What is Semiofest?

Semiofest is first and foremost, A Celebration of Semiotic Thinking. Semiofest is also a collective, set up to champion and propagate the best in applied semiotic thinking. We help facilitate learning about semiotics through an annual event that moves location every year.

Semiofest came into existence as a platform where practising semioticians, both academic and commercial could come together to exchange ideas, viewpoints, insights and methods in order to share and learn from one another.

It has since become an annual event that attracts not only Semioticians but also qualitative researchers, insights managers and business people.

Some highlights from Semiofest Porto 2024

With incredible organisation and a stunning backdrop we celebrated 4 days of semiotics, brands and culture in one of Europe’s most walkable (and eatable!) cities – Porto. We were housed in the iconic Rem Koolhaas Casa da Musica concert hall with state of the art audio visual facilities. We had a workshop on finding our personal operating philosophy to match the personal with professional, 2 keynotes (on Portugal’s Carnation Revolution) and (The Dangers of Liminality through the ritual of performance art), 22 great presentations and a client workshop with LIPOR in a chateau. Fado, salsa and the usual special conversations were had by a group inspired by the location and our programme.

Some highlights from Semiofest Porto 2024

With incredible organisation and a stunning backdrop we celebrated 4 days of semiotics, brands and culture in one of Europe’s most walkable (and eatable!) cities – Porto. We were housed in the iconic Rem Koolhaas Casa da Musica concert hall with state of the art audio visual facilities. We had a workshop on finding our personal operating philosophy to match the personal with professional, 2 keynotes (on Portugal’s Carnation Revolution) and (The Dangers of Liminality through the ritual of performance art), 22 great presentations and a client workshop with LIPOR in a chateau. Fado, salsa and the usual special conversations were had by a group inspired by the location and our programme.

2012

London

2013

Barcelona

2014

Shanghai

2015

Paris

2016

Tallinn

2017

Toronto

2018

Mumbai

2022

Mexico

2024

Porto

Bring 
Semiofest 
to your

    city!

Call for Bids

now open

Call for bids for Semiofest 2026 is now open. We invite bids from interested and passionate teams to host Semiofest in their city and take the baton forward from previous organizers. Last date for submission of bids is October 18, 2024.

Previous Conferences

We rely on the passion and creativity of local organizing committees to create a fresh Semiofest, stamped with their own personality and suffused with the character of the location and host city!

What is Applied

Semiotics?

Applied semiotics is a branch of semiotics. Applied semiotics uses a range of interpretive frameworks to deconstruct meaning and helps us to understand human signs, communication and culture more deeply.

We seek to create a forum where semiotic theorists, practitioners, consultants, researchers and students can come together for mutual learning.

We seek to create a forum where semiotic theorists, practitioners, consultants, researchers and students can come together for mutual learning.

Do you

love semiotics?

Edward Wilson

Attended Semiofest Toronto 2017

“I wouldn’t find people like this anywhere else. I get to have conversations with people who think about the things I think about but have taken them further. Awesome. Amazing.”

Matthew Oliver

Attended Semiofest, Toronto, 2017

“it’s been absolutely fantastic, from academic to highly applicable content. A bunch of very interesting, smart people, talking about very interesting, smart topics”

Thierry Mortier

Attended Semiofest, London 2012, Barcelona 2013, Tallinn 2016, Toronto 2017, Mumbai 2018

“My intention is not to ever miss another one. It is just too great to be here and see everybody. Semiofest is just brilliant!”

Mark Lemon

Attended Semiofest Paris 2015, Tallinn 2016, Toronto 2017, Mumbai 2018

“My brain is full of stuff swirling around, filled with ideas –the combination of the academic side with the commercial. Just been a brilliant experience to have been part of that”

Maciej Biedzinski

Attended Semiofest Paris 2015, Tallinn 2016, Toronto 2017

“The presentations are getting better and better every year  very informative and of course atmosphere as always, with great people. Really loved it.”

Mariane Cara

Attended Semiofest Paris 2015, Tallinn 2016, Toronto 2017, Mumbai 2018

“Semiofest blends consumer insight, semiotics,  ethnographics – so we are getting the mix of theoretical and practise side – to show how semiotics can be important to brands”

Wei Fen Lee

Attended Semiofest Toronto 2017, Mumbai 2018

“What was useful was coming here and connecting with all these people who practise semiotics in all these various contexts, and making it tangible to use it with clients” 

Ying Mu

Attended Semiofest Shanghai 2014, Toronto 2017

“I think the conversations are deeper at Semiofest, because people are very passionate about it – when compared to other conferences where they can be a bit superficial”