Future Fest Connect 2026 Announced!

Learn the Future. See the Future. Be the Future.

April 21-22, 2026 • Durham Convention Center • 301 W Morgan St • Durham, NC 27701

Welcome to Future Fest Connect, the East Coast’s premier convention celebrating technology, gaming, and the creative future.

Here, visionaries, developers, educators, and dreamers come together to explore the ideas and tools shaping tomorrow — from investment to game development and storytelling.

Whether you’re building the next great game, launching a tech startup, or simply curious about what’s next, Future Fest Connect is where your future begins.

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EPIC GAMES LEARNING LAB

The Epic Games Education team will be hosting a learning lab with a variety of hands-on workshops and talks related to the Epic ecosystem.

Our History
Heather Chirtea smiling outdoors, with a backdrop of trees and a park, overlaid with stylized graphics and text reading "Heather Chirtcea" and a logo for Future Fest Connect.

Introducing Our Featured Speaker!

Meet Heather Chirtea!

Learn more about Heather Chirtea and our other speakers!

Speakers

Innovation Focus

Cutting-Edge Demos, Panels, and Emerging Tech

Step into the future of gaming, tech, and creativity. The Innovation Showcase is the centerpiece of Future Fest Connect — a dynamic space where the latest technologies and ideas come to life.

Interactive Demos: Experience the newest breakthroughs in game design, AR/VR storytelling, education, and esports infrastructure.

Startup Spotlights: Discover groundbreaking work from indie studios and early-stage tech innovators as they present live demos to investors and the public.

Thought-Leader Panels: Hear from industry pioneers as they explore how technology is transforming entertainment, education, and communication.

Hands-On Tech Labs: Dive into live workshops hosted by major software and hardware companies — learn tools, try new platforms, and prototype with cutting-edge systems.

A group of people at a booth for the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, with a computer monitor showing a video game and promotional materials on the table, engaging in conversation.
A woman in a pink dress and black jacket holding a microphone surrounded by several people in a gaming or tech event. A man with headphones and a gaming controller is seated in front of a computer, with others standing nearby, inside a large room with brick walls and purple lighting.