North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details. For ongoing events, click here.
Don’t miss anything: Get Dallas Innovates Every Day. And, if you know of a great event, tell us about it. Event details courtesy of organizers.
Monday, March 30 through Tuesday, March 31
Convergence AI Dallas: Where Artificial Intelligence and Business Meet
Hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber
Irving Convention Center, Irving
10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
Early bird registration for Convergence AI Dallas 2026 is now open! Entering its third year, Convergence AI is one of the largest business gatherings dedicated to AI in the Dallas–Fort Worth region. Here’s what’s on deck:
- Keynotes by leading AI experts from Fortune 1000 companies
- Convergence Labs, presented by Slalom – Hands-on learning with top AI leaders
- 2026 Dallas Innovates AI 75 Reception – Honoring DFW’s AI visionaries
- Startup Alley – Showcasing DFW’s AI startups
Just like in 2025, more than 700 leaders, from trailblazing entrepreneurs to top-tier executives, will dive into in-depth discussions and insights on the latest trends and innovations in AI.
Thursday, April 2
First Thursday IoT Happy Hour – The Pilot Trap: How a Structured Approach Can Turn Pilots Into Successful Initiatives
Hosted by IoT Texas
SpringHill Suites Dallas/Richardson/Plano, 3251 E President George Bush Hwy., Richardson
6:30 to 8 p.m.
In this talk, we’ll examine why proof-of-concept projects so often fail to produce real outcomes—and how a structured approach to experimentation can turn promising pilots into successful initiatives. If your organization is building AI experiments but struggling to translate them into real value, this session will show why the problem is more predictable—and more solvable—than it appears.
Featured speaker is Ken Lowe, a technology strategist and consultant with over 30 years of experience helping organizations turn ambitious ideas into working systems. Come early and stay late to network with other technology professionals. Bar (self-paid) opens at 5 p.m.
—
ULI 8th Impact Awards
Hosted by The Urban Land Institute DFW
Perot Museum of Science and Nature, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas
6 to 10 p.m.
The Impact Awards return for their 8th edition April 2 at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, celebrating the visionary projects, people, and partnerships that shape the built environment of Dallas-Fort Worth.
In a refreshed format, the 2026 Impact Awards will spotlight outstanding real estate projects across a newly aligned set of categories, honoring outstanding achievements in real estate development that exemplify innovation, sustainability, equity, and community impact—core tenets of the Urban Land Institute’s global content pillars. In addition, three distinct individuals will be celebrated with our People Awards, recognizing and honoring their contribution to our community and industry.
As with years prior, proceeds of this event support ULI Dallas-Fort Worth in furthering the ULI mission via education programs and volunteer outreach to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in our local communities and worldwide. These efforts include the local UrbanPlan and UP4PO (Urban Plan for Public Officials) programs, Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) for municipalities and communities, Building Industry Leaders career mentoring program offered in cooperation with the Boys and Girls Clubs in Dallas and Fort Worth, and programs like RE:Generation and Pathways to Inclusion.
Wednesday, April 8
State of Child Care
Hosted by The Dallas Regional Chamber
Pegasus Park, Dallas
8:30 to 10 a.m.
At the DRC’s biannual State of Child Care, presented by Texas Mutual Insurance Co., civic and business leaders will explore the critical importance of accessible and quality child care for the Dallas Region’s economy and how employer-led solutions are yielding returns.
The “workforce behind the workforce,” child care providers enable labor force participation among parents with young children, and challenges in child care access cost the state north of $9 billion annually.
In a keynote conversation, Dallas County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins will discuss Dallas County’s multi-pronged efforts to expand access to child care services for working parents. Following the keynote, a panel of business leaders, including representatives from Dallas College, Children’s Health, Parkland Health and Texas Mutual, will discuss their respective approaches to supporting employee access to child care. Kelsey Clark, Managing Director & Partner with BCG, will also provide a data briefing on the return-on-investment of employer child care benefits.
Thursday, April 9
North Texas Capital Access Convening
Hosted by The DEC Network
CreateFW, 600 Bryan Ave., #220, Fort Worth
noon to 2 p.m.
The North Texas Capital Access Convening brings together entrepreneurs, lenders, and ecosystem leaders for one powerful goal: expanding access to capital across North Texas.
This dynamic, panel-style conversation features rotating voices from across the capital stack — including a Capital Access Advocate, CDFI Partner, Trusted Connector, Entrepreneur, and Moderator — offering real-world insights into what it takes to move funding from conversation to connection.
