Zurich is preparing to reignite the debate with an international event, designed as a space for discussion between the public and innovators.

Artificial intelligence is experiencing an unprecedented acceleration, with increasingly visible effects on every productive sector, as well as on everyday life. As this technology itself becomes more powerful and pervasive, the need to develop and use it responsibly is also growing, preventing innovation from progressing faster than the collective capacity to understand its limitations and implications.

It is from this urgency that the "Zurich AI Festival”, ready to return from September 28 to October 3, 2026, as a neutral space for discussion between different worlds. The event brings together universities and research centers, as well as companies, startups, policymakers, and the public, with the aim of exploring where AI is headed and what urgent challenges require interdisciplinary collaboration.

Following the previous edition, which helped strengthen the dialogue between the scientific and industrial ecosystems, the next event aims to give even greater international visibility to the Swiss innovation system, fostering both local connections and cross-border exchanges. This approach positions the city of Zurich (and Switzerland with it) as a global hub for an open debate on the social impact of artificial intelligence.

Record numbers from a city transformed into a stage

Innovation and public debate on artificial intelligence They were also the two main protagonists of the last edition of the festival, which took place from 29 September to 4 October, as an initiative of theETH AI Center and of "Greater Zurich Area“, in collaboration with the Canton of Zurich and Zurich Tourism. The numbers speak for themselves: over 6.500 participants, more than 300 speakers, a 48 percent international audience, and a program consisting of 26 events, thanks to the contribution of 44 partners and a widespread network of 17 different locations.

Indeed, the festival's distinctive feature is its widespread nature, encompassing iconic locations across the city and, implicitly, its innovation ecosystem. Among the most significant venues are ETH Zurich and the ETH Meeting Center, Technopark Zurich, and startup hubs, as well as less conventional spaces for an AI event, such as the Kunsthaus Zurich and leading healthcare facilities like University Hospital Zurich. This broad and expansive geography alone conveys the idea of ​​a festival that cannot be limited (neither in intention nor in logistics) to a single venue, but rather conceived as an open platform. connected to the urban fabric and the research network that revolves around Zurich.

Key events in 2025: robotics, healthcare, and policy

The program of the “Zurich AI Festival” 2025 clearly showed how far artificial intelligence is already going. very different fields, from research to health, up to the most everyday applications. Last year, particular attention was also drawn by the presence of Google which, through the voice of its Country Director in Switzerland, reaffirmed the long-standing ties with Zurich, where the company has been present for over twenty years and employs thousands of people, becoming an integral part of the local technology ecosystem.

The mosaic of events then touched on the world of robotics and tech entrepreneurship with a summit dedicated to founders and startups at Technopark Zurich. The clinical dimension came to the forefront with meetings hosted by University Hospital Zurich, specifically focusing on AI in the operating room. Themes of responsibility and governance were also addressed in sessions dedicated to Responsible AI and a summit on AI policies. The cultural component also included events that intertwined technology and art, including performances and events at the Kunsthaus Zurich.

Talent and Investment: Here's What to Expect from the 2026 Edition

Zurich is preparing to return to the centre of the debate on artificial intelligence once again with the 2026 edition. As already anticipated, the festival is an initiative of the ETH AI Center and the “Greater Zurich Area”, co-created with the Canton of Zurich and Zurich Tourism, joined by the City of Zurich as an equal partner in 2026, along with leading players from academia, industry, institutions, and the local AI ecosystem. These realities take shape with the faces of the team: Helga Rietz for the ETH AI Center and Sabine Mueller for "Greater Zurich Area".

While waiting for details on the program and the numerous locations, the direction of the next edition is certainly already mapped out, with the aim of accelerating collaboration between research and industry, strengthening Zurich's attractiveness for talent and investment, and also reaching out to those who are currently building the next generation of technology leaders.

And it won't be an event reserved for insiders., precisely because the aim is to make artificial intelligence more accessible, opening spaces for participation and public debate, raising awareness and fueling inclusive conversations on how AI is already helping to shape the future, between opportunities, responsibilities and concrete impacts.

Tech-Talks: AI Innovation at the Zurich AI Festival 2025

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