NEW INC, the New Museum's cultural incubator, has announced the full schedule for DEMO2026, a three-day art, design, and technology festival running from June 3–5 at the New Museum's newly expanded OMA-designed building on the Bowery. The festival features keynote speakers including multimedia artist Lawrence Lek, cultural historian Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, artist and Ojas sound system founder Devon Turnbull, NTS Radio founder Femi Adeyemi, and artist-engineer Xin Liu. Public programming includes demonstrations, performances, workshops, and talks showcasing projects by 39 current NEW INC members, with a Track Showcase on view through June 10. This marks the first edition of DEMO held in the New Museum's expanded space since its reopening.
DEMO2026 matters because it represents the evolution of the first museum-born cultural incubator, which since 2014 has supported interdisciplinary creative practitioners at the intersection of art, design, technology, and science. The festival's public opening in 2023 and its move to the New Museum's expanded building signal a growing institutional commitment to bridging experimental creative practice with public engagement. By connecting emerging practitioners with industry leaders and offering accessible ticketing, DEMO2026 serves as a bellwether for how museums can foster innovation and community in the rapidly converging fields of art and technology.