Cyber Eastern Music Festival II

The 2nd Cyber Eastern Arts Festival 2026: Where Academic Research Meets Immersive Live Performance

Join us at Central London’s iconic venue for a 2-day cross-disciplinary festival hosted by Half Lecture Half Concert! Explore the intersection of music psychology, AI technology, non-material cultural heritage, and immersive soundscapes with leading academic researchers, tech innovators, and international artists.

Event Details

• Dates: August 29 (Sat) – August 30 (Sun), 2026
• Venue: 229 Great Portland St, London W1W 5PN
• Daytime Academic Sessions & Workshops: FREE ENTRY
• Capacity: Strictly limited to 70 seats per session

Event Schedule & Timetable

Day 1: Saturday, Aug 29 – Heritage, Memory & Digital Transformation

14:15 – 15:00

Keynote I: Music Memory, Cognition, and AI

Prof. Kelly Jakubowski (Durham University)

15:15 – 16:00

Keynote II: Can AI in Music Be Decolonised?

Dr. Darci Sprengel (King's College London)

16:15 – 17:15

Artist Talk: Folk Music ICH & Digital Practice

Zhang Peng (Composer) & Yu Siyang (Translator)

17:15 – 18:15

Panel Discussion I: ICH Digitalisation: Heritage & Future

Chair: Danlei Chen

Guests: Xinyi Xie, Weixiong Chen, Zoe Lu

18:30 – 19:00

Evening Doors Open & Arrival

19:00 – 21:00

Opening Concert: "Echoes of the Mountains & Islands"

Featuring classical vocalists, Guzheng, Dizi, & chamber ensemble

Day 2: Sunday, Aug 30 – Experimental Music, AI & Future Symphony

TimeSession

12:15 – 13:00

Online Keynote III: Experimental Music & Cultural Practice of AI

Prof. Christopher Haworth (Uni of Birmingham)

FREE

13:15 – 14:00

Online Keynote IV: Sound Art & Interactive Music Tech

Dr. Aaron Einbond (City St George's)

14:15 – 15:00

Workshop: Preserving Authentic Folk Sounds

Wang Zhixing (Folk Heritage Artist)

15:00 – 15:30

Tech Showcase: Embodied AI & Robotics in Music

AI² Robotics

15:45 – 16:50

Panel Discussion II: How Tech Reshapes Music Creation

Chair: Danlei Chen

Guests: Infinitum Bye, Arthur Yuen, Ranvir B., Zheqi Jia

FREE

18:30 – 19:00

Evening Doors Open & Arrival

19:00 – 21:00

Closing Concert: "Cyber East · Future Symphony" (Blind Box)

Infinitum Bye, Mengzi, Baka, Luo Tianyi, Mr.tu, Johny, etc.