Miami XR 2026: Where Innovation Meets Imagination 2/12+13

Speakers

Keynote Speaker • Day 1 Chris Dede | Harvard Graduate School of Education Chris Dede is a Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was for 22 years its Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies.  His fields of scholarship include emerging technologies, policy, and leadership. From 2001-04, he was Chair of the HGSE Department of Teaching and Learning.  In 2007, he was honored by Harvard University as an outstanding teacher, and in 2011, he was named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association.  In 2023, he was named a Fellow of the Online Learning Consortium. And in 2024, he was named a Scholar of the Immersive Learning Research Network.

In 2020, Chris co-founded the Silver Lining for Learning initiative (https://silverliningforlearning.org). He is currently an Advisor to the Alliance for the Future of Digital Learning, sponsored by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiative (MBRGI). Also, Chris is a Co-Principal Investigator and Associate Director for Research of the NSF-funded National Artificial Intelligence Institute in Adult Learning and Online Education. His most recent co-edited books include: Teacher Learning in the Digital Age: Online Professional Development in STEM Education; Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Realities in Education; Learning engineering for online education: Theoretical contexts and design-based examples; and The 60-Year Curriculum: New Models for Lifelong Learning in the Digital Economy. His professional website is https://chrisdede.com.

Connect with our Sponsors

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors. Their support not only helps keep attendance at Miami XR affordable, but also fuels student opportunities and advances XR research at the University of Miami. This conference would not be possible without their partnership and commitment to innovation.

                    Become a Sponsor

Questions?

Contact Tom Merrick txm2025@miami.edu.

     Follow UMverse on LinkedIn

Speakers

Keynote Speaker • Day 1 Chris Dede | Harvard Graduate School of Education Chris Dede is a Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was for 22 years its Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies.  His fields of scholarship include emerging technologies, policy, and leadership. From 2001-04, he was Chair of the HGSE Department of Teaching and Learning.  In 2007, he was honored by Harvard University as an outstanding teacher, and in 2011, he was named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association.  In 2023, he was named a Fellow of the Online Learning Consortium. And in 2024, he was named a Scholar of the Immersive Learning Research Network.

In 2020, Chris co-founded the Silver Lining for Learning initiative (https://silverliningforlearning.org). He is currently an Advisor to the Alliance for the Future of Digital Learning, sponsored by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiative (MBRGI). Also, Chris is a Co-Principal Investigator and Associate Director for Research of the NSF-funded National Artificial Intelligence Institute in Adult Learning and Online Education. His most recent co-edited books include: Teacher Learning in the Digital Age: Online Professional Development in STEM Education; Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Realities in Education; Learning engineering for online education: Theoretical contexts and design-based examples; and The 60-Year Curriculum: New Models for Lifelong Learning in the Digital Economy. His professional website is https://chrisdede.com.

Connect with our Sponsors

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors. Their support not only helps keep attendance at Miami XR affordable, but also fuels student opportunities and advances XR research at the University of Miami. This conference would not be possible without their partnership and commitment to innovation.

 

              

 

             

 

                    Become a Sponsor

 

Questions?

Contact Tom Merrick txm2025@miami.edu.

 

     Follow UMverse on LinkedIn

Conference Organizers

The countdown to Miami XR 2026 has officially begun! Join us in Miami for two unforgettable days of discovery, connection, and creativity. Reconnect with the XR community while exploring groundbreaking research, inspiring talks, hands-on demos, interactive session, keynote speakers, and lively after-hours events.

Get ready for fresh ideas, new collaboration, and experiences that will spark creativity, shape careers, and change the future of immersive media. Here’s an early glimpse at our schedule of events.

DAY 1  Thursday, February 12, 2026 | Knight Center for Music Innovation
5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

5:00 PM Registration + Cocktail Hour Opens
5:30 PM Conference Opening + University of Miami Welcome
6:00 PM Lightning Talks (Round 1)VESVESVEVL
6:35 PM Keynote Speaker
6:55 PM Sponsor Remarks
7:00 PM Networking Cocktails
8:00 PM Event Ends

DAY 2 Friday, February 13, 2026 | Shalala Student Center Complex
1330 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

9:00 AM Registration Opens | Breakfast + Demos
10:00 AM Welcome Remarks
10:10 AM Lightning Talks (Round 2)
10:30 AM Keynote | CHRIS DEDE, Harvard Graduate School of Education
11:15 AM Coffee Break + Demos
11:30 AM PANEL 1:  Wearable Technologies
MODERATOR: Anna Queiroz, UM School of Communication, Department of Interactive Media
12:00 PM Lunch + Demos
1:30 PM Lightning Talks (Round 3)
1:50 PM Keynote | Monica Ares, Director of Content Transformation, Microsoft
2:35 PM Break + Demos and Posters
2:45 PM PANEL 2:  XR Education at The U
MODERATOR: Thomas Merrick, UM School of Communication, Department of Interactive Media
3:15 PM PANEL 3:  XR Health
3:45 PM Closing Remarks | Kim Grinfeder, University UMverse Lead
4:00 PM Networking Reception
5:30 PM Event Ends

Ticket Pricing | Register Now

Tickets are $75 for members of the XR community. Admission is free for UM faculty, staff, and students.  To claim your free ticket, please email idsc@miam.edu from your miami.edu email address to receive the PROMO CODE.

