The Trojan Horse was a Unicorn conference, which returns to Tróia, Portugal, September 28–October 3, reveals its official poster and announces its initial lineup spanning entertainment, science, and sound design.
THU2026, the THU Main Event (Trojan Horse was a Unicorn) will return for its 11th edition in Tróia, Portugal, running September 28–October 3. Organizers have just announced the first wave of speakers and unveiled the official event poster, created by Japanese illustrator Katsuya Terada and inspired by the theme “The Alchemy of a Storm,” a concept intended to reflect the chaos of creativity and the process of transformation that shapes the event’s programming.
Initial speakers include Ben Procter, a production designer currently co-responsible for the design of Avatar and an Oscar nominee for Best Production Design for Avatar: The Way of Water; comic artist and game developer Joe Madureira, creator of Battle Chasers and creative director of the Darksiders series; and Neville Page, a director and character concept designer whose film credits include Avatar, Star Trek, and Prometheus. The lineup also features Jess Wiseman, a 3D artist and creative designer and founder of Figuregot, whose clients include Samsung, KSI, Lil Nas X, Reebok, Clarks, and Doja Cat.
The event also brings together participants from scientific and technical fields. Neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley, founder of Neuroscape and co-founder of Akili Interactive, will attend alongside Matt Omernick as part of work connected to the first FDA-approved therapeutic video game.
Sound and music will also be represented in the program. The lineup includes Leff Lefferts, an Oscar-nominated sound editor and designer at Skywalker Sound whose credits include Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and The Revenant, as well as composer, songwriter, and conductor Fabrizio Mancinelli, who has worked with major international studios.
Artist CROM is also scheduled to participate, bringing a crossover of books, tattoos, and necromancy to the program. Organizers say additional speakers will be announced ahead of the event.
Tickets are currently available through the official THU website along with additional information and the full list of speakers confirmed so far.
THU began in 2013 as an event and has since grown into a global community connecting artists, designers, filmmakers, and industry leaders around the world with a focus on collaboration across creative disciplines. Make your plans to attend this September.
Source: THU2026
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
