HackTown 2026 Announces Initial Speakers for 10th Anniversary Festival in Santa Rita do Sapucaí
The HackTown festival has revealed its first set of speakers for its 10th anniversary edition, scheduled to take place from September 3rd to 7th, 2026, in Santa Rita do Sapucaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This year's event aims to bring together experts from various fields to discuss innovation, technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, culture, behavior, and business. Among the confirmed speakers are scientist and entrepreneur Silvio Meira, Globo anchor Aline Midlej, Nathalia Arcuri (founder of Me Poupe!), Diego de Oliveira (Head of Marketing for WhatsApp at Meta), and Piero Contezini (CEO of fintech Asaas). The initial lineup also includes singer-songwriter Felipe Ispério, human development researcher Israel M. Kairós, organizational culture specialist Joana Silva, and innovation consultant Simone Kliass.
The festival will explore diverse themes such as the experience economy, smart cities, behavioral design, inclusion and diversity, public innovation, and mental health in the workplace. HackTown is known for transforming Santa Rita do Sapucaí into a hub of innovation, utilizing various city locations like schools, universities, and public spaces for lectures, immersive experiences, workshops, and networking. The programming is structured into 21 thematic tracks, covering topics from AI and software development to sustainability, intellectual property, creative economy, music, health, leadership, marketing, education, social impact, and emerging technologies. These tracks are informed by ongoing research into cultural and technological trends.
Tickets for HackTown 2026 are currently on sale in their fourth batch, with prices for full admission at R$ 957 (plus fees), half-price at R$ 488.50 (plus fees), and a promotional ticket with a book donation at R$ 577 (plus fees). The organization advises participants to book accommodations early due to high demand and will offer official transfers from nearby cities Pouso Alegre and Itajubá.
The HackTown festival's expansion and thematic breadth underscore a growing demand for interdisciplinary dialogue on technology and societal progress. By transforming a city into a temporary innovation ecosystem, the event creates a unique environment for knowledge exchange and networking. The organization's structured approach to programming, based on trend research, aims to provide relevant insights for attendees navigating complex technological and cultural shifts. As the event matures into its tenth year, its success hinges on its ability to foster genuine innovation and provide actionable takeaways that extend beyond the festival grounds, contributing to the long-term development of the region and its participants' professional trajectories.
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