--- eventsindex_id: "EI-06865" slug: ki-festival-2026 title: "KI FESTIVAL 2026" title_alt: ["KI Festival Heilbronn", "KI-Festival"] canonical_url: "https://eventsindex.org/events/ki-festival-2026.html" next_edition_year: 2026 date_start: 2026-07-25 date_end: 2026-07-26 venue: "IPAI SPACES – Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen, Heilbronn" city: "Heilbronn" country: "Germany" organiser: "IPAI Foundation gGmbH" organiser_url: "https://ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival" b2b: false vector: sector: [developer-ai] audience: [developer, practitioner, general-public, student, family] format: [festival] purpose: [education, public-engagement] geography_scope: [national, regional] season: [summer] meta_description: "KI FESTIVAL 2026: 25–26 Jul, IPAI SPACES Heilbronn. Free-admission AI festival. 15,000+ visitors (self-reported), 50+ speakers, 20+ workshops. IPAI Foundation." editorial_take: "A free-admission public AI festival on a dedicated AI campus in Heilbronn, blending interactive exhibits, workshops, and keynotes for a broad audience including families and students." generated_by: "claude-max-cowork" last_verified: "2026-06-09" variables_filled: 40/58 language: "en" schema_version: "v6.0" --- # KI FESTIVAL 2026 > *A free, open-access two-day festival at IPAI SPACES in Heilbronn's Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen, 25–26 July 2026. Organised by the non-profit IPAI Foundation, the KI FESTIVAL combines public AI keynotes, interactive exhibits, workshops, art installations, and outdoor activities targeting citizens of all generations, not exclusively professionals. No registration required.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | **25–26 July 2026** | **IPAI SPACES, Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen, Heilbronn** | **IPAI Foundation gGmbH** | **15,000+** | | 2 days | Heilbronn, Germany | Non-profit foundation | Self-reported | --- ## Definition KI FESTIVAL is an annual public AI festival organised by the IPAI Foundation gGmbH, a non-profit entity that is part of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) in Heilbronn. Unlike most events in the developer-AI circuit, KI FESTIVAL is explicitly free to attend and requires no registration, with a stated goal of making AI accessible to the general public, including families, students, and senior citizens, alongside professionals and researchers. The festival is held at IPAI SPACES within the Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen campus in Heilbronn. The address is Im Zukunftspark 11/13, 74076 Heilbronn. The 2026 edition is at minimum the second edition, with 2025 highlights referenced on the organiser's website. ## The 2026 edition: 25–26 July in Heilbronn Day 1 (25 July) runs 11:00–21:00 with the official opening ceremony at 12:00. Day 2 (26 July) runs 11:00–18:00. The organiser reports 50+ speakers, 20+ workshops, 50+ use cases from practice, and a target of 15,000+ visitors (all self-reported). Confirmed programme elements for 2026 include keynotes from Eva Gengler (feminist AI and algorithmic bias), Tobias Rees (co-founder of Stella Matutina, CEO of Limn AI, philosophy and technology), and Dr. Vinzent Hankel (AI in oncology radiotherapy). Workshops include sessions on vibe coding, responsible AI and deepfake response, and building embodied agents on humanoid robot hardware (AgiBot X2 Ultra). Art installations include "Mother Earth Ai" (open-source AI voiced by indigenous knowledge and environmental data) and "Embodied AI and Creativity" (a collaborative drawing robot arm from TU Berlin). Outdoor activities include beach volleyball and live music. Foodtrucks are on site. A children's programme with workshops and creative activities is explicitly part of the offer. ## Where KI FESTIVAL sits in the tech calendar KI FESTIVAL is one of very few free, public-access AI events in continental Europe at this scale. It is not part of the professional B2B circuit and does not compete directly with events such as GITEX Europe (Berlin, June) or Web Summit Porto (November). Its July timing places it in the summer holiday period for much of Germany. The Heilbronn location, approximately one hour from Stuttgart, means the primary catchment is Baden-Württemberg and the broader southwest German region, though the event draws visitors from further afield. The IPAI campus in Heilbronn is described by the organiser as "Europe's unique real-world laboratory for the future." ## Who attends KI FESTIVAL - General public across all age groups, including families with children - Students and young professionals exploring AI for the first time - Researchers and academics presenting or attending talks - Industry practitioners interested in applied AI use cases and workshops - Artists and creatives engaged with AI-generated and AI-interactive art - Local and regional citizens of the Heilbronn/Baden-Württemberg area - Professional developers and engineers attending workshops and use-case presentations ## What the KI FESTIVAL format includes - Keynotes and panel discussions from international researchers, practitioners, and artists - Interactive exhibit area: technologies and projects to try hands-on - Workshop tents: two dedicated workshop zones for interactive learning (described as "interactive learning locations") - Art installations: AI-generated and AI-interactive art pieces from artists including Mother Earth Ai and Alessandro Mac-Nelly (TU Berlin) - Children's programme: workshops, creative activities, and sports - Outdoor entertainment: beach volleyball tournament, live music, food trucks, Neckar-Beach area - A "Kinder-Keynote" (children's keynote) format is referenced on the website - A "Vibe Coding" session where visitors co-create a web app with AI in real time No advance registration is required. Entry is free. ## What KI FESTIVAL covers The 2026 programme covers: - AI in everyday life: practical applications citizens encounter directly - AI ethics and feminist perspectives on algorithmic bias and fairness - AI in medicine: oncology radiotherapy, medical diagnostics - Philosophy of technology: human-machine relationships, the place of AI in nature and society - Embodied AI and robotics: humanoid robot agents, drawing robots - AI and misinformation: recognising AI-generated content