VRHAM!, Hamburg’s leading festival for Virtual Reality art, is evolving and will debut as an independent biennale, redefining the landscape of digital and immersive art. From June 11–18, 2025, VRHAM! – Digital and Immersive Art Biennale will transform Hamburg’s Oberhafenquartier into a global hub for art, technology, and innovation.
Under the theme “Rethink Art!,” VRHAM! will present visionary digital artworks and interactive experiences that challenge perspectives on contemporary art. With this bold new direction, VRHAM! becomes the world’s first curated biennale format dedicated to exploring a different genre of digital art with each edition. The 2025 launch will focus on the intersection of Visual Arts and immersive technologies, followed by themes such as Dance & Performance (2027) and Film & Moving Image (2029) in future editions.
Digital art is evolving at a rapid pace and transcending the boundaries between genres. With the VRHAM! Digital and Immersive Art Biennale, we are creating a format that brings together artists, curators and a broad audience alike: for in-depth artistic experiences and an international exchange on the future of digital art.
Ulrich Schrauth, Artistic Director of VRHAM!
International Highlights and an immersive experience: At the heart of VRHAM! – Digital and Immersive Art Biennale is a groundbreaking immersive exhibition, spanning multiple locations across Hamburg’s Oberhafenquartier. Showcasing cutting-edge digital works at the intersection of painting, sculpture, AI art, photography, light art, and virtual reality, the exhibition will feature internationally renowned artists alongside emerging talents. The first names will be announced in April.
Visitors can look forward to interactive VR experiences, site-specific installations, and a Games Lounge exploring the fusion of gaming and art. The program is further enriched by talks and panels with leading experts, as well as a Digital Art Delegation, reinforcing Hamburg’s position as a global hub for digital art.
DIGITAL ART LAB: As part of VRHAM! 2025, the successful format of the Digital Art Lab will be hosted in Hamburg. Supported by DKB Stiftung and in cooperation with CAA Berlin, the Lab will feature a diverse programme of panels, talks, and workshops focusing on digital and immersive art. Curator Peggy Schoenegge is spearheading the programme, bringing in her expertise in mediating digital art from the contemporary context. Digital Art Lab premiered successfully during Berlin Art Week in 2023, and now VRHAM! brings this platform for interdisciplinary exchange to Hamburg.
Hamburg as Digital Art Hub: Moving to biennale format, VRHAM! is fostering Hamburg’s role as an internationally recognized epicenter of innovation in art and technology. This is made possible with the generous support from the Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media, alongside other dedicated partners. Since its founding in 2018, VRHAM! has established itself as a leading festival for virtual reality and immersive art, gaining worldwide recognition – with international showcases in Venice, Miami, and Moscow, as well as a growing creative community featuring world-renowned artists such as Jonathan Meese, Tamiko Thiel, Mary Sibande, Sabrina Ratté, and Dani Levy.
