Back to Boston
Published on April 8th, 2026
“Fab Labs celebrating 25 Years of Making”
April Release
Boston, MA – The Fab Lab Conference & Symposium (FAB26 Boston) comes home this summer as the world’s leading digital fabrication conference returns to the Greater Boston Area after a decade‑long global tour. Since the first community lab opened in 2003 at the South End Technology Center as a collaboration between MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms and visionary community leader Mel King, the Fab Lab network has grown into a movement of more than 3,000 labs across 150 countries. Each Fab Lab provides access to laser cutters, computer‑controlled milling machines and 3D printers as well as training so that “people can make (almost) anything”. These spaces now connect students in Bhutan, designers in Rwanda and artists in Brazil; they are used for sustainability projects, bridging community divides and empowering local workforces.
Over 25 years, this network has travelled the world, from Africa to Europe, Asia and the Americas, sharing know‑how on digital fabrication and community empowerment. In that time, fab labs have inspired initiatives like the Fab City movement, which encourages cities to produce what they consume and has attracted commitments from 50 cities and regions worldwide. The network has also given rise to the Fab Academy, a global hands‑on curriculum that teaches the skills pioneered in MIT’s “How To Make (almost) Anything” course. Through thousands of local success stories, from students who find their passion in technology to communities that develop new forms of production, the Fab Lab movement has proved that open access to tools and knowledge can transform lives.
A Homecoming with Purpose
This year’s conference marks a homecoming for Boston since FAB11 in 2015.
FAB26 will celebrate 25 years of the Fab Lab Network and invite participants to re‑imagine the next quarter‑century of making.
The event is being hosted by an international consortium, including the Fab Foundation, Center for Bitas & Atoms (CBA) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Museum, and the Fab City Foundation, to spotlight the vibrant New England maker ecosystem and its commitment to sustainable, inclusive innovation.
Invitation to Participate
FAB26 is more than a conference, it is a celebration of ideas and hands‑on learning. Participants are invited to:
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Lead workshops or talks: Propose content that showcases new techniques, community projects or research. Apply before Apr 20, 2026
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Experience FAB: Even if you’re not presenting, you can attend and learn from makers from five continents. The event atmosphere includes demonstrations, hands‑on fabrication experiences, art installations and exhibitions.
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Attend a “track‑deep” experience: New for FAB26, a single‑day ticket will take participants through an intensive track covering origins of digital fabrication, community impacts or emerging fabrication frontiers. This pass is designed for busy professionals or families who want a concentrated experience.
Why Boston and Why Now?
Returning to its roots at a time of global challenges, FAB26’s goal is to excite the community around sustainable production, circular economies and equitable access to technology. The conference will highlight how New England’s universities, community labs and creative industries can collaborate with global partners to develop resilient local supply chains and democratise innovation. As Founder of the Fab Lab movement Prof. Neil Gershenfeld notes, the network’s success has always been driven by the “passion to create”; bringing makers back to Boston will re‑energise that passion and introduce a new generation to the possibilities of digital fabrication.
Join Us
We invite educators, community leaders, designers, policymakers and anyone curious about making to join us at FAB26. Be part of a story that began in a lab in Boston and now spans continents. Whether you want to submit a proposal, host a hands‑on activity or simply experience the global Fab Lab world, your voice is welcome. Together we can honour our past, celebrate our impact and design a future where everyone can make (almost) anything.
For more information about FAB26, including ticket options and the open call for content proposals, visit our site.