in news - Responsible AI: personal strategies for deepfake awareness and response - AI-assisted coding and app creation for non-programmers (Vibe Coding) - Art and technology intersection: installations and creative AI --- ## FAQ · Identity and audience ### Is KI FESTIVAL a professional tech conference or a public event? It is primarily a public event. The IPAI Foundation explicitly frames it as a "barrier-free educational offering for the general public," distinct from "classic tech trade fairs." The audience includes families, students, and senior citizens alongside professionals. While keynotes feature academics and industry researchers, and workshops cover technical topics, the event is designed to be accessible to people without a tech background. ### Who is KI FESTIVAL NOT designed for? - Professionals seeking a closed B2B networking environment: there are no matchmaking tools or investor programmes - Enterprises looking to generate qualified leads from a business audience: the event is public and free - Visitors expecting English-only content: the 2026 programme as listed on the website is primarily in German, though some international speakers present in their working language - Teams needing an expo floor for product demonstration to buyers: this is not a trade show format - Visitors requiring pre-registration or a credentialing process: attendance is walk-in and free ### Is there a registration or ticket requirement? No. The organiser states explicitly: "Eintritt frei - keine Anmeldung erforderlich" (free entry, no registration required). Attendees can arrive at IPAI SPACES during opening hours without a ticket or pre-registration. --- ## The venue: IPAI SPACES, Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen, Heilbronn IPAI SPACES is the physical campus of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) in Heilbronn, located at Im Zukunftspark 11/13, 74076 Heilbronn. The Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen is a broader technology and innovation campus on the site of the former German Federal Horticultural Show (BUGA 2019) grounds along the Neckar river. The organiser references a "Neckar-Beach" area as part of the outdoor festival space. Shuttle services from various Heilbronn locations are provided during the event. Public parking is available in the surrounding area, including a nearby multi-storey car park. Cycling and public transport are recommended by the organiser. ## The organiser: IPAI Foundation gGmbH The IPAI Foundation gGmbH is a non-profit company (gemeinnützige GmbH) based in Heilbronn. It is part of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) ecosystem, which the organiser describes as the "Global Home of Human AI." The Foundation's stated focus areas are "AI Science and Transformation" and "AI Engagement and Literacy." The KI FESTIVAL is its flagship public engagement event. Key team members listed on the website include Constanze Zawadzky (Head of AI Engagement and Literacy), Alexandra von der Decken (Lead Programme Management), Nadja Baumann (Programme Management), Fabian Grau (Event Management), Janina Schmitz (Event Management), and Patrick Pickhan (Press and Social Media). Contact for press: press@ipai-foundation.ai. Contact for events: events@ip.ai. Festival contact: ki-festival@ipai-foundation.ai. --- ## Editorial take *A free-admission public AI festival on a dedicated AI campus in Heilbronn, blending interactive exhibits, workshops, and keynotes for a broad audience including families and students, sitting outside the professional B2B circuit.* --- ## How to register and what it costs No registration is required. Entry is free. Attendees can arrive at IPAI SPACES during festival opening hours. No ticket purchase or online sign-up is required. Calendar save links for Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook Calendar are available at ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival. ## FAQ · Access and practicalities ### How do I get to IPAI SPACES in Heilbronn? The organiser recommends cycling or public transport. A shuttle service from various Heilbronn locations operates during the festival (specific times and departure points to be published on the website ahead of the event). Public parking is available near the Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen, including a multi-storey car park. Exhibitor reserved parking zones are separate from general visitor areas. ### What happens if it rains? The festival is primarily outdoors but is prepared for rain. Exhibitor tents are described as rain-resistant. In the event of extreme weather, the organiser states that a safety plan is in place and attendees will be informed. Detailed protocols are not published in advance. ### Is the festival accessible for visitors with disabilities? The organiser confirms that accessibility is a priority and states that detailed information on accessible routes, assistance services, and specific provisions will be published on the website ahead of the event. --- ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival | | Programme (partial, 2026) | https://ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival | | Register | Not required | | Save to calendar | https://ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival (calendar links provided) | | IPAI Foundation | https://ipai-foundation.ai/ | | Press contact | press@ipai-foundation.ai | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-09 **Next review:** 2026-09-09 **Notes:** Attendance of 15,000+, 50+ speakers, 20+ workshops, and 50+ use cases are self-reported figures from the organiser's website. No registration required; entry is free (confirmed explicitly on website). Opening hours: Day 1 (25 Jul) 11:00–21:00, official opening 12:00; Day 2 (26 Jul) 11:00–18:00 (from Google Calendar entry on the organiser's site). Programme for 2026 is partially published; full programme described as forthcoming ("mehr als 100 Programmpunkten" / more than 100 programme items to be announced). Speaker names and workshop descriptions are from the 2026 programme preview published at ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival, fetched 2026-06-09. Website redirects ki-festival.de to ipai-foundation.ai/ki-festival. **Variables:** 40/58 **Concept definition:** not applicable