Four-day future technology festival on Munich's Museum Island, combining a ticketed professional conference (July 2-3) with free public days (July 4-5) that transform the Deutsches Museum campus into an open innovation lab. Over 100 speakers and artists across AI, robotics, health technology, XR and digital innovation.
Festival der Zukunft is an annual technology festival co-organised by the Deutsches Museum and 1E9 Denkfabrik GmbH. It takes place on Museum Island (Museumsinsel) in central Munich, at the Forum der Zukunft venue adjacent to the Deutsches Museum. The four-day format has two distinct parts: a ticketed professional conference on July 2-3 with keynotes, debates and workshops for technology professionals, investors and policymakers; and free public family days on July 4-5 open to all, featuring interactive exhibits, XR experiences, art installations, dome art and live performances.
The festival operates at the intersection of science, technology and culture, reflecting the Deutsches Museum's mission to make science accessible. Professional conference days focus on AI, robotics, health technologies, mobility, sovereignty and startup innovation, drawing entrepreneurs, researchers and investors. Public days democratise access to these same themes through hands-on experiences designed for all ages. The Museumsinsel setting, one of Europe's most significant cultural sites, gives the event architectural and cultural weight beyond a standard technology conference.
Professional conference days (July 2-3):
Public days (July 4-5, free):
Conference themes for 2026: artificial intelligence, robotics, health technologies, gaming and interactive media, XR and immersive technology, digital sovereignty, and startup innovation. The format includes keynotes by leading researchers and practitioners, expert debates, hands-on workshops, immersive technology demonstrations, art installations, and live cultural programming.
Confirmed speakers include Björn Ommer (AI researcher, LMU Munich), Francesco Sciortino (Proxima Fusion, fusion energy), Daria Saharova (World Fund, climate tech VC), and Dr. Fabian Mehring (State Minister for Digital Affairs, Bavaria). Over 100 speakers and artists participate across the four days. Full line-up at 1e9.community/festival-der-zukunft/2026.
Workshops (professional days), interactive technology exhibits, XR and immersive experiences, dome art and installations, live music and cultural performances, startup competition, expert debates alongside main stage keynotes.
The Deutsches Museum co-organises the event in partnership with 1E9 Denkfabrik GmbH, a Munich-based media and events company focused on technology and innovation. 1E9 publishes a technology magazine and operates the 1E9 community platform. The Forum der Zukunft is a joint initiative between the two organisations housed at the Deutsches Museum campus.
Professional days (July 2-3) require tickets and are designed for conference-goers: speakers are industry leaders and researchers, content is practitioner-level. Public days (July 4-5) are free and open to all: the museum campus becomes a hands-on innovation festival with exhibits, performances and family activities.
AI is a major theme but not the only one. The festival covers robotics, health technology, gaming, XR, mobility, sovereignty and startup innovation. It functions as a broad future technology event rather than a specialist AI conference.
Museumsinsel (Museum Island) is a peninsula in the Isar river in central Munich hosting the Deutsches Museum, one of the world's largest science and technology museums. The venue address is Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München. Accessible by S-Bahn and U-Bahn from Munich Hauptbahnhof (approximately 10 minutes), and by tram lines 16 and 17.
The Deutsches Museum is Germany's national science and technology museum, founded in 1903, with a mission to make science and technology accessible to the general public. 1E9 Denkfabrik GmbH is a Munich technology media company that publishes the 1E9 technology magazine and operates the 1E9 community platform. Together they run the Forum der Zukunft as a permanent innovation hub and Festival der Zukunft as its annual flagship event.
Festival der Zukunft is Munich's annual technology festival at the Deutsches Museum, combining a 2-day professional conference with free public days that open Museum Island as an AI and robotics innovation lab for the general public.
Professional conference days (July 2-3) require tickets. Ticket prices for 2026 are not listed on third-party sources; check 1e9.community/events/festival-der-zukunft-2026 for current pricing. Public days (July 4-5) are free of charge and require no registration.
The venue is at Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München. From Munich Hauptbahnhof: S-Bahn to Isartor (approximately 5 minutes, 200 metres walk), or tram line 16/17 to Deutsches Museum stop. From Munich Airport: S8 to Munich city centre, approximately 40 minutes.
Yes. Admission to the Festival der Zukunft on July 4 and 5 is free and does not require registration. The Deutsches Museum campus is open to all visitors during those days.
Primarily German, given the audience and the Deutsches Museum's national role. International speakers may present in English. The programme specifies session languages.
| Official website | https://www.1e9.community/festival-der-zukunft/2026/deutsch |
| Deutsches Museum | https://www.deutsches-museum.de/festival-der-zukunft |