Palm Springs Convention Center · June 22–23, 2026
Find your place in what’s next.
1.5 days where the whole Coachella Valley — residents, owners, students, creators, and builders — decides what AI means for us. Six tracks plus Spotlight. One question on the opening stage: not just what we can build with AI, but what we should.
1.5
Days in the desert
6+1
Tracks + Spotlight
52
Speakers
FREE
For CV students
Why it’s different
This isn’t a conference that talks at you.
Most events featuring technology topics are built for people who already speak the jargon. PS/NExT is built for everyone that AI and technology actually touches — and that’s the whole valley. Pick the track that fits the life you’re living, follow its story with curiosity and caution and learn how to take ideas to impact. As a community, let’s figure this out together.
Which one are you?
Tap the one that sounds like you — we’ll take you straight to its story.
Track 01
Resident
AI is already in your phone, your job, and your kids' homework. Walk in curious — leave in control.
No jargon, no hype, no assumptions. The Resident track meets you exactly where you are and hands you a practical, human relationship with AI — from the basic everyday tools to the new agents that can research, plan, and act on your behalf, plus a final conversation about what it all means for the Coachella Valley. It's the friendliest room at the summit, and the one most likely to change how you live next week.
The story, beat by beat
Track 02
Business
What business leaders need to know to evaluate, adopt, and manage AI — wisely, safely, and at their own pace.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the way businesses operate, communicate, and compete. Yet for many organizations, the most important question isn't how quickly to adopt AI — it's where it genuinely adds value, where it doesn't, and how to move forward responsibly. This track is built for business leaders seeking a practical, balanced perspective: real-world applications, but also potential risks, workforce implications, privacy considerations, and the decisions that can affect your business for years to come. You'll learn where AI is delivering meaningful results today, what information should never be shared with AI systems, how to establish sensible guardrails, and how to evaluate opportunities without chasing hype or creating unnecessary risk. You'll leave with a practical action plan tailored to your business and a network of Coachella Valley peers navigating the same questions. Throughout the Summit, speakers host “office hours,” giving you the chance to discuss your own questions, challenges, and ideas in a candid, collaborative setting.
The story, beat by beat
Track 03
Education
The classroom is changing in real time. Hear it from the people living it — including the students.
AI is reshaping how students learn, how teachers teach, and how schools, colleges, and districts prepare the next generation for a workforce being rebuilt in real time. This track brings superintendents, college leaders, faculty, students, and ethics and governance voices into one room — to confront what's shifting, from integrity and assessment to equity and policy, and to use AI to widen access and deepen learning without losing rigor, judgment, or the human relationships at the center of teaching.
The story, beat by beat
Track 04Sponsor's Track
Creativity + AI
The tools just changed for everyone. Come figure out authorship, ownership, and a way in — together.
AI is changing how stories, images, music, films, immersive worlds, and creative businesses get made. This track brings filmmakers, artists, producers, technologists, legal experts, students, and creative entrepreneurs together to explore what's changing, what remains deeply human, and how creators can use emerging tools without losing authorship, taste, rights, or economic leverage. It's a high-impact, sponsor-backed experience — and it spills onto the main stage with keynotes from Rob Minkoff and Kelly Boesch and the closing GenJam screening.
The story, beat by beat
Track 05
Vibe-a-thon
Bring a real problem. Leave with working software — built live, on stage.
Teams leverage the latest software development AI-assisted tools and techniques. It opens with two builders showing what 'vibecoding' can and can't actually do today, then runs as a multi-session sprint where experienced and brand-new developers pair with the latest AI tools to ship working prototypes — culminating in a live showcase judged by government, education, and business leaders. Local businesses can submit a challenge to be built on the spot.
The story, beat by beat
Track 06
GenJam · at COD
Make a film, a track, or a piece of art in two days — then watch it on the big screen.
A creative sprint where you use the latest AI assistance tools to produce films, music, and visual art — generating brand-new cultural work and showcasing emerging talent. Run with Machine Cinema at the College of the Desert, teams form on the spot, learn the latest AI production tools, and build something from scratch around a Palm Springs theme. The strongest pieces screen at the summit's closing showcase, in front of the whole room.
The story, beat by beat
Track 07
Spotlight
Singular talks from people who've shaped whole art forms — plus a look at the tech reaching the desert.
Spotlight is where the summit goes deep — sessions you won't find anywhere else, open to every pass holder. The Artist Spotlights are intimate, in-depth talks from internationally collected artists. The broader Spotlight turns to the technology reaching the region — starting with a fireside on Amazon Leo.
The story, beat by beat
Artist Spotlights
Spotlight
The main stage, for everyone
One shared story, across two days
Whatever track you choose, the whole room comes together on the main stage. It opens with a question — who decides? — and closes two days later with the answer made real: films, tools, and ideas built right here.
Day 1 · Mon, June 22
Day 2 · Tue, June 23
Who you’ll learn from
52+ speakers. One desert.
Oscar- and Emmy-honored creators, OpenAI / Meta / Microsoft alumni, the region’s leaders, and students who’ll shape what comes next.
Know someone who needs this?
A parent worried about scams. An owner drowning in busywork. A student who films on their phone. Send them the track with their name on it.
Get your pass
Reserve your pass at PS/NExT Summit 26.
Every Coachella Valley student attends free. Pick the pass that fits.
Summit Pass
$250
Open to all
Full 1.5-day access — every keynote, every track, the expo floor, networking experiences, and summit activations.
Designed for professionals, founders, creatives, innovators, and anyone curious about what’s next for Palm Springs and beyond.
Buy now→Coachella Valley Resident Pass
$95
Proof of CV address
Reduced-rate full 1.5-day access for residents of the Coachella Valley. Buy online to lock in $95 — admission jumps to $150 at the door.
Created to ensure local community members can actively participate in conversations shaping the future of the region.
Buy now→Coachella Valley Student Pass
FREE
Valid student ID + CV school enrollment
Full 1.5-day summit access for students from middle school through graduate school.
Buy now→Sponsor a Student or Nonprofit Professional Pass
$95
Does not include admission for purchaser
Help expand access to the summit by covering admission for a local student or nonprofit professional who may not otherwise be able to attend.
Buy now→Premium Pass
$500
Premium access
Includes full 1.5-day admission plus invitations to special reception events with keynote speakers and industry executives.
Supports student participation, community access initiatives, and future-forward programming.
Buy now→Looking to sponsor at the organizational level? See sponsorship opportunities →
Not ready to sponsor? Make a tax-deductible donation →
Want to volunteer? Email the team →
Registration is open
Reserve your pass at the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce website.
Payments processed by the Palm Springs Chamber Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation · EIN 41-4722430 · info@pschamber.org
Frequently asked