Top AI Events in Boston 2026

Boston is one of the main global hubs for technology and academia, bringing universities, research groups, startups and software companies into the same network. Within this ecosystem, AI has become a common focus, reflected in a growing number of events and conferences where professionals come together to share concrete projects, lessons learned and where they see the field heading next.

In this blog, we’ll walk through the top AI events in Boston for 2026, and why each one deserves a spot in your agenda. 

#1 ODSC East 2026 (Open Data Science Conference)

Date: April 28-30, 2026

Location: Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA

Format: In-person with virtual option.

What can you expect? A three day conference focused on applied data science, machine learning and AI. The program includes tracks on topics like agentic AI and workflow automation, LLMs and RAG, AI engineering and MLOps, plus data science and data engineering. Expect a mix of talks, tutorials and hands-on training sessions, with more than 55 workshops and 250 speakers sharing how they build and run AI systems in practice.

Ideal for: Data scientists, software engineers, company founders, AI practitioners. 

👉Read more here for the full ODSC AI East program. 

#2 2026 MIT AI Conference

Date: April 14, 2026

Location: Boston Marriott Cambridge, Cambridge, MA

Format: In-person with virtual option.

What can you expect? A one day conference focused on AI and technology strategy. It looks at how organizations can use emerging AI tools in a reliable, scalable and responsible way, highlighting recent work from MIT and its partners. Topics include future AI architectures, AI management and deployment, real world applications, social impact and policy, giving participants a forward looking view of where AI is headed and how to prepare for it. 

Ideal for: CTOs, VPs of Engineering, product leaders, and senior stakeholders who are deciding how AI fits into their technology roadmap.

👉Read more here for the full MIT AI Conference.

‍#3 Data + AI Leadership Forum at Data Summit 2026

Date: May 6-7, 2026

Location: Hyatt Regency Boston, MA

Format: In-person

What can you expect? New in 2026, this executive forum brings business and technology leaders together around data and AI strategy. The agenda centers on topics like governance, trust, responsible AI and value realization, through expert talks, panels, executive roundtables and peer advisory sessions. The goal is to share practical ways to advance data and AI capabilities across the enterprise and connect them to real business outcomes.

Ideal for: Senior executives leading enterprise data and AI initiatives, and other data-driven decision makers

👉Read more here for the official overview.

#4 QCon AI Boston 2026

Date: June 1-2, 2026

Location: Boston University, George Sherman Union, Boston, MA.

Format: In-person 

What can you expect?  QCon AI Boston is focused on AI-driven engineering and how real teams use AI across the software lifecycle. Talks are led by senior developers, architects and engineering leaders who share concrete blueprints, production stories and lessons learned from scaling AI in complex enterprise systems. Key topics include shipping AI features faster inside the SDLC, designing resilient production-ready AI platforms, MLOps and observability, governance and security, and keeping AI costs under control.

Ideal for: Senior developers, architects and engineering leaders scaling enterprise AI

👉Read more here for the full Qcon AI program. 

#5 Boston AI Week 2026

Date: September 24 - October 1, 2026

Location: Boston, MA

Format: In-person 

What can you expect?   The world’s first and largest citywide festival fully dedicated to AI, bringing together Massachusetts’ AI ecosystem in one week: enterprises, startups, investors, researchers, artists, students and government. The 2026 edition offers more than 300 sessions, workshops, panels and community events across Boston. The focus is on making AI accessible and inclusive, while showing concrete applications in areas like healthcare, robotics, biotech, climate and more.

Ideal for: Executives, founders, engineers, tech workers, investors, researchers, students, policymakers and anyone curious about how AI is being used across different sectors.

👉Read more here for the official overview.