Your Adventure Starts Now
Published on May 27th, 2026
A decade ago
After months of submissions, conversations, curation, and collaboration across the global Fab Lab network, FAB26 is beginning to take shape and now, for the first time, you can explore the schedule live on the website.
More than 250 proposals were submitted from around the world, bringing together voices from educators, researchers, makers, artists, technologists, students, and community leaders who are all helping reimagine the future of digital fabrication.
This July, Boston and Cambridge will once again become a living laboratory for ideas, creativity, and hands-on innovation as the Fab Lab community returns to where it all began. After a 10-year world tour, FAB26 marks a special homecoming to MIT and the birthplace of the Fab Lab movement.
A Week Designed to Explore the Future
Across five thematic days, the program invites participants to dive into the biggest questions shaping the next 25 years of Fab Labs:
- Origins & Futures: reflecting on the roots and future visions of the movement
- Tools & Tech: exploring AI, open-source tools, advanced fabrication, and emerging technologies
- Education & Learning: imagining new ways of learning through digital fabrication
- People & Planet: focusing on resilience, sustainability, and social impact
- Systems & Scaling: tackling policy, infrastructure, and the future growth of the ecosystem
Mornings will bring the community together through keynotes, symposiums, and fast-paced talks, while afternoons will transform the campus into an active playground of hands-on workshops, collaborative sessions, and interactive experiences.
And this year’s schedule already includes an exciting mix of:
- Robotics and AI explorations
- Biomaterials and regenerative design
- Wearables and smart textiles
- Fab Labs in education systems worldwide
- Digital fabrication for social justice and community resilience
- Creative intersections between craft, culture, and technology
New This Year: Day Passes & Kids Lab Pass
FAB26 now offers 1-Day Passes, allowing participants to dive deeply into a specific thematic track or day of programming. Whether you’re most interested in emerging technologies, education, sustainability, or systems thinking, there’s now a flexible way to join the experience.
Of course, the Full Week Pass remains the best way to experience the full depth of FAB26 from workshops and networking to receptions and special events throughout Boston and Cambridge.
For the new generation
One of the most exciting additions to FAB26 this year is the launch of the Kid Lab Pass, a dedicated week-long program designed for young makers and future innovators.
Hosted in collaboration with the MIT Museum and Global Kids, the program will offer:
- Hands-on STEAM projects
- Creative workshops
- Robotics and 3D printing activities
- Design challenges
- Global online collaboration with young participants from around the world
Designed for ages 9–18, the Kid Lab Pass creates a unique opportunity for families attending FAB26 and for young learners eager to explore the future of making in an inspiring environment.
A sneek-peek at one of the acivities to be developed during the week:
Beyond the Conference
FAB26 is more than sessions and workshops, it’s an immersive experience across Boston and Cambridge.
Participants will explore:
- The MIT campus and Kendall Square innovation district
- Fab Hub Kendall
- Evening receptions and networking events
- Side events like the Regenerative Futures Innovation Challenge and the Fab Educators Summit
- The distributed FAB Festival across New England on August 1st
- Tours around MIT CAMPUS Labs
- and free access to the MIT Museum during the week
Over the coming weeks, more speakers, workshops, and special activities will continue to be added as the program evolves into a dynamic gathering of global ideas and local experiences.
Whether you’re a longtime member of the Fab Lab network or joining for the first time, FAB26 is an invitation to learn, collaborate, and help shape what comes next.
🎟 Tickets are available now
📅 July 27–31, 2026
📍 Boston & Cambridge, Massachusetts
