IIT Madras to Host Shaastra 2026 from January 2–6: New Events, Conferences, and Tech-Cultural Experiences Announced

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is set to host the 27th edition of its annual technical festival, Shaastra 2026, from January 2 to January 6, 2026, on its Chennai campus. One of India’s most prominent student-led technology festivals, Shaastra 2026 is expected to draw over 80,000 visitors from across the country, including students, educators, researchers, industry professionals, and the general public.

According to an official statement from IIT Madras, the five-day festival will feature around 80 events, 130 exhibition stalls, and a wide-ranging programme that blends competitions, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and cultural performances. Over the years, Shaastra has evolved from a campus-level tech event into a national platform that promotes innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and public engagement with science and technology.

Student-Led, Large-Scale Organisation

A defining feature of Shaastra is that it is entirely managed by students. For the 2026 edition, more than 750 IIT Madras students are involved in planning, coordination, and execution across multiple verticals. The institute noted that the festival follows an ISO 9001:2015-certified organisational process, underscoring its emphasis on structured planning, quality management, and professional execution.

First held in the year 2000, Shaastra has been organised annually for over two decades. With each edition, it has expanded in scale and scope, while retaining its core focus on student-led engagement with engineering, science, and emerging technologies.

Theme for Shaastra 2026: “Artifacts of Arcade”

The theme for this year’s festival, “Artifacts of Arcade,” frames Shaastra as a structured and interactive environment inspired by arcade-style progression systems. According to IIT Madras, the theme conceptualises the festival as a series of interconnected challenges where participants actively engage rather than passively observe.

Each competition, workshop, or demonstration is designed as an independent module, encouraging hands-on participation, experimentation, and problem-solving. The theme also aims to make technical concepts more accessible and engaging by presenting them through clearly defined stages and objectives.

New Events Introduced This Year

Shaastra 2026 will debut several new events, expanding its focus areas and introducing participants to cutting-edge domains.

One of the headline additions is Robo GP, a high-speed robotic racing challenge featuring nitro-powered systems. The event is designed to test precision engineering, control systems, and real-time problem-solving under competitive conditions.

Another major introduction is NeuroHack, IIT Madras’ first-ever brain–computer interface (BCI) hackathon. Participants will work with electroencephalogram (EEG) data, exploring how neural signals can be interpreted and applied in computing, healthcare, and assistive technologies.

The festival will also host BioBattle, an event centred on healthcare innovation inspired by biomimicry, encouraging teams to design solutions based on biological systems and natural processes.

Additional new events include:

• E-Contest, a coding competition built around non-conventional programming languages
• Quantified Dilemma, an interdisciplinary challenge combining game theory, psychology, and strategic decision-making

Together, these additions reflect Shaastra’s growing emphasis on interdisciplinary problem-solving and emerging research areas.

Focus on Educators: VidhyaVahak Conclave

Shaastra 2026 will also feature an Educators Conclave under the VidhyaVahak programme. This segment is aimed at teachers and educators, offering sessions focused on pedagogy, professional development, and peer interaction.

The conclave seeks to bridge the gap between academic research, classroom teaching, and evolving educational practices, positioning educators as key stakeholders in the broader science and technology ecosystem.

Conferences, Summits, and Academic Engagement

The academic core of Shaastra 2026 will include several conferences and summits designed to foster dialogue between academia, industry, and policymakers.

A major highlight is ICON26, an international conference focused on smart manufacturing and collaboration between universities and industry. The conference aims to address technological advancements, industrial innovation, and real-world implementation challenges.

Another key event is the Digital Governance Summit, which will explore citizen-centric governance models, digital public infrastructure, and the role of open-source technologies in public systems. The summit aligns with India’s expanding focus on digital governance and technology-driven public services.

Spotlight Lectures by Global Leaders

Shaastra 2026 will host a series of Spotlight Lectures featuring distinguished speakers from policy, science, and academia. According to IIT Madras, confirmed speakers include:

• Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India
• Prof. Jeffrey Ullman, Turing Award recipient
• Prof. Subra Suresh, former Director of the US National Science Foundation
• Dr. Vidita Vaidya, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize awardee

These lectures are expected to provide insights into global policy, foundational computer science, advanced research, and scientific leadership, offering students exposure beyond conventional curricula.

Cultural Programming and Evening Events

Evenings at Shaastra 2026 will combine technology-driven experiences with cultural performances, making the festival accessible and engaging for a wider audience.

Scheduled programmes include a Tech-Entertainment Night featuring electronic music, as well as a stand-up comedy performance. These events are part of Shaastra’s broader public engagement strategy, designed to balance intense technical programming with creative and recreational experiences.

Enreach: Extending Impact Beyond Campus

Shaastra’s outreach vertical, Enreach, will continue its work during the 2026 edition. According to IIT Madras, Enreach initiatives will focus on applying technical expertise to real-world social challenges.

Planned activities include:

• Working with small and medium enterprises on digital transformation planning
• Conducting ideathons addressing accessibility-related challenges
• Running cybersecurity awareness sessions for senior citizens

These initiatives aim to ensure that the festival’s impact extends beyond the IIT Madras campus and connects technical knowledge with societal needs.

A Platform for Innovation and Public Engagement

With its mix of competitions, research showcases, conferences, cultural events, and outreach programmes, Shaastra 2026 continues to position itself as more than a conventional college fest. It represents a large-scale experiment in student-led innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and public engagement with technology.

As IIT Madras prepares to welcome thousands of participants in early January, Shaastra 2026 is set to reaffirm its role as one of India’s most influential platforms for showcasing how technology, creativity, and social responsibility can intersect.