Whether you’re a founder seeking capital, a lender looking to deploy it, or a partner supporting the ecosystem, this convening is designed to spark meaningful relationships, practical insight, and actionable pathways to funding.
Friday, April 10
Quaint Quant Conference
Sponsored by Agora Data, SMU Cox School of Business, Fancy Quant
SMU Cox School of Business, Dallas
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Quaint Quant Conference—the South’s only dedicated quantitative finance event—returns on Friday, April 10, 2026, hosted at the SMU Cox School of Business in Dallas. Now in its fourth year, the conference continues its mission to unite leading quantitative finance professionals, academics, and students to explore the innovations shaping financial markets and the future of data‑driven strategy.
The conference offers an intentionally casual environment designed for meaningful, high-value engagement. Attendees participate in deep-dive presentations, applied discussions, and career-focused sessions. The event builds on the momentum of the 2025 conference, which featured distinguished speakers from institutions including Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, KeyBank, JP Morgan Chase, Google, and H2O.ai.
Monday, April 20 through Wednesday, April 22
E-Capital Summit
Hosted by Earthx
Hilton Anatole, Dallas
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
As part of the Earthx2026 Congress of Conferences, the annual E-Capital Summit is an invitation-only sustainability-focused investment and industry innovation summit that has convened, inspired, and catalyzed action from more than 3,200 of the country’s and world’s leading investors, innovators, dealmakers, industry, and broader innovation & investment ecosystem professionals from over 40 states and 25 countries (including active participation from more than 570 leading investors and more than 630 emerging innovators).
The 2026 E-Capital Summit will continue to build on momentum of the past nine Summits and will continue to focus on catalyzing action and meaningful connections.The Summit is expected to convene ~400 attendees comprised of: 1/3 investors (~50% family offices/HNWIs), 1/3 innovators (both early-stage and growth-stage companies), and the remaining 1/3 will represent corporate & industry leaders, policymakers, incubators & accelerators, and others in the broader innovation & investment ecosystem. The invitation-only audience will continue to be diverse and high-quality: 50% of attendees will come from outside Texas, nearly half of attendees will be growth-stage focused, more than half of attendees will be new and personally invited by the EarthX team based on hundreds of meetings and personal outreach.
You must request an invitation to attend.
Tuesday, April 21
The Sentinel Defense Forum at SMU: The Business of Aerospace, Defense & National Security
Hosted by SMU Cox School of Business
SMU Cox Collins Executive Education Center, 3150 Brinkley, Dallas
5:30 to 8 p.m.
The SMU Cox School of Business and Lyle School of Engineering invite you to attend the inaugural Sentinel Defense Forum. The event convenes leaders from industry, finance, investment, academia and the non-profit sector to discuss trends and opportunities in aerospace, defense and national security. Two panel discussions will be featured, one on the State of Aerospace & Defense Today and one on Startups and Success Stories in Aerospace and Defense.
The event is free, but registration is required.
Thursday, April 23 through Thursday, April 30
20th Anniversary Dallas International Film Festival
Hosted by DIFF
Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Victory Park, Texas Theatre, Virgin Hotels Dallas, and more venues TBA
Various times and locations
Roll out the red carpet for the 20th Anniversary Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) April 23-30.
Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Victory Park, located near American Airlines Center at 2365 Victory Park Lane, returns as the host venue. Additional screenings and events will be held at the historic Texas Theatre and the artful Virgin Hotels Dallas, returning for the fourth year as the Premier Sponsor of the Festival, along with other world-class Dallas destinations to be announced.
New this year will be the first-ever DIFF Industry Conference, presented in collaboration with Dallas Film Commission. The conference will feature panels on filmmaking, television production, and how to thrive in an ever-changing industry.
The Dallas International Film Festival will feature more than 125 film screenings, panels, Q&As with filmmakers and actors, nightly Red Carpets, live screenplay table reads, awards, and other events and activations where filmmakers, screenwriters, film industry leaders, celebrities, sponsors, and audiences come together to experience and discuss film. Films are curated from submissions received by filmmakers from 100+ countries worldwide, across Texas, and the United States, and include narrative features, documentaries, and short films of all genres from studios and independent filmmakers.
Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9
Nocturne 2026: Art Trail After Nightfall
Hosted by Play Frisco
Frisco Commons Park, 8000 McKinney Rd., Frisco
Save the date
Bringing together art, light, video, and sound, Nocturne—known as the “art walk after dark”—returns May 8–9 to Frisco Commons Park. The event’s host, Play Frisco, calls the event “two evenings of dreamlike encounters with art, nature, and the unseen.”
The outdoor gallery event features light, video, and sound installations nestled among the park’s winding trails. Created as a night-time art trail immersed in nature, the experience “invites reflection, play, and a heightened awareness of the world after dusk,” Play Frisco says. This year, Nocturne showcases 20 leading regional artists whose works can be explored on the park’s familiar paths.
Tickets will be available starting April 2.
Wednesday, June 3
Opportunity Summit: Powering prosperity through health
Hosted by The Dallas Regional Chamber
Women’s Museum at Fair Park, Dallas
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Dallas Regional Chamber’s 2026 Opportunity Summit, presented by EY, is a dynamic half-day program focused on the connection between health and economic mobility. Through keynote perspectives, interactive sessions, and cross-sector dialogue, leaders will explore how stronger health outcomes expand access to mobility and how strategic partnerships can drive lasting prosperity across the Dallas Region.
Tuesday, September 29 through Thursday, October 1
AURP International Conference
Hosted by AURP
Pegasus Park, Dallas
Save the date
AURP is proud to convene its 2026 International Conference at Pegasus Park—one of the nation’s most dynamic, mission-driven innovation districts and a powerful example of how place-based strategy accelerates impact.
Hosted in Dallas, Texas, this year’s conference will bring together AURP members and global innovation leaders for executive-level dialogue, high-value networking, and curated learning experiences. From strategic plenaries and collaborative working sessions to behind-the-scenes tours of Pegasus Park and engagement with the region’s thriving life sciences community, the program will highlight how intentional investment, cross-sector partnerships, and research park leadership drive sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness.
Pegasus Park stands at the forefront of advancing new industries—particularly in life sciences—while strengthening community outcomes. Together with AURP’s mission to foster innovation, commercialization, and vibrant knowledge communities, the 2026 conference will showcase Dallas as a model for forward-looking ecosystem development.
Through May 2026
Frontiers of Flight: Bessie Coleman
Hosted by Frontiers of Flight Museum
6911 Lemmon Ave., Dallas
Tickets are timed entry.
The Frontiers of Flight Museum’s new exhibit is a high-flying tribute to aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman and her groundbreaking achievements. Guests can follow her journey through an immersive digital experience, see her beloved plane suspended from the museum’s hangar, and take home books, dolls, and other keepsakes to support scholarships for girls from South Dallas.
Through September 7, 2026
Soccer: More Than a Game
Exhibition at The Perot Museum of Nature and Science
2201 N. Field St.., Dallas
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed on Tuesday
Soccer: More Than a Game at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science boosts the cultural and educational impact of this summer’s World Cup by providing STEM education experiences for visitors, encouraging regional tourism, and offering a world-class attraction for visitors to enjoy while in North Texas.
Visitors receive an RFID (radio-frequency identification) bracelet that documents guests’ choices, creations, and progress throughout the exhibition. Guests can join a team; construct a stadium; design jerseys; create mascots; test their athletic skills; and participate in physical, mental, and digital challenges connecting soccer with science.
Twenty engagement zones and multiple photo opportunities allow visitors to step into the locker room, onto the pitch, and behind the scenes to explore everything from biomechanics and physics of the game to the data analytics and career pathways that power soccer on and off the field.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
R E A D N E X T
-
The hybrid event in August will take place in person at SMU and virtually. The seventh annual Dallas Startup Week powered by Capital One is Dallas-Fort Worth's largest event focused on driving entrepreneurial success, economic impact, and innovation in the region.
-
You'll find deadlines coming up for a new accelerator program; and many more opportunities.
-
You’ve found Dallas Innovates’ archive of news briefs from July to September 2021.
-
Nonprofit BUiLT is hosting the event to highlight the success and possibilities of Black tech talent in the region. “There is no talent pipeline problem,” says Peter Beasley, co-founder of the Blacks United in Leading Technology International. “Black tech talent is widely available, especially in North Texas.”
-
With Dallas ranked as one of the top cities in America for tech pros, UT Dallas and Fullstack have launched four skills training bootcamps focused on coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and DevOps. The online bootcamps begin in November with tuition at $11,995 each.
