The Big Thing from Immersive Arts Returns, this time to Llandudno
Posted on Mon 27 July
Immersive Arts launches the full programme for its annual event The Big Thing. Returning this September and bringing more than 70 workshops, performances and networking events to Llandudno for three days between Wed 9 – Fri 11 Sept 2026.
The Big Thing which is produced by Crossover Labs features inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, live performances, opportunities for collaboration, and social events. It is Immersive Arts’s annual gathering, where the immersive art community – at any stage in their journey – can come to connect, spark new ideas, and push the boundaries of their work. Full passes are from £70-£140.
With a focus on the arts and artists, as well as the tech, The Big Thing is open to everyone, from those newly curious about immersive arts to practitioners who are already well established in the field. The location was chosen to shine a spotlight on North Wales’s vibrant creative scene and for the warm welcome that Llandudno offers to visitors from all over the world.
This year’s event is themed Play's the Thing and will explore how artists use play, interaction and participation to create meaningful experiences for audiences – allowing them to become active participants and co-creators through gaming, virtual worlds, live performance and emerging technologies.
Keynote speakers include highly regarded artist and game designer Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, whose interactive talk will explore participation as a creative tool, and games expert and YouTuber Quinns, who will examine how immersive artists can learn from the worlds of video games, tabletop gaming and live action role play (LARPs).
Several artists funded by Immersive Arts will be sharing works in progress, inviting attendees to test out their latest work and to offer their feedback and support. Among the projects is Pixel Puppets by Ben Carlin; a live, comic, digitally interactive theatre show for grown-ups where performers puppeteer custom-made cartoon characters desperate to escape modern life.
Principal Investigator and Director of Immersive Arts, Verity McIntosh, Professor of Immersive Arts and Culture at UWE Bristol, said:
“We are looking forward to welcoming the creative community to the beautiful shores of Llandudno for this latest iteration of our annual gathering. The Big Thing is a rare and precious opportunity for the UK and international immersive arts community to meet and spend time with one another, to learn new skills together, to be inspired by one another, and to spark ideas and connections that will echo far into the future. We can't wait to see you there.”
The Big Thing is produced by Immersive Arts consortium partner Crossover Labs – its director Tom Millen added:
"Building on the celebratory community building of the 2025 edition, The Big Thing in 2026 will be a jamboree of inspiration and connection for the immersive art community from across the UK and beyond. We are extremely excited this year to be throwing the spotlight on North Wales as a dynamic community of creative individuals and organisations, as well as putting a focus on the role of the audience as co-creators in immersive work through our theme Play’s the Thing.”
Watershed is the Executive Producer for Immersive Arts and Pervasive Media Studio is the Programme Hub.
You can access the full programme schedule on The Big Thing webpage.
Sign up to the Immersive Arts newsletter for more updates and for more details or visit the Immersive Arts website.