Palm Springs Tech Summit Returns This Summer with Free Access for Students

A tech and creativity summit is coming back to the desert this summer, and organizers are making it easier than ever for locals to attend.

PS/NExT Summit 2026, which stands for New Experiences in Technology, takes over the Palm Springs Convention Center on June 22nd and 23rd. The two-day event focuses on artificial intelligence, business innovation, and education, and builds on last year's inaugural expo, which drew more than 500 attendees.

This year's lineup includes some notable names. Rob Minkoff, co-director of Disney's Academy Award-winning "The Lion King," is headlining the event. "Technology and creativity have always been inextricably linked, and it feels like we're standing at the edge of an unprecedented new era for artists and storytellers," Minkoff said. "And if this Summit can also make a meaningful impact on education and young people, that makes it all the more important."

Other featured speakers include Emmy-nominated storyteller Baratunde Thurston and Philip Su, a former engineer at Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft.

Tickets are $95 for both days, with that price available exclusively to Coachella Valley residents. Local students and educators get in for free through sponsored community access programs.

Registration and speaker information are available at PalmSpringsNExT.com.