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PS/NExT Summit 26

Technology · Creativity · Community

June 22–23, 2026 · Palm Springs Convention Center · palmspringsnext.com/edu

For educators · Faculty · Institutions · Students

PS/NExT — New Experiences in Technology — brings together the community and leaders in AI, emerging tech, creativity, business, and education to develop skills, solve challenges, spark innovation, and expand economic opportunity across the region. For educational institutions, educators, and students, there’s plenty here — a dedicated Education Track and hands-on workshops where students build alongside professionals.

For educators

What you’ll gain

A working understanding of how AI and emerging technologies are increasingly showing up in the businesses, civic offices, hospitals, studios, and dev shops in your students’ future. Real, current, and local — not abstract. Plus three EDU Track panels — leadership, faculty, and student perspectives — and four other tracks open to you.

For institutions

What you’ll gain

A seat at the regional table. The Mayor, City Council, College of the Desert leadership, employers across hospitality and healthcare, AI builders, and creators — all in one room shaping what AI and emerging technologies in the Coachella Valley look like over the next decade.

For students

What you’ll gain

Real work, real network, real introductions. Use the latest AI tools to build real solutions for local businesses in the Vibe-a-thon. Make films, music, or visuals in GenJam, screened on the big stage with industry-jury commentary. Front-row at every keynote.

Who you’ll be in the room with

Featured speakers

Baratunde Thurston

Baratunde Thurston

NYT bestseller · Webby winner · Emmy-nominated host

Rob Minkoff

Rob Minkoff

Co-director, The Lion King

Kelly Boesch

Kelly Boesch

TED speaker · 4M+ followers

Philip Su

Philip Su

Vibe-a-thon Lead · former OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon

PS/NExTSUMMIT 26· June 22–23, 2026 · Palm Springs Convention Center

Workshops · Artist talks

Where you’ll actually do the work — and hear from working artists

Both days · Workshop

The Vibe-a-thon

Presented byGreater Palm Springs Economic Development

A live, on-stage product accelerator — with students on every team.

Local businesses bring real problems they’ve never had the resources to solve. Mixed teams of senior developers, business owners, and students sit together and use the latest AI tools to build real, working solutions by the end of the Summit. Mentors are on hand throughout — coding, no-code, UX, business, and pitch.

  • Students gain a working business solution on their portfolio, mentorship from senior engineers and entrepreneurs, and a direct line to local employers.
  • Faculty gain a live case study with real-world data, real constraints, and real outcomes.
  • Judging on business value, deployability, technical execution, and clarity. Top concepts move into a 30/60/90-day pilot pipeline.

Both days · Workshop

GenJam

Presented byCollege of the Desert

A creative sprint for aspiring filmmakers, musicians, and visual artists.

Students with aspirations to become professional filmmakers, musicians, or visual artists make new work using AI tools across the two days. The sprint closes with a big-screen finale — films, music videos, and visual art screened with live creator commentary, judged by an industry jury including Rob Minkoff, Kelly Boesch, and Charlie Fink.

  • Students gain a finished AI-built piece for their reel, big-screen industry exposure, and feedback from working professionals.
  • Creative-writing, film, music, art, and design students all welcome — peer collaboration encouraged across disciplines.
  • Top works are showcased at the PS/NExT finale on day two.

Both days · Featured talks

Artist Spotlight Talks

Two internationally recognized artists on technology and the natural world.

Presentations by Cristopher Cichocki (founder of THE ELEMENTAL; CalArts/Yale-trained) and Glen Wexler (Album Cover Hall of Fame; work held by LACMA, the Getty, and the George Eastman Museum). Both explore the relationship between technology and the natural world through interdisciplinary strategies of New Media.

  • Art, design, and media students & faculty hear directly from working professional artists about practice, process, and how AI is reshaping their fields — with a direct line to two artists whose work is collected internationally.

Bring your students. Bring your faculty. Bring your school.

Visit palmspringsnext.com to register, apply for Vibe-a-thon and GenJam, or partner your institution with the Summit.