Flagship: TEDxHarvard Square | The Future We Choose
The world is shifting faster than ever: politically, technologically, and culturally. The pace of change can feel overwhelming, as if the future is arriving before we’re ready. But moments like these remind us of something essential:
The future isn’t a force acting on us.
It’s a choice we make, together.
On February 21, 2026, TEDxHarvard Square returns, bringing together a community of founders, creators, investors, elite student talent from MIT and Harvard, scientists, builders, and dreamers who refuse to stand on the sidelines of history. This year, we’re raising our ambition with a single question guiding everything we do:
What future will we choose to build?
Why Attend:
A Front-Row Seat to the Ideas Shaping the Next Decade: Hear from innovators working at the frontier of AI, biology, creativity, climate, culture, and human connection. These are blueprints for what flourishing could look like in the years ahead.
A Gathering of MIT & Harvard’s Brightest Minds: Boston’s unmatched brain trust comes alive here. Elite talent from MIT, Harvard, and the region’s leading research institutions will join forces with global thinkers to push boundaries, spark innovation, and surface transformative ideas.
Meet the Founders Building Tomorrow: Some of the best and boldest startup founders will be in the room, from AI and biotech to robotics, sustainability, and next-gen consumer. For those seeking what’s next, this is where tomorrow’s category-defining companies first collide with future collaborators.
Discovery Sessions: Your Idea Playground: Across the city, immersive Discovery Sessions turn Boston into a laboratory for imagination. Experiment with emerging technology, explore creative practices, and redesign what’s possible alongside people who thrive on curiosity and courage. These aren’t passive workshops. They’re launchpads for new ways of thinking.
Dine-Around Experiences: Intimate dinner gatherings across Cambridge and Boston bring together speakers, founders, thinkers, and attendees in curated settings where conversation flows as freely as the ideas. These table moments often spark the most unexpected breakthroughs.
A Community of Purpose: Every corner of TEDxHarvardSquare is engineered for connection. Whether in high-energy gatherings or quiet spaces for reflection, you’ll meet people who are humble, brilliant, curious, and united by a belief that ideas, shared with intention, can reshape the world.
What to Expect
A full day of TEDx talks from global innovators
Elite talent from MIT, Harvard, and Boston’s research ecosystem
Hands-on Discovery Sessions
Interactive workshops and pop-up experiments
Dine-around gatherings and curated networking
Celebration, art, music, and community
A shared commitment to shaping a future worth stepping into
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Arrow Street Arts is located in the heart of Harvard Square, one of the most accessible areas in Cambridge.
🚇 MBTA Red Line
Harvard Square Station (3–5 minute walk)
Direct access from:
MIT (Kendall/MIT)
Central Square
Downtown Boston (Park Street / South Station connections)
🚌 Bus Routes
Multiple MBTA bus lines services Harvard Square, including:
66, 86, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 96
🚲 Blue Bikes
Several Blue Bike stations are located throughout Harvard Square for quick access from MIT, Central Square, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
🚗 Rideshare / Parking
Limited metered street parking is available.
We recommend Uber/Lyft or public transportation due to high weekend demand in Harvard Square.
Overnight Accommodations
Harvard Square and nearby Cambridge offer excellent hotel options within walking distance of the venue:
The Charles Hotel
One Bennett Street, Cambridge
Luxury hotel directly in Harvard Square (5-minute walk)
Harvard Square Hotel
110 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
Boutique option in the center of the square
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, Cambridge
400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston
10-minute drive / short rideshare
Studio Allston Hotel
1234 Soldiers Field Road, Boston
Creative boutique hotel nearby
Program
Saturday, February 21, 2026
📍 Arrow Street Arts, Cambridge
⏰ 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
8:00 AM: Doors Open
Registration, coffee, and early connection.
9:00 AM: Opening Remarks
Setting the stage for The Future We Choose.
Session I: A New Frontier
Breakthrough ideas at the edge of AI, science, and innovation.
Includes speaker talks, The Square Exchange (live Q&A), and a featured performance.
Mid-Morning Break
Discovery Sessions + curated networking.
Session II: Building on Purpose
Founders and leaders designing technology and institutions with intention.
Includes talks + live Q&A.
Lunch Break
Immersive experiences, curated conversations, and the Startup Showcase.
Session III: The Human Condition
Culture, creativity, and reimagining what it means to flourish.
Includes talks + live Q&A.
Afternoon Break
Session IV: Imagining Tomorrow
Bold visions for the next decade, and the responsibility to build them well.
Includes talks + live Q&A.
5:00 PM: Closing Remarks