Overview
RAAIF NextGen Expo 2026 is a three-day technology exhibition and innovation program organized by the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Foundation (RAAIF). It brings together manufacturers, startups, investors, students, educational institutions, developers, technology professionals, and business visitors to explore emerging products, exchange ideas, build prototypes, and compete. The event is scheduled for 23–25 October 2026 at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, Mekhri Circle, Bengaluru, India. The listed daily event hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The site describes a physical exhibition with more than 50 exhibitors and an expected 10,000 trade visitors.
The exhibition spans nine areas: robotics and drones; artificial intelligence and emerging technology; 3D printing; electric mobility; gaming and extended reality; smart home and IoT; advanced manufacturing; electronics manufacturing; and consumer electronics. Live product showcases and technology demonstrations complement the competitions and learning sessions.
Program
The three-day schedule follows a build, learn, and showcase journey. On 23 October, school robotics teams compete in pathfinding, maze navigation, and technical tasks, while a college and startup hackathon begins with a problem briefing and prototype development sprints. Results for the school robotics competition are scheduled for the afternoon, alongside continuing hackathon work and mentor feedback.
On 24 October, morning activities include hands-on robotics and drone learning, covering hardware, telemetry, sensors, and microcontroller programming. A 3D-printing challenge introduces its design constraints, and drone competition flights are scheduled for the afternoon. The listed challenges test areas such as navigation, precision, obstacle handling, prototype design, and structural performance.
On 25 October, a morning emerging-technology webinar panel is scheduled to discuss agentic AI networks, semiconductors, and green batteries. Hackathon teams prepare and present their final prototypes, while parallel AR/VR and AI-film challenges focus on interactive virtual environments and AI-assisted filmmaking. The program concludes with exhibition recognition and awards for school, college, and startup participants, including cash prizes and developer certificates.
Challenges and workshops
The five featured hackathon and engineering challenge areas are AI and robotics, AR/VR, drones, 3D printing, and AI-based filmmaking. The page describes projects ranging from autonomous robotic problem-solving and immersive learning tools to flight trials, rapid mechanical prototypes, and short films created with generative AI tools.
Three hands-on workshops cover how robots see, sense, and think; how drones see, fly, and navigate; and how an idea can move from digital design to a 3D-printed prototype. Each is listed as a one-to-two-hour session. Workshop presenter details are not yet announced. The page also names Latha Rajinikanth, Founder of The Ashram, in a patronage role, and Dr. Arun Janarthanan of HCL Tech for felicitation; it does not identify them as program speakers.
Who should attend
The event is presented for school and college students, engineering teams, startups, manufacturers, business leaders, channel partners, investors, and technology professionals. Attendees can explore products, take part in competitions or workshops, showcase solutions, and connect with potential partners. The page provides registration options for visitors, exhibitors, hackathon participants, workshop attendees, and school teams. Exhibition booth pricing is listed separately, and general visitor registration is available through the event site.
