Expylab 2026, Paraguay's immersive experiences lab, is open for applications until May 31 for artists and technologists from the country and all of Ibero-America. The sixth edition of the program, which is 100% free, will be held from August 17 to 29 at the French Alliance of Asunción.
The initiative is aimed at multidisciplinary professionals in areas such as directing, screenwriting, production, sound, music, photography, programming, visual arts, illustration, performing arts, editing, and design. The focus is on collective work and hybridization of languages, with an emphasis on immersive technologies — virtual, augmented, and mixed reality —, artificial intelligence, animation, and interactive design.
For the first time, Expylab will receive participants from all of Ibero-America, including citizens of the member countries of the Ibermedia Program: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. People from urban, rural, and indigenous communities can apply.
After the application deadline, an international evaluation committee will select the scholarship recipients, whose names will be announced on June 15. Each scholarship is valued at an estimated US$2,800, fully exempt for the selected participants. Participants from the interior of Paraguay will have transportation and accommodation covered. Ibermedia scholarship recipients will receive airfare to Asunción and lodging during the two weeks of the lab.
During the program, participants will have access to classes, personalized mentoring, collaborative labs, and pitch sessions. At the end, the works will be exhibited at the Expyfest — Asunción Immersive Experiences Festival, which also offers professional meetings.
Confirmed prizes include: a spot in the NewMediaLab lab at the NarrarElFuturo festival in Bogotá (Colombia), granted by the Itaú Foundation; a one-month residency in Essen (Germany), by the Future Campus Ruhr-ICPA; and a paid internship at the company Realidad 360° Argentina-Markato in Buenos Aires, with airfare and accommodation included. The organization may add new prizes as new agreements are signed.
Since its creation in 2021, Expylab has already granted more than 90 scholarships, 20 international residencies and internships, and reached more than 4,500 people with its activities in Asunción and the interior of Paraguay.