ADAF 2025 | SIMULACRA: Wrap up - Athens Digital Arts Festival

What happens when the copy replaces the original?
When perception becomes performance — and reality, a simulation?

celebrating 21 years of digital revolution for five vibrant days in the heart of Athens with 12.000 visitors at Technopolis City of Athens, Kerameikos Square and Syntagma Square. Under the theme “SIMULACRA” the 21st Athens Digital Arts Festival transformed Athens into a vibrant hub for digital innovation in contemporary art, impressing the audience like never before.

ADAF 2025: SIMULACRA showcased an impressive array of 370 works by 320 artists from 76 countries, selected from more than 3.000 submissions received through the open call for participation, as well as invited artists chosen by the festival’s curatorial team, creating a multidimensional program.

The audience experienced immersive experiences through interactive installations, VR/AR/XR works, digital images, web art, and video installations. The festival also presented collections of video art and animation with various themes, screenings of standout works from the world’s largest digital arts festivals, and a wide program of live events, including performances, concerts, workshops, and talks.

One of the most iconic works was the immersive experience “Ataraxie” by Maxime Houot – Collectif Coin (FR) which premiered in Athens as part of the festival. The installation explored the void of the unknown and challenged us to consider whether we should fill it with the familiar and comforting or discover new ways of living.

The Athens Digital Arts Festival (ADAF) hosted CHROMOSPHERE, the touring dome that left audiences across Europe spellbound! This cutting-edge Fulldome experience brought immersive screenings, performances, workshops, and lectures to Greece. Following its successful stops in Krakow, Lyon, and Rome, CHROMOSPHERE made its way to Technopolis City of Athens, where it showcased groundbreaking digital art that tackled themes like environmental awareness, accessibility, and gender equality.

TAMTA lit up the Chromosphere Dome with a hyper pop spectacle, blending dark electronic pop with vibrant Japanese influences. Anime and video game-inspired lyrics met explosive visuals by Alexandra Niaka, in a show produced by TEO.x3 with music by Zinos, Giannis, TEO.x3, Saske, and lyrics by Zinos, Giannis, ody icon, Saske & Anastasios Tsordas.

A highlight that equally captivated the audience was the interactive installation “MEDUSA” by Yiannis Kranidiotis (GR) that invited the audience to enter the incredible valley of medusas, and raised awareness about sea pollution.

Another standout immersive installation was “A Flock Of” by Bit Studio (TH),

a room full of flying, etherreal fish that shattered preconceptions and aroused curiosity, offering an experience that redefined imagination and reality.

The ADAF STAGE turned into a hub of musical euphoria, hosting electrifying performances by top local and international artists. Acts like Dasha Rush, Juno Reaktor, Emika, MIKRO, Mikael Delta, Goodjob Nicky and METAMAN lit up the nights of the Festival, delivering unforgettable sets filled with rhythm, intensity, and electrifying energy.

ADAF’s outdoor perfomance installations elevated the experience to a whole new level, turning the city into a captivating wonderland of light and movement! In Kerameikos Square, Firefly Field by Studio Toer enchanted with its luminescent points, floating and darting like fireflies in a stunning dance that fills the night with an ever-shifting glow.

Meanwhile, Syntagma Square was transformed by Balloomi by Artur Grycuk, where glowing white balloons form a radiant pyramid, casting a soft, rhythmic light that drawed people together in awe. Together, these installations created an unforgettable, immersive atmosphere that’s set to light up ADAF 2025 in the most magical way!

Children and young visitors also enjoyed a unique experience, with interactive installations and a parallel program of activities specially designed for them, including animation screenings and workshops, as part of ADAF KIDS, ensuring the festival was educational and inclusive for all age groups.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the incredible success of the 21st Athens Digital Arts Festival and deeply thankful for the enthusiastic response from both artists and visitors,” shares Ilias Chatzichristodoulou the founder and director of the festival.

“This edition truly demonstrates the transformative potential of digital art, showcasing its power to inspire, challenge, and envision a future where technology and creativity converge in countless ways. This impact was more apparent than ever before, with digital art engaging in a dynamic dialogue with the Athens landmark. We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to this experience and eagerly look forward to the next edition, where we’ll continue to explore and push the boundaries between art, technology, and science, always supporting and celebrating contemporary creators.”

ADAF 2025: SIMULACRA was a grand celebration of digital culture, honoring the festival’s rich history and the broader digital art scene while looking forward to the future of art intersecting with technology and science. Viewing technology as a pervasive force shaping art, creative expressions, perceptions, and ultimately our existence, the 21st Athens Digital Arts Festival was a landmark event for digital arts, encapsulating the evolution of digital culture and offering a glimpse into what lies ahead.

The event is organized as part of the “20th and 21st International Festival of Digital Arts of Greece – Athens Digital Arts Festival” project, which is integrated into the “Attica” Operational Programme (NSRF 2021-2027) and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and national resources.

The 21st Athens Digital Arts Festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Digital Governance, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Municipality of Athens, the Greek National Tourism Organization, and the Athens Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Region of Attica and in co-organization with the Organization for Culture, Sports, and Youth of the Municipality of Athens (OPANDA).

ADAF 2025 | SIMULACRA: Wrap up

Inside Simulacra: Relive the experience