Date
15-17 April 2026
Location(s)
Time
10:00 - 18:00
Tickets
FAQ
Timetable
Fest and conference dedicated to design and craftsmanship in film, animation and games.
In 2026, The Art Department returns to the iconic Klokgebouw, celebrating 20 years of Playgrounds with a packed program full of artist talks, workshops, demos, screenings, live sketching sessions, portfolio reviews, and opportunities to connect with the industry and so much more! A true playground for the creative industry.
To mark this milestone, we are going bigger than ever with three days of festival magic:
📅 15 April: In-Depth Day | A full day of extensive talks, masterclasses and screenings of Playgrounds International Film Festival | Tickets Available
📅 16 + 17 April: The Art Department | Main Event | Tickets Available
MASTERCLASS USING COLOR IN CHARACTER DESIGN BY PERNILLE ØRUM
In-Depth Day | 15 April
masterclass
MASTERCLASS CREATING, ADAPTING AND DEVELOPING SERIES WITH ADAM PALOIAN
In-Depth Day | 15 April
masterclass
MASTERCLASS BY BORIS & NICOLAS
In-Depth Day | 15 April
masterclass
MASTERCLASS BY LIP COMARELLA
In-Depth Day | 15 April
masterclass
MASTERCLASS IN COLOR DESIGN BY NATHAN FOWKES
In-Depth Day | 15 April
masterclass
MASTERCLASS INFLUENCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ON STORYTELLING BY BASTIEN GRIVET
In-Depth Day | 15 April
masterclass
PLAYGROUNDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026
where we put the art of filmmaking in the spotlight
film fest
IMAGINE EVERYTHING COMPETITION
short films that dazzle our eyes and minds
short film program
SAUCY SELECTION
erotic shorts by female and queer makers
short film program
STUDENT FILM COMPETITION
official selection of student films
short film program
CYCLE
VR experience
VR experience
SONY PICTURES ANIMATION (KPOP DEMON HUNTERS)
head of character animation Joshua Beveridge & visual development artist Wendell Dalit
artist talk
NATHAN FOWKES
concept artist
artist talk
BLUR
production company
artist talk
MATT NAVA (GIANT SQUID STUDIOS)
game development studio
artist talk
PERNILLE ØRUM
character designer, visual development artist
artist talk
MOONHOOD
video game studio
artist talk
ALEX GRIGG
animation director and educator
artist talk
RAMAN DJAFARI
illustrator, animator, filmmaker
artist talk
BORIS & NICOLAS
animators
artist talk
OLOV BURMAN
director and animator
artist talk
CLAIRE KEANE
author-illustrator, visual development artist
artist talk
LIP COMARELLA
director, visual development artist, art director
artist talk
ADAM PALOIAN
director, producer, character designer
artist talk
CAT JOHNSTON
director, character designer, model maker and illustrator
artist talk
LOEK VUGS
designer, animator, teacher
artist talk
XAVIERA ALTENA
illustrator
artist talk
MAUREEN VAN DER HOUT & RACHELLE JOY SLINGERLAND
character design duo
artist talk
HEND & LAMIAA
directors duo
artist talk
DIEPFRIS
concept artist
artist talk
BIANCA NAZARI (ENVAR STUDIO)
senior recruiter
artist talk
SANDRO CLEUZO
animator and character designer
artist talk
ENVAR STUDIO
outsource & game studio
artist talk
REAL TALKS WITH IRIS COMPIET & LOISH
a sit-down with two industry legends
real talk
FONS SCHIEDON
director, designer
artist talk
IRIS COMPIET: FROM SKETCH TO WATER COLOR
an ode to traditional media
demo
ARTIST STUDIOS
check your favorite artists at work
artist studios
LESBIAN SIMULATOR
a VR experience by Iris van der Meule
expo
MEET THE NEIGHBORHOOD!
take a look around!
hotspot
ART MARKET
print, apparal & tattoos
art market
SKETCH SESSIONS BY DRINK AND DRAW BERLIN
live sketching experience
sketch sessions
NEXT STAGE
stage curated by the Next Talent Program
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: MURMUR ANIMATION
animation duo
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: SABER AIDARUS
director, animator
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: PIT LEMPENS
illustrator, animator
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: TESSA STEHOUWER
animator
artist talk
THE SECRET OF NIMH
key pieces from one of the largest NIMH collections in Europe
expo
BOOKSHOP
discover art books, comics and exclusive titles
books
PLAYGROUNDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026
where we put the art of filmmaking in the spotlight
film fest
FLOORAL BY PUCK PAASSEN (PATJAKKER) AT KETELHUISPLEIN
life-size floor painting
expo
WINDRAWS ROUTE
free open air expo in Eindhoven
expo
XXXL COLORING PAGE
color with us during PIFF & TAD!
