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.
Thursday, March 12
State of Infrastructure
Hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber and presented by Jacobs
EBJ Union Station 400 S. Houston, Dallas
noon to 1:30 p.m.
At the DRC’s State of Infrastructure, presented by Jacobs, regional leaders and industry experts will convene for a focused discussion on the infrastructure required to support the growing economy. In addition to a keynote address focused on Texas’ water infrastructure from State Sen. Charles Perry (District 28), this year’s program will feature a panel examining the evolution of energy and technology infrastructure to meet increasing demand. Panelists include Dan Diorio, Vice President, State Policy, Data Center Coalition; Dr. Wei-Jen Lee of UT Arlington’s Energy Systems Research Center; and Chad Seely, SVP Regulatory Policy & General Cousel; ERCOT.
Thursday, March 19
HerGenius Pitch Competition
Hosted by Impact Ventures
Ervay Theatre, 1707 S. Ervay St., Dallas
5:30 p.m.
Join Impact Ventures and cheer on three amazing women entrepreneurs as they take the stage to pitch their businesses for a chance to win $10,000.
Expect:
-Networking with founders and community members.
-Honoring an up-and-coming high school entrepreneur with the EmpowHER award.
-Shopping from women-owned vendors.
-A fun, energetic evening full of inspiration and connection.
Wednesday, March 25
Tech Industry Luncheon: TRAIGA and How It Affects You
Hosted by Tech Titans
Prestonwood Country Club, 15909 Preston Rd., Dallas
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
While the federal government has been slow to pass comprehensive laws around AI, Texas — one of the world’s largest economies — has stepped in to 1set its own “rules of the road.”
The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) was signed into law in June 2025 and officially went into effect on January 1, 2026. It is one of the most significant pieces of state-level AI legislation in the country and represents a major shift in how the United States regulates artificial intelligence. Because Texas is such a massive market, TRAIGA creates a “de facto” national standard.
Join Tech Titans for insight on TRAIGA and how it will impact businesses developing or deploying AI systems.
Thursday, March 26
Global Perspectives with Philip Jefferson
Hosted by The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, 2200 N. Pearl St., Dallas
5 to 7 p.m.
Philip Jefferson, vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, will share his thoughts on the economy in conversation with Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan as part of the Dallas Fed’s Global Perspectives speaker series.
Philip N. Jefferson is vice chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He joined the board in May 2022, when his appointment to fill an unexpired term ending in January 2036 was confirmed. He became vice chair in September 2023.
Before joining the Board of Governors, Jefferson was vice president for academic affairs, dean of faculty and the Paul B. Freeland Professor of Economics at Davidson College. Prior to that, he was the Centennial Professor of Economics and economics department chair at Swarthmore College. Before entering academia, Jefferson was an economist at the Board of Governors.
On-site parking is available only for conference attendees, scheduled tour groups and visitors with appointments. The visitor parking lot entrance is on Thomas Avenue.
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Unicorns & Underdogs: High-Growth Founders Summit
Hosted by The DEC Network
CreateFW, 600 Bryan Ave., #220, Fort Worth
6 to 8:30 p.m.
Unicorns & Underdogs: High-Growth Founder Summit brings together bold founders, operators, and investors for a dynamic day dedicated to scaling smarter, moving faster, and building companies that last. From scrappy underdogs to unicorn-level visionaries, this summit spotlights real growth stories — the wins, the pivots, the hard lessons — and delivers actionable insights on fundraising, leadership, and sustainable scale.
Expect candid conversations, practical takeaways, and powerful connections with peers who are pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible.
Saturday, March 28
2026 Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame
Hosted by Junior Achievement of Dallas
Omni Dallas Hotel, 555 S. Lamar, Dallas
6 to 10 p.m.
The 2026 Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame will be held at the Omni Dallas Hotel on Saturday, March 28, 2026. This event will support the mission of Junior Achievement of Dallas and help impact the lives of North Texas youth. Business icons who exemplify the spirit of giving back through their companies and in the community will be honored. By recognizing their accomplishments, we ensure their legacy will inspire and shape the leaders of tomorrow.
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.
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Cleanup Cowtown, Earth Party & Trashion Fashion Show
Hosted by the City of Fort Worth and Keep Fort Worth Beautiful
Cleanup Cowtown in various locations, Earth Party & Fashion Show @ Trinity Park, Fort Worth
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Gather family and friends and come help clean up Fort Worth parks, streets, playgrounds and neighborhoods. Then come celebrate at the Earth Party and see the Trashion Fashion Show where trash and recyclables become clothing and accessories.
For Cowtown Cleanup from 8 to 11 a.m. on March 28, volunteers can choose any public area or KFWB hub location across the city that is important to them. Public areas can include school campuses, parks, city streets, and neighborhoods.
Hub locations include Marion Samson Park, Carter Park, Calmont Park, Patricia LeBlanc Park, Eugene McCray Park, and Gateway Park. A waterway-only cleanup is available at the White Settlement Trailhead hub.
Then, come to Earth Party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity Park Pavilion #4 at 2001 University Drive, Fort Worth, next to Dream Park Playground, and enjoy the Trashion Fashion Show and other festivities.
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.
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.
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R E A D N E X T
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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.
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You'll find deadlines coming up for a new accelerator program; and many more opportunities.
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You’ve found Dallas Innovates’ archive of news briefs from July to September 2021.
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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.”
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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.
