Istanbul Digital Art Festival

As digitalization continues to permeate every aspect of contemporary life, the evolving relationship between society and emerging technologies continues to shape the cultural paradigms of our time. Founded in 2020 by academic, digital communications expert, and entrepreneur Dr. Nabat Garakhanova, the Istanbul Digital Art Festival (IDAF) was established to explore and make visible the ways in which technological transformation is reshaping artistic production and digital platforms. Organized by MEZO with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival aims to spotlight technology driven artworks, enhance their visibility, and present innovative exhibitions that respond to the evolving needs of the art world. As Türkiye’s and Istanbul’s first continuously held festival dedicated to digital art, IDAF has become a pioneering platform at the intersection of art and technology.

With a renewed curatorial team each year, the festival develops its conceptual framework, selects participating artists, and carefully curates works positioned at the intersection of science, art, and technology. Staged across distinctive and historically significant venues throughout the city, its exhibitions embrace an interdisciplinary approach while placing particular emphasis on emerging artists.

Following the cancellation of its 2020 program due to the pandemic, the festival held its first physical edition in 2021 at the Binbirdirek Cistern. In 2022, its second edition entirely curated by artificial intelligence welcomed audiences at Fişekhane from 3–12 June.

From 2023 onward, the festival entered a new phase of growth at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM). Its third edition was held there in June 2023, followed in 2024 by a preview in Milan in March and an extensive main program in Istanbul in May. The 2025 edition began with a preview in Paris from 17–20 June and concluded its main events in Istanbul from 11–15 June.The 2026 edition was held from 3–7 June.

Building on this growing legacy and momentum, the Istanbul Digital Art Festival continues its preparations for the 2027 edition, further expanding its international network and strengthening its role as a platform contributing to the future of digital art.