" XR Salento 2025” Recap

XR SALENTO 2025, OTRANTO- ITALY

XR Salento 2025: A Perfect Blend of Innovation, Participation, and Local Culture

From June 17 to 20, the charming coastal town of Otranto hosted XR Salento 2025, an event that once again confirmed its reputation as one of the most vibrant and community-driven conferences in the extended reality (XR) space.

With over 250 participants from across Europe and beyond, this year’s edition stood out for the exceptional level of engagement across all conference sessions, despite a rich and demanding program spanning four full days.

Organized by Lucio De Paolis, founder of the AVR Lab at the University of Salento and Advisory Board Member of EuroXR, the event reflected a strong commitment to both scientific excellence and community-building within the XR field.

The conference kicked off on Tuesday with registration and an energizing welcome cocktail in the evening, setting the tone for the collaborative atmosphere that followed. The program featured keynote speakers such as Filip Górski (Poznań University of Technology, Poland), who presented “The Future of XR Healthcare: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Personalized Medicine”; Patrick Bourdot (EuroXR President), who delivered a deep dive into immersive technologies and their cross-sector impact; and Sofia Pescarin (National Research Council, ISPC-CNR, Italy), who explored “Concepts-based Design of XR Applications,” offering valuable insights into XR development methodologies.

Each day began early, with poster sessions, followed by keynotes, themed sessions, demo presentations, and dynamic panels. The agenda reflected the diversity and rapid evolution of XR research and applications.

But what truly set XR Salento 2025 apart was its careful integration of professional content with cultural and networking experiences. The guided tour of Otranto and the gala dinner offered attendees a chance to experience the rich heritage of Salento while building lasting professional relationships. The atmosphere throughout was marked by collegiality, curiosity, and a shared enthusiasm for XR.

The organizers deserve full credit for curating a program that was both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding, combining deep technical content with warm hospitality and memorable social moments.

XR Salento is an event that continues to grow in scope and relevance each year. We are proud to have taken part and look forward to seeing it flourish in future editions.