The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras will host Shaastra 2026, its annual technical festival, from January 2 to January 6, 2026 . Held on the IIT Madras campus, the five-day event expects over 80,000 visitors . It will feature approximately 80 events and 130 stalls showcasing innovations developed at the institute.
Shaastra 2026 includes competitions, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and stage shows. These events cover engineering, science, public policy, and entrepreneurship. More than 750 students manage the festival, which holds ISO 9001:2015 certification.
The festival, now in its 27th edition, began in 2000. It serves as a national platform for science and technology engagement. The 2026 theme is “Artifacts of Arcade.” This theme frames the festival as an interactive, game-style ecosystem where events function as progressive challenges.
New Events for Shaastra 2026
Shaastra 2026 will introduce several new, specialized events:
- Robo GP : A robotic racing competition.
- BioBattle : Focuses on biomimicry and healthcare solutions.
- NeuroHack : A brain–computer interface hackathon using EEG data.
- E-Contest : Based on esoteric programming languages.
- Quantified Dilemma : Centers on game theory and strategic thinking.
- Educators Conclave : Part of the VidhyaVahak programme for professional development and networking.
Academic and Outreach Initiatives
Academic platforms include ICON26, an international conference on smart manufacturing. The Digital Governance Summit will discuss citizen-centric and open-source digital systems. Spotlight lectures will feature speakers from academia, government, and research institutions.
Evening entertainment programmes include a tech-entertainment music event and a stand-up comedy show. Outreach initiatives, under the Enreach program, support small and medium enterprises with digital transformation. They also include accessibility-focused ideathons and cybersecurity awareness sessions for senior citizens.
Hear4You Social Campaign
Shaastra continues its social initiative, Hear4You. This campaign promotes hearing health and accessibility. The Hear4You 5K Run is scheduled for December 28, 2025 . This inclusive run aims to raise public awareness about preventable hearing loss and foster inclusive communication.
V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, stated at a press conference, “Shaastra helps extend our technical efforts to the public. It demonstrates and engages the public, adhering to our motto of ‘IITM for all.’ Many first-of-its-kind hackathons in core technology areas are planned this year.”