International Conference on eXtended Reality

Pasquale Arpaia
University of Naples Federico II

Marco Sacco
STIIMA - CNR

It is our great pleasure and honor to welcome you to the International Conference on eXtended Reality (XR Salento 2026), a prestigious international event dedicated to presenting academic research and industrial achievements in the broad fields of Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality, as well as Virtual Humans and Artificial Intelligence.
Supported by University of Salento, EuroXR Association, and University of Naples Federico II, XR Salento represents the evolution of International Conference on Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Computer Graphics (Salento AVR), which has brought together the AR/VR community since 2014. XR Salento presents cutting-edge research and results, bringing together scientists, engineers, educators, students, and entrepreneurs to share ideas, foster collaboration, and explore new ways of understanding and experiencing reality. By encouraging interdisciplinary exchange, the conference seeks to inspire fresh perspectives and expand the boundaries of human perception.
The conference takes place in Salento, a beautiful peninsula in southern Italy located in the region of Puglia between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. Salento is renowned for its spectacular coastline, crystal-clear waters, charming villages, elegant Baroque architecture, rich culinary traditions, and vibrant local culture. The region is also famous for the warm hospitality of its people, making it an ideal setting for an international conference.
This year, the conference will take place in the town of Otranto, a picturesque gem on the Adriatic coast where history, natural beauty, and Mediterranean charm seamlessly blend. Famous for its impressive medieval castle, stunning beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Otranto offers an inspiring setting for both academic discussions and moments of relaxation. Otranto combines a rich historical heritage, elegant architecture, and a relaxed seaside atmosphere, making it an ideal destination where work and leisure come together harmoniously.
Once again this year, XR Salento will offer a rich and varied scientific programme. Throughout the four days of the conference, participants will have the opportunity to attend presentations of scientific papers alongside talks by four keynote speakers. The programme will also include demos, poster sessions, panels, a session dedicated to research projects, the Doctoral Consortium, the XR Competition, and company exhibition stands, creating many opportunities for discussion, networking, and collaboration. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in the social activities, including the welcome cocktail and the gala dinner. In addition, excursions and guided tours will be available for those who wish to explore the surroundings of Otranto.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the committee chairs, reviewers, and the local organising team, whose work behind the scenes has been essential to the success of XR Salento. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for their dedication and for the time and energy they invested in collaborating, supervising, and resolving the challenges that arose, thereby helping to make XR Salento such a successful event.
Join us in Otranto to explore and discover not only the latest developments in the world of XR and AI, but also the magnificent region of Salento, with its rich history, ancient art, delicious cuisine, and stunning coastline. We look forward to welcoming you to Otranto!