PS/NExT Summit 26 — AI, Technology, Creativity & Culture Conference at the Palm Springs Convention Center, June 22–23, 2026

PS/NExT Summit 26 — Technology · Creativity · Community
Palm Springs Convention Center

1.5 days in the desert · June 22–23, 9:00 AM Mon – 2:00 PM Tue (PT)

From AI Expo to PS/NExT: New Experiences in Technology

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.

An evolution of the successful 2025 Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo — where innovation meets imagination, and ideas become impact. In 2026 we return bigger, broader, and more immersive — two unforgettable days in the desert.

Watch the 2025 highlight reel

Latest news

Just announced · The full program

Every track, session & speaker — now yours to browse.

55+ speakers across six tracks plus Spotlight, 46+ sessions, both days. Filter to what pulls you in, or let us guide you to the room with your name on it.

2026 Speakers

Visionaries shaping what’s next

Tap any speaker for their full bio and sessions.

Who PS/NExT is for

1.5 days. 6 tracks. 50+ speakers.

  • For Residents

    Use AI safely. Live well with it.

    AI is already in your phone, your job, and your kids’ homework. 1.5 days of practical sessions from absolute beginners to confident users — plus how to spot scams, protect your data, and stay grounded as the tools change.

  • For Small Businesses

    Real results, not hype.

    1.5 days of practical AI for local owners across hospitality, retail, services, healthcare, and more. Hear what’s actually working in Coachella Valley businesses today, peer-to-peer. Plus the Vibe-a-thon — submit a real problem and have it built into a working solution live on stage.

  • For Educators & Students

    Hear what's actually happening.

    A dedicated EDU Track with leadership, faculty, and student perspectives. Plus four other tracks open to you, the Vibe-a-thon and GenJam where students build alongside professionals, and a regional table you don’t get elsewhere.

  • For Builders

    Where tech talent gathers.

    1.5 days alongside the engineers, founders, and builders shaping what’s next. Talks from OpenAI, Meta, and Microsoft alumni. The Vibe-a-thon — where developers ship working solutions live for local businesses. Plus the Creativity × AI track, where builders meet directors, musicians, and visual artists.

  • For Creators

    AI is reshaping creative work.

    The Creativity × AI track — directors, producers, performers, agents, studio executives, and AI-tool company leaders working through how AI is reshaping storytelling, ownership, and creative economics. Plus GenJam and Artist Spotlight Talks from internationally collected artists.

  • For Civic Leaders

    The desert's emerging tech conversation.

    1.5 days where the region’s mayors, city councils, educational leaders, employers, technologists, and creators all sit at the same table.

Hands-On Experiences

Make something. Together.

Returning to Palm Springs from Machine Cinema — the global AI-creativity community 3,000 creators strong across 30+ countries. A hands-on experience across the summit, built around their “Learn. Create. Play.” ethos.

In partnership withMachine Cinema
Machine Cinema GenJam workshop showcase — presenters at the front of a packed room, prize categories on the projector behind them.Live workshop

The Immersive Creator Workshop

GenJam

Machine Cinema’s flagship AI filmmaking hackathon. Teams form on the spot, learn the latest AI production tools, and build something from scratch — anchored in a Palm Springs theme. Two ways to play.

  • Format A

    The 4-Hour Sprint

    Teams race the clock to ship a 90-second short film. Live showcase + audience vote, all in an afternoon.

  • Format B

    The 8-Hour GenJam

    A full-day deep-dive — complex narratives, character consistency, immersive sound design.

Display MomentBoth formats culminate in a high-impact showcase on Day 2.

Live, on-stage build

The Vibe-a-thon

Sponsored by

Greater Palm Springs Economic Development

We’re working with local businesses and organizations to surface the software and tools they’ve never had the resources to build. During the summit we’ll bring developers — both experienced and brand-new — together with the latest AI tools to rapidly prototype working software on the spot. By the end of PS/NExT we’ll showcase working concepts that could directly help businesses right here in our community.

I wish I had a tool that could do this for my business.
— Local owners, every day

This is your chance to be part of building it.

Submissions openSubmit a challenge

Submit by Friday, June 19, 2026 · 5:00 PM Pacific

Also joining the stage

  • More
    Coming
    Soon

    More speakers

    Announced soon

Finale

Day 2 · Closing Showcase

The Big Finish

The entire Summit reconvenes for one room, one stage, one finale — real things, made here, in front of the people they were made for.

  • Best of GenJam — Big-Screen Screening

    A GenTalks-style screening of the strongest films, music videos, and visual work created during GenJam, with live creator commentary. Audience voting, awards, and an industry-panel jury. Top works move into the Digital Media Gallery.

  • Vibe-a-thon — 3-Minute Live Demos

    Working AI tools built during the Summit, demoed live by the teams that built them. Each pitch covers what they made, how it deploys, and the business value — judged on real-world impact for Palm Springs businesses.

By Palm Springs · For Palm Springs

Anchored in
the Coachella Valley

PS/NExT isn’t a conference that happens to take place in Palm Springs — it’s a conference built for it. Every track, every keynote, and every experience is designed to bring economic opportunity, creative momentum, and new skills to the Coachella Valley.

Presented by the City of Palm Springs Office of Economic Development and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Summit sits at the heart of an unprecedented June arc — connecting XOXO Palm Springs (June 11–22) and Palm Springs International ShortFest (June 23–29). Three weeks of arts, technology, and film, all in one city.

XOXO

Jun 11–22

PS/NExT

Jun 22–23

ShortFest

Jun 23–29

Get your pass

Reserve your pass at PS/NExT Summit 26.

Every Coachella Valley student attends free. Pick the pass that fits.

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

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Frequently asked

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