We are thrilled to announce a new Keynote Session in the SXSW EDU 2026 lineup!
Join Bruce Reed and Dr. Laurie Santos as they share how we can advocate to improve young people’s mental wellbeing despite the rapidly changing technological landscape in their Keynote, Improving Young Minds & Mental Wellbeing in the AI Era.
The full Podcast Stage lineup is here, with more live podcast recordings than ever before at SXSW EDU. Sixteen podcasts will take the stage and record live episodes in front of an audience, with two podcasts featuring students, an interview with a bestselling author, and others tackling topics from how to lead with intention in higher education to strategies for sustaining heritage languages.
The Launch Startup Competition judging panel is expanding! Kevin Johnstun, program officer for the education program at Walton Family Foundation, will be joining the lineup and judging the competition live.
Plus, explore 59 new mentors and learn more about how to make reservations.
Keynote
Improving Young Minds & Mental Wellbeing in the AI Era
This conversation will focus on an urgent question: how are rapidly evolving technologies and social media shaping young people’s mental health, and how can families, educators, and policymakers best respond? We’ll first explore the science behind mental wellbeing. Building on this foundation, we'll examine how digital platforms, emerging technologies, and algorithm-driven systems can both support and undermine children’s and families’ mental health — and how policymakers should respond. Attendees will emerge with an understanding of common-sense guardrails we can all advocate for to improve young people’s mental wellbeing in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
- Bruce Reed, Head of AI, Common Sense Media
- Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology & Host of The Happiness Lab podcast, Yale University
Podcasts
- Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence Podcast: Adolescence, AI, & Authentic Human Connection
- Beyond Voting: Defending Truth in Education: AI, Equity, & Power
- Chalk & Gavel: Navigating the Tides of an Education Law Sea Change
- Coffee with a Little Bit of Cream: Bringing Students Back from the Brink
- Hsu Untied: Beyond Numbers: Decision-Making in the Math Classroom
- On Our Minds Road Trip: A Conversation with Austin Students
- P.S. Weekly: How Teen Journalists Drive Change in Their Communities
- Plot Twist: Power, Protest, & Politics in Young World
- SERP Stories: When Teens Can’t, Won’t, & Don’t Read: What We Can Do
- Talking to Grandma: AI in the Age of AI: Ancestral Intelligence in Schools
- The Joy of Neurodiversity: The Blindspot: Why Neurodiversity Needs More than Awareness
- The Learning Geeks: How to Think When Machines Think Faster
- Tomorrow's Principal Podcast: Don't Stop at Disruption
- Trending in Ed: March Madness of Learning Trends 2026
- Voices For Justice: Who Gets to Finish? A Movement for Completion Justice
- Weekly Wisdom Live: Inside the Playbook of 100 Presidents
Mentors
An exciting 59 new mentors have been added to the Mentor Program, completing the one-on-one mentor lineup.
- Alex Calder
- Angela James
- Arjun Sharda
- Carlene Thomas
- Caroline McDade
- Chaundria Smith
- Christine Veras
- Clara Kaluderovic
- Cole Wilson
- Dan Cox
- Dhairya Pujara
- Elisa Garcia
- George Hademenos
- George Stein
- Gia Fanelli
- Harold Hughes
- Harvey Watson
- Ida “Rosie” Battiste
- Izzat Jarudi
- Jane Shore
- Jay Veal
- Jennifer Gnau
- Jenny McClure
- Jess Plaza
- Jess Zafarris
- Joseph Meersman
- Julia Goffredi
- Karen Whitney LaVohn
- Karima Wilson
- Kasey Yanna
- Kimasia Ayers
- Krissy Metzler
- Kristin Nafziger
- Lauren Anderson
- Lisa Donovan
- Mark Greenburg
- Mike Mitchell
- MParis Gamble
- Nada Rayyes
- Natatlie Thompson
- Rachel Vicente
- Ricky Holm
- Ron Rapatalo
- Sara Sanders
- Sarah Bond
- Sarah DiMaria
- Scott Goldstein
- Shannon Terry
- Shelly Veron
- Shoko Fox
- Sophia Acevedo
- Steph Campbell
- Stephan Bragner
- Thom Chesney
- Toby Fischer
- Tracee Duerson
- Warith Muhammad
- Will McCoy
- William Jackson
Reservations
Skip the walk-up line for up to two sessions a day at SXSW EDU 2026! Reserve your spot starting Monday, February 23 on a first-come, first-served basis for Keynotes, Featured Sessions, Workshops, and Mentor Sessions.
Learn More About How to Reserve
Don’t Miss Out On SXSW EDU 2026
Register and book your hotel today to break new ground in education through compelling sessions, in-depth workshops, mentorship, film screenings, trailblazing competitions, a dynamic expo, networking opportunities, and so much more at SXSW EDU from March 9-12, 2026.
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SXSW EDU Speaker Photos (left to right in order of appearance):
