The S+T+ARTS Prize 2026 is a prestigious award of the European Commission that recognizes groundbreaking collaborations between science, technology, and the arts. Launched by Ars Electronica together with an international consortium of cultural, research, and innovation partners, the prize celebrates artistic-driven innovation with social, technological, and industrial impact.

Since 2016, the S+T+ARTS Prize has honored over 350 projects from 124 countries, distributing a total of €400,000 in prize money.

Award

• €20,000 prize
• Public presentation of the winning project at the Ars Electronica Festival 2026 in Linz, Austria

Who Can Apply

• Artists, creative professionals, researchers, companies, and interdisciplinary teams
• Open worldwide; no EU citizenship required

Eligible Projects

• Collaborative projects integrating art and technology
• Works that demonstrate innovation in science, business, or society
• Artistic practices that influence technological or scientific research
• Projects from diverse fields such as AI, biotechnology, robotics, green technologies, smart cities, human–computer interaction, quantum technologies, and more
  (Purely artistic or purely technological projects are not eligible.)

Submission Period

• January 7 – March 4, 2026

Jury Process

• Jury deliberation: April 16–19, 2026
• Winners notified by mid-May 2026

Evaluation Criteria

• Artistic research quality and its impact on technology
• Strength of collaboration between art and technology
• Contribution to innovation, education, social inclusion, or sustainability
• European dimension of the project
• Overall excellence, including originality, aesthetics, concept, and presentation quality