiences, immersive projects and films, alongside showcases, talks and encounters — where artistic practice meets real-time media and new audiences.
Taking place July 2–5, 2026 in Munich, MUNICH Beyond focuses on immersive storytelling, spatial media and virtual production, exploring how these emerging forms intersect with film, technology and new production cultures.
MUNICH Beyond is a collaboration by Festival der Zukunft and Filmfest München, in partnership with XR HUB Bavaria and the Residenztheater München, and supported by the FilmFernsehFonds Bayern (FFF). Our international contributions from the Netherlands are made possible with the kind support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Together, they create a shared space where artistic experimentation, industry exchange and new audience experiences come together.
// 002_PROGRAM
What to Expect
MUNICH Beyond offers a curated program of XR experiences, talks, encounters and professional exchange across several days and venues in Munich, unfolding between the Festival der Zukunft and Filmfest München.
The festival brings together immersive works, artistic research, industry perspectives and public dialogue.
Format
XR · Immersive Storytelling · Spatial Media · Virtual Production
Mode
Showcases · Talks · Labs · Encounters
Focus
Formats · Audiences · Venues · Business Models
Region
Munich · Bavaria · Europe
Program
MUNICH Beyond takes place across Festival der Zukunft, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN and partner venues across the city.
For full program details, visit the Festival der Zukunft and FILMFEST MÜNCHEN websites:
- Festival der Zukunft — Stage Program: festival.1e9.community/programm
- Festival der Zukunft — Artists & Experiences: festival.1e9.community/munich-beyond
- FILMFEST MÜNCHEN: events.filmfest-muenchen.de
MUNICH Beyond Experiences
July 2–4, 2026 · 10:00–18:00 daily
More than 500 square meters of international XR experiences and immersive projects in the Experience Area at Festival der Zukunft.
Experience Locations: Festival der Zukunft (main exhibition) · FILMFEST MÜNCHEN Festival Center ("The Clouds Are 2000 Meters Up") · Residenztheater München ("TREMENS") · Deutsches Theatermuseum München ("From Dust").
VR Experience Booking: festival.1e9.community/munich-beyond
Most experiences can be visited with a Festival der Zukunft or FILMFEST MÜNCHEN accreditation and are bookable via the Festival der Zukunft booking platform. Exceptions: "TREMENS" (Residenztheater München) and "From Dust" (Deutsches Theatermuseum München) require separate tickets — see below.
Thursday, July 2
16:00–18:00 · Festival der Zukunft
Opening of the XR Exhibition
16:00–17:30 · FILMFEST MÜNCHEN Festival Center
Fishbowl: Kino im Aufbruch – Was XR und digitale Räume möglich machen
Katharina Weser (Reynard Films)
Friday, July 3
10:00–10:50 · Festival der Zukunft
New Realities Competition Finale
11:00–11:50 · Festival der Zukunft
Panel Discussion: XR in the Wild – Where Immersive Storytelling Meets the Real World
12:00–12:30 · Festival der Zukunft
Pitches & Cases: Vertical Production & Storytelling
Saturday, July 4
11:00–16:00 · Festival der Zukunft
"Dome Stories"
A curated selection of international fulldome films and immersive dome projects. Free admission. No accreditation required.
13:00–15:00 · Festival der Zukunft
Workshop: Motion Capture Solutions for Artists & Indie Studios
Registration required via Festival der Zukunft.
Sunday, July 5
11:00–18:00 · Festival der Zukunft
Full Dome Art & Full Dome Games
Free admission. No accreditation required.
Special Ticketed Experiences
// 003_HISTORY
A Short Look Back
MUNICH Beyond launched in 2025 as a joint XR program by Filmfest München and the Festival der Zukunft, supported by XR HUB Bavaria, the Residenztheater München and FilmFernsehFonds Bayern.
At its core was a curated XR exhibition spanning more than 500 m², accompanied by talks, panels and professional exchange.
The program presented immersive works from Bavaria alongside internationally awarded productions from Europe, the United States and Asia, with Taiwan as the first official partner country.
With more than 4,100 visits and fully booked XR slots, MUNICH Beyond quickly established itself as an internationally connected platform for immersive media.
The 2026 edition builds on this momentum with an expanded program and new international partnerships. Click here for last edition's images.
// 004_AUDIENCE
Who Is It For?
MUNICH Beyond brings together a diverse community across arts, media and technology.
- Artists & creators working with immersive media
- Producers, studios and industry professionals
- Film festivals, cultural institutions and curators
- Researchers, technologists and innovators
- Curious audiences interested in new narrative formats
// 005_UPDATES
Updates
+++ Jun 10, 2026 +++
Program Online: Experiences, Dome Stories & Artists Announced
The MUNICH Beyond 2026 program is now online.
Discover more than 500 square meters of XR experiences, immersive projects, talks, workshops and screenings across Festival der Zukunft, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN and partner venues throughout Munich.
All XR experiences are now open for booking. The full Dome Stories program and participating artists are available online.
Explore the program: festival.1e9.community/munich-beyond
+++ Apr 15, 2026 +++
International Program Supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands
We are delighted to announce the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for MUNICH Beyond 2026.
This partnership enables the presentation of international immersive experiences and artistic projects from the Netherlands, bringing artists and creators from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht to Munich.
We thank the Kingdom of the Netherlands for helping us strengthen the international dimension of MUNICH Beyond.
+++ Mar 18, 2026 +++
New Realities Competition 2026: Submit Your XR Ideas!
The New Realities Competition returns for its second edition in 2026. XR HUB Bavaria and 1E9 invite artists, creators, studios and innovators to submit projects, concepts and products that use XR technologies to create meaningful impact.
The award will be presented during MUNICH Beyond at the Festival der Zukunft on July 3, 2026. Selected projects will be honored by an international jury.
Submission deadline: May 15, 2026.
Learn more and submit your idea via XR HUB Bavaria: xrhub-bavaria.de
Munich · Bavaria · The Future
July 2–5, 2026
A collaboration by
