Digital Playground

Digital Playground is an interactive, hands-on experience presented by the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH) and NarraSpaceXR. Visitors can explore extended-reality installations that transform walls and floors into digital portals, use a headset to encounter dinosaurs, and record favorite dance moves through motion-capture technology. No prior experience is required, and everyone is welcome.

The event is part of NextNOW Fest, the University of Maryland’s annual multi-day festival of performances and immersive experiences by artists from the university and around the country. The festival is open to the general public.

When: Friday, September 11, 2026

Showtime: 2:00 p.m.

Tickets: Free

Admission: General admission.

Venue: Hornbake Library, Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities, Room 0301, University of Maryland.

Lineup: Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities and NarraSpaceXR.

Experience: Extended-reality portals, a dinosaur encounter using a headset, and motion-capture technology for documenting dance movements.

Ages: No age restriction is stated. The event welcomes everyone and offers both adult- and child-friendly sensory packs upon request.

Livestream: No livestream is available.

Registration: Registration for NextNOW Fest is available through the event page.

Accessibility: Available services include wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult- and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning may be available for select events or by request at least six weeks in advance.