The
Conference
Join us in Volos for three days of inspiring discussions, innovative research, and creative encounters, as we explore performance, meaning, and mediation in the post-digital age!
From 20 to 22 November 2026, the University of Thessaly welcomes scholars, artists, and researchers from around the world to the XIV International Conference on Semiotics and Performance in Post-Digital Cultures—a vibrant international gathering exploring how meaning is created and transformed in today’s rapidly evolving cultural landscapes.
At a time when digital technologies reshape everyday life, the conference invites participants to reflect on performance as a key mode of communication and cultural expression. How do bodies, actions, and practices produce meaning across physical, digital, and hybrid environments? How do mediation, temporality, and social interaction shape contemporary experience? Placing these questions at the heart of the so-called performative turn in semiotics, the conference opens a dynamic space for critical dialogue and creative exchange.
The programme features research papers, lecture-performances, and thematic panels, offering diverse perspectives from semiotics, performance studies, media studies, cultural theory, and related fields. By bringing together academic research and artistic practice, the conference seeks to rethink performance as a foundational concept for understanding post-digital cultures.
The event is jointly organized by the Hellenic Semiotic Society, the Department of Culture and Creative Media and Industries, and the Department of Language and Intercultural Studies of the University of Thessaly.
The Hellenic Semiotic Society (HSS) is the leading organization for semiotic studies in Greece, actively supporting research, publications, and scholarly networks. Based at the Semiotics Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, it has played a central role in shaping semiotic research nationally and internationally.
The Department of Culture and Creative Media and Industries (CCMI) pioneers the study of cultural and creative industries in Greece, connecting cultural theory with innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Its research-driven approach highlights the vital role of culture within the contemporary knowledge economy.
The Department of Language and Intercultural Studies (DLIS) offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective on language, communication, and cultural exchange, promoting cutting-edge research in applied linguistics, intercultural studies, and literature.