A Free Preview Event This Week Kicks Off Palm Springs' Biggest Tech Summit

A free kickoff event for the PS/NExT Summit 2026 is happening this Thursday at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, giving the community a first look at what's coming when the full summit arrives in June.

The event will preview the summit's speakers, programming, and hands-on experiences, and will officially launch the "Vibe-a-thon," an innovation challenge designed to connect local businesses with builders, students, designers, and entrepreneurs who will use AI tools to prototype real solutions live during the summit. The goal, organizers say, is to help spark economic growth across the Coachella Valley by putting local business challenges in front of people with the skills to solve them.

The full PS/NExT Summit takes place June 22 and 23 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. It will feature six tracks covering residents, small businesses, education, creativity, and entrepreneurship, including GenJam, a creative sprint focused on AI-powered film, music, and visual art. Last year's inaugural event drew more than 500 attendees and featured industry leaders in technology, education, and digital media. 

This week’s preview event starts at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum at 140 N Indian Canyon Drive and is open to everyone. No tickets are required, though an RSVP is encouraged at PalmSpringsNext.com/kickoff.