Submit your work to Miami XR 2026

Choose the format that best tells your story. We welcome submissions from students, artists, developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs at all levels.

• Lightning Talks: Deliver a high-impact, 5-minute presentation on your research, project, or bold idea. It’s perfect for sharing a key insight or a work-in-progress.
• Interactive Demos: Let people experience your work firsthand! Showcase your cutting-edge XR application, hardware, or interactive project in a hands-on environment.
• Posters: Present your research or creative project in a dynamic, visual format. This is a great opportunity to engage directly with attendees and spark new conversations during our dedicated poster sessions.

Submissions deadline: TBA

Submissions link: TBA

Let’s build the immersive future together in the heart of Miami. We can’t wait to see what you’ve created!

Content Themes

Connect with industry leaders, researchers, and future collaborators to sharpen your skills, build smarter, explore the latest in XR technology, and discover opportunities that could launch your career in XR.

Augmenting Human Potential
Explore how immersive technologies enhance human capabilities, from wearables to AR overlays, helping us think, work, and collaborate in entirely new ways.

Designing Worlds, Building Communities
Learn how XR storytelling and design foster belonging, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines, industries, and cultures.

Shaping the Future of Learning
Discover how XR and AI are transforming classrooms, training, and lifelong learning to create more personalized, engaging educational experiences.

From Lab to Market
Gain insights into how cutting-edge XR research moves from prototypes to real-world applications and discover pathways for students, startups, and industry innovators.

XR in Health and Well-Being
See how immersive media is being used in healthcare, therapy, and wellness to change the way we understand, diagnose, and heal.

The Next Creative Frontier
Experience how artists, designers, and storytellers are pushing XR beyond tools into a powerful medium for imagination and cultural expression.

Miami as a Living Lab
Celebrate the unique role of Miami as a global crossroads where technology, art, and diverse communities intersect to shape the future of immersive media.

Speakers

Keynote Speaker • Day 1 Chris Dede | Harvard Graduate School of Education Chris Dede is a Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was for 22 years its Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies.  His fields of scholarship include emerging technologies, policy, and leadership. From 2001-04, he was Chair of the HGSE Department of Teaching and Learning.  In 2007, he was honored by Harvard University as an outstanding teacher, and in 2011, he was named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association.  In 2023, he was named a Fellow of the Online Learning Consortium. And in 2024, he was named a Scholar of the Immersive Learning Research Network.

In 2020, Chris co-founded the Silver Lining for Learning initiative (https://silverliningforlearning.org). He is currently an Advisor to the Alliance for the Future of Digital Learning, sponsored by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiative (MBRGI). Also, Chris is a Co-Principal Investigator and Associate Director for Research of the NSF-funded National Artificial Intelligence Institute in Adult Learning and Online Education. His most recent co-edited books include: Teacher Learning in the Digital Age: Online Professional Development in STEM Education; Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Realities in Education; Learning engineering for online education: Theoretical contexts and design-based examples; and The 60-Year Curriculum: New Models for Lifelong Learning in the Digital Economy. His professional website is https://chrisdede.com.

Connect with our Sponsors

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors. Their support not only helps keep attendance at Miami XR affordable, but also fuels student opportunities and advances XR research at the University of Miami. This conference would not be possible without their partnership and commitment to innovation.

 

              

 

             

 

                    Become a Sponsor

 

Questions?

Contact Tom Merrick txm2025@miami.edu.

 

     Follow UMverse on LinkedIn

Conference Organizers

 

Thomas Merrick Senior Project Manager, XR Initiatives, UM School of Communication Department of Interactive Media	Kim Grinfeder Founding Chair and Professor, UM School of Communication Department of Interactive Media	Anna Muller Queiroz Associate Professor, UM School of Communication Department of Interactive Media Core Faculty Member, UM IDSC, Creative Technologies program
Thomas Sydnor President, University of Miami Chapter Kappa Theta Pi	Evelyn Cruz Director, Business Operations, IDSC	Jacqueline Green-Allen Sr. Administrative Assistant and Events Coordinator, IDSC
	Mia Uy Project Manager, The VESL, UM School of Communication, Department of Interactive Media Co-Founder and President, Kappa Theta Pi