The Program
Five Days on the MIT Campus
The inaugural MIT Future Fest invited you to witness the future in the making. Across five transformative days, the MIT campus hosted 70+ boundary-pushing events led by 100+ visionary speakers, artists, and contributors. This was more than a festival: it was a convergence of creative minds, cutting-edge research, and bold new ideas ready to reshape the world.
Four Flagship Events
The Future Starts Here · Wednesday, September 30
The opening salvo of MIT Future Fest, with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, MIT President Sally Kornbluth and other visionary leaders, set the tone for five days of discovery.
Sensing Oceans at the MIT Museum · Wednesday, September 30
A groundbreaking new exhibition exploring humanity’s relationship with the ocean and the innovations shaping its future.
Introducing the MET Warehouse · Saturday, October 3
MIT’s bold new hub for design. One of campus’s most anticipated creative spaces opened its doors for the first time, revealing the intersection of design, engineering, and possibility.
Cambridge Science Carnival Brought Wonder to All Ages · Sunday, October 4
A day of discovery for the whole family. From hands-on installations to interactive experiments, Carnival proved that the future belongs to everyone curious enough to explore it.
About the Program
Learn more about the Curatorial Vision behind the Festival, discover which Featured Participants appeared, or read on and find out what’s in store. Expand each listing below for further information about the event and the people involved.
Wednesday, September 30
Event Type
Mode
Time
Event
Venue & Address
Thursday, October 1
Event Type
Mode
Time
Event
Venue & Address
Friday, October 2
Event Type
Mode
Time
Event
Venue & Address
Saturday, October 3
Event Type
Mode
Time
Event
Venue & Address
Sunday, October 4
Event Type
Mode
Time
Event
Venue & Address
Installations and more
No reservation or fixed arrival time required. Visit during the hours shown.
Event Type
Mode
When
Event
Venue & Address
Beyond Future Fest
These were not part of the MIT Future Fest experience but were highly recommended supplementary programming.
EmTech Future
September 29 – October 1, 2026, In-person on the MIT Campus and Online
Since 1999, MIT Technology Review’s EmTech conference series has gathered leaders, researchers, and builders to understand the technologies shaping the years ahead. EmTech Future continues that mission for a moment defined by convergence, where the most important breakthroughs are no longer happening within individual domains. Across AI, quantum technologies, and energy systems, explore how these intersections enable powerful new possibilities.
Curated by the award-winning editors of MIT Technology Review, the EmTech Future program features live interviews, interactive discussions, and experiences across campus, offering attendees direct access to the work behind the breakthroughs. Learn more at www.emtech-future.com.
MIT Business Analytics & AI Summit
October 2, 2026, 9a-5p, Kresge Auditorium
The Sloan School of Management is celebrating the 10-Year Anniversary of the Business Analytics program with a Business Analytics & AI Summit, a full-day event at MIT’s iconic Kresge Auditorium. The Summit will bring together MBAn alumni, faculty, students, and industry partners for keynote presentations, panel discussions, and conversations exploring the future of advanced analytics and AI/ML.
