Sonophilia Creative Leadership Forum

The Sonophilia Annual Meeting 2026

Transhumanism, Creativity, and the Future of Human Culture

November 20–22, 2026Schloss Leopoldskron · Salzburg
Participants seated in deckchairs during a Sonophilia Creative Leadership Forum discussion in 2021.
Shared ideas, relaxed surroundings. Sonophilia Creative Leadership Forum, 2021.

An intimate retreat on creativity, artificial life, and transhumanism. These questions are no longer abstract: they are already changing culture, education, work, and everyday life.

Confirmed speakers

  • Prof. Stefan Lorenz Sorgner

    Artificial life, transhumanism, and human culture

  • Carmen Possnig

    Music and human performance beyond Earth

  • Prof. Jan Willmann

    Human-computer interaction design

  • Dominic Schafflinger

    Taiji Chan, embodied attention, and creative practice

  • Pieter de Graaf

    Pianist and composer

  • Sven Helbig

    Composer and musician

  • Prof. Anastassia Lauterbach

    Fireside chat: AI Literacy

The gathering

We are bringing together a carefully composed group of researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, technology builders, cultural practitioners, and Sonophilia supporters.

The weekend combines talks, embodied practice, artistic contributions, and the kind of open conversation that only happens when the room is small enough for everyone to matter.

The question

What happens to creativity and human culture when the boundaries between human, machine, body, mind, intelligence, and life become less stable?

We will explore transhumanism, artificial life, creative agency, embodied attention, AI, leadership, and new forms of organization.

The format

This is not a standard conference. It is a retreat with talks, fireside conversations, artistic moments, body-based practice, and open space.

Friday begins with arrival and an opening program. Saturday is the main meeting day. Sunday is dedicated to reflection, synthesis, and the collaborations and public work that should follow.

The place

Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg offers a setting for sustained attention, conversation, and exchange across disciplines.

The program will provide structure while protecting real space for participant-led exchange.