expo
WORKSHOP CREATE & PLAY BY CARDBOARDERS
16 April | create your own character!
workshop
COMMUNITY ART CHALLENGES
have your works shown during TAD 2026
community
WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY GARDEN?
meet industry professionals to let your projects grow
industry garden
STUDIO & PARTNER PACKAGES
check out our partner packages
industry garden
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
brush up your portfolios!
portfolio reviews, industry garden
GAME DEMOS
play the game of your favorite artist
industry garden
SOUND & VISION
audiovisual archive
industry garden, industry walk-in
MEET & GREETS
chat with our festival speakers
industry garden
FACE TO FACE
Sketch, chat, repeat! (register on-site)
chat and doodles
SUBMARINE
animation studio
industry garden, industry walk-in
DE KUNSTENBOND
supporting creatives & cultural workers
industry garden, industry walk-in
COOLER MEDIA
animation studio
industry garden, industry walk-in
PATHFINDER STUDIOS
concept art studio
industry garden, industry walk-in
WHAT ARE THE ARTIST STUDIOS?
check your favorite artists at work
artist studios
CAT JOHNSTON
model making
artist studios
SKETCH & CAKE TAD EDITION
creative drawing sessions
artist studios
SURREAL CHARACTER ANIMATION IN TVPAINT BY RAMAN DJAFARI
TVPaint demo by Raman Djafari
artist studios
NATHAN FOWKES
Nathan's best digital techniques
artist studios
GHOSTS, GHOULS AND GOBLINS: MASK MAKING WITH CAT JOHNSTON
workshop in the artist studios (walk-in)
workshop
ENTER THE BRUSHPEN WITH BAYAR TSEDENSODNOM
sketching
artist studios
FORMX MATERIAL PLAYGROUND WITH LEE D’ARCY
silecone finger dummy workshop & airbrush test lab
artist studios
CREATURE SCULPTING & SFX WITH ERIK HILLENBRINK
powered by FormX
artist studios
SCULPTING BY RICK OERLEMANS (CLAYPERDAY)
powered by FormX
artist studios
SPECIAL MAKE-UP WITH LAWRENCE KELATOW
powered by FormX
artist studios
VEHICLE MARKER SKETCHING BY DIEPFRIS
get tips and tricks in this 2-hour session
artist studios
Note: with a TAD ticket for 15, 16, or 17 April, you can join any of the PIFF program parts for free, as long as seats are available.
IMAGINE EVERYTHING COMPETITION
short films that dazzle our eyes and minds
short film program
STUDENT FILM COMPETITION
official selection of student films
short film program
SAUCY SELECTION
erotic shorts by female and queer makers
short film program
NEXT GEM
enjoy a selection of films from emerging makers to have on your radar
short film program
CYCLE
VR experience
VR experience
Jodorowsky’s Dune
documentary
film screening
LABYRINTH
artists favorites
film screening, Artist's Favorites
GHOST STORIES
anthology of short films
short film program, Creator's Insights
THE FANTASY FILM WORLDS OF GEORGE PAL
artist's favorites with screening of shorts and intro by Cat Johnston
film screening
DIY to the Top
talk by Michael Middelkoop
artist talk, film talent & industry day
Guide Through the Industry
Interactive Q&A Session with Janey van Ierland
ask away!, film talent & industry day
Visualising the Unfilmable
talk by Jean Counet & Nordin Lasfar
panel, film talent & industry day
FILMHELPDESK SPEED DATES
custom advice for your particular filmmaking challenge
Q&A
PUSS IN BOOTS
creator's insights by Nathan Fowkes
film screening, Creator's Insights
FILMWORKER
documentary
film screening, Creator's Insights
SUSPIRIA
piff classics
film screening, Classics
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT IN-DEPTH DAY
are you joining our extra festival day?
PICK YOUR PARTNER PACKAGE AND JOIN THE INDUSTRY GARDEN!
connect with the industry, interact with talents, network with your peers
FIRST GLIMPSES OF PLAYGROUNDS 20 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
2026 will be extra special for us!
WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE ART DEPARTMENT 2026?
don't be shy, reach out to us!
WHAT IS A NEXT GEN TICKET?
if you are aged 25 or under you can enjoy TAD 2026 with a discount!
OPEN CALL: APPLY FOR A SPOT IN THE ART MARKET! (CLOSED)
let the TAD 2026 visitors enjoy your artworks!
OPEN CALL: JOIN OUR TAD STAGE (CLOSED)
be one of the speakers of TAD 2026!
20 March 2025
- 21 March 2025
THE ART DEPARTMENT EINDHOVEN 2025 (SOLD OUT)
18 April 2024
- 19 April 2024
The Art Department Eindhoven 2024
20 April 2023
- 21 April 2023
The Art Department Eindhoven 2023
21 April 2022
- 22 April 2022
The Art Department Eindhoven 2022
biggest creative meetup for concept artists and designers in film, animation and games in Europe
