Thursday, October 22–Saturday, October 24, 2026

MIT Media Lab, E14
75 Amherst Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts

MIT Media Lab, E15
20 Ames Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The Brave. The Beep. The Bots.

The Brave celebrates the people bold enough to challenge convention.

The Beep explores the signals, technologies, and creative forces shaping our world.

The Bots looks toward a future where humans and intelligent machines evolve together.

Join us as we celebrate 40 years of the MIT Media Lab and imagine what comes next.

Learn more about the event theme and celebration.

Registration

Please register by October 9, 2026. 

The Schedule:

Wednesday, October 21, Evening: Careers, Ideas & Connections [Members + Prospective Members Only]: 
4pm 6pm

e14 - Silverman Skyline Room
An expanded networking event for members to connect with Media Lab talent around careers, internships, current projects, emerging technologies, and new ideas. More details from External Relations to come.

Thursday, October 22 [Members + Prospective Members Only]: 

8am 5:30pm

8–9am Registration + Breakfast 
Registration – E14 Lobby

9–9:15am WelcomeOpening remarks from Media Lab leadership and an overview of the day's experience.

9:15–10:30am Member Collaborations + Featured Conversations: Faculty, researchers, students, and member organizations share examples of collaborative research and emerging ideas. To include executive leaders from our member organizations. 

10:30–11am Break

11–12:30pm Research Updates (Part I): A reimagined research update experience highlighting work from across the Media Lab.

12:30–1:30pm Themed Lunch + Networking

1:30–3pm Research Updates (Part II) Continued research updates and featured presentations from across the Lab.

3–5:30pm Open House: Explore the Media Lab through demonstrations, conversations with researchers, and interactive experiences throughout the building.

5:30–6:10pm Liaison Reception [Member Organization Liaisons Only]: A dedicated reception for Member Organization Liaisons in the BT Lab.

5:30–6:30pm Reception [Members + Prospective Members Only]: Continue the conversation over drinks and light refreshments in the E14 Lobby following the Open House.

Thursday October 22, Evening:  Join us at Boston's historic Symphony Hall for our Faculty Director Tod Machover's premiere of already and not yet. This is a bold new BSO  commission with AI+80 musicians exploring a vision for the future of democracy — pure Media Lab!

The first BSO shuttle will depart from the Media Lab at 6:30pm.

Friday, October 23: Join us for a day of curated programming that celebrates the MIT Media Lab's past 40 years, and envisions the next 40.

Friday night, The Bold. The Boogie. The Ball: More than just a party. A mind meld and ecstatic celebration of our weird, wonderful, and magical community through food, music, and surprises.

Saturday, October 24, The Bits. The Bites. The Brunch: Geared toward alumni and families, let's gather for a delicious goodbye before heading back out into the world to do great things.

MIT Media Lab Event Code of Conduct

Planning Your Visit

Check in at our lobby each day beginning at 8am.

Questions?

Please contact events@media.mit.edu with questions about the celebration.