GRAPHIC DESIGN (GER) Mirko Borsche is an award-winning creative director and founder of Bureau Borsche, the Munich-based studio behind the visual identities of leading global brands, cultural institutions, and publications.
GRAPHIC DESIGN (IRL) Annie Atkins is a graphic artist known for creating iconic film props for directors like Wes Anderson and Steven Spielberg.
ADVERTISING & ART (NED) Erik Kessels is a Dutch graphic designer, advertising manager, editor, collector, exhibition curator and artist.
PHOTOGRAPHY (AUT) Thomas Albdorf is an Austrian artist and photographer whose work explores contemporary image-making across art, fashion, and commercial photography.
ILLUSTRATION (ESP) Bursting with color, energy, and humor, Cachetejack is the Spanish illustration duo Nuria Bellver and Raquel Fanjul.
PANEL An honest conversation on AI, change, and where creativity is heading next.
MOTION & 3D (UK) The Mill is a global creative studio specializing in motion, 3D, and animated storytelling for brands.
ART & DESIGN (NED) Luna Maurer is a mixed media designer and artist, lecturer, and author with a focus on digital technologies’ impact on daily life.
DESIGN (USA) Gabriela Namie is a Brazilian-Japanese designer and art director in New York, currently Visual Lead at Google’s Seed Studio.
ILLUSTRATION (UK) Jim Stoten is an Illustrator, Artist and Musician living and working between Hastings in the UK and Venice, Italy.
ARCHITECTURE (AUT) JOYH is a design studio which focuses on the intersection of materials innovation, design and architectural research.
GRAPHIC DESIGN (FRA) So-Me is a Paris-based graphic designer and creative director known for his bold, colorful visual language across music, illustration, and film.
CREATIVE TOOL (AUT) FAKTOR is a free web-based pricing calculator for creative freelancers and studios.
ANALOG ART (AUT) Supersense, Vienna’s analog concept space, explores photography, print, and immersive sensory experiences.
DESIGN (AUT) HFA–Studio is a Vienna-based design studio driven by ideas, empathy, and cultural insight.
AI (ISR) LTX’s Tara Filipovich explores how creators can build their own creative workflows with generative AI.
OPEN CALL Become a Speaker at Forward Festival 2026!
WORKSHOP Discover how to transform inspiration into a 360° Creative Playground with Flim.
WORKSHOP Learn how to train custom LoRAs on LTX to create personalized generative models for new styles, characters, and creative capabilities.
SIDE EVENT Join the community for a vibrant night celebrating creativity and collaboration.
SIDE EVENT Take a behind-the-scenes look at Vienna’s top creative studios on an exclusive tour!
WORKSHOP Learn from Merchzilla how to turn your designs into killer merch that doesn't just sell, but tells a story.
WORKSHOP In this two-day class, you will learn the basics of designing and generating a variable font with the font-design software Glyphs.
SIDE EVENT Join Jim Stoten for conversations, a drink and everything in between!
SIDE EVENT We’re bringing the community together for a night full of creative energy!
SIDE EVENT Don't miss the chance to dive into Erik Kessel's creative thinking in this Q&A session following his talk.
SIDE EVENT Connect with other creatives while lunching!
SIDE EVENT Grab the new Forward Magazine at our release party at Gartenbaukino!
OPEN CALL This is your chance to be part of the Forward Festival EXPO area!
CITY GUIDE Explore our curated guide through the city of Vienna, tailored for the creatively curious!
APPLY NOW! Join the Forward Festival team and help us make the event an unforgettable experience for everyone
SIDE EVENT FM4 celebrates FM4 club music with Austrian acts & DJs and lots of free rides at Vienna Prater!
HAPPENING The Moon Exhibition is a virtual gallery for any creative discipline you can imagine.
HAPPENING Meet like-minded creatives and build new connections & friends for a lifetime!
STAY TUNED New program highlights are dropping regularly!
