IIT Madras to host Institute Open House 2026 from January 2 to 4; showcase labs, innovations, student projects

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras will host its Institute Open House 2026 from January 2 to 4. The IIT-M Open House 2026 will allow visitors access to explore the Institute’s advanced research laboratories, innovation centres and student-led technology projects.

The event is open to school and college students, teachers, researchers, industry professionals, and members of the public. The Institute Open House 2026 registration is open till December 5, 2025, at shaastra.org/open-house.

As per the institute, visitors will have access to over 100 laboratories, including four National Research Centres, 11 Institute Research Centres, and 15 Centres of Excellence across 18 academic departments. The Open House will also feature around 80 exhibition stalls showcasing ongoing research, live demonstrations, and technological innovations led by students and faculty.

IIT Madras states that the visitors will be able to observe practical demonstrations, interact with researchers, and gain an understanding of the Institute’s work in science, engineering, and technology. The Institute expects more than 95,000 registrants and around 60,000 visitors over the three-day period.

The event is part of the “Annaivarakum IITM” (IIT Madras for All) initiative, which aims to make the Institute’s academic and research environment accessible to all sections of society.

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IIT-M Institute Open House: Held alongside Shaastra 2026

The 2025 edition of the Open House recorded close to 35,000 visitors. Participants represented more than 550 schools, including about 130 rural institutions. Visitors came from 250 cities across India. More than 200 volunteers contributed over 4,000 man-hours to organise the event and ensure logistics and accessibility for visitors.

“The previous edition of the Open House witnessed School and college students from not just Chennai but other cities and rural areas as well, making the event a huge success,” the institute said. This year, the Open House will be held in conjunction with Shaastra 2026, the annual technical festival of IIT Madras.

V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, said, “Our Institute Open House is organised with the main aim for 'anaivarukkum IITM, IIT Madras for all”. Given the success we have had for the past two years’ events in which close to 1 lakh school and college children visited our campus and inspired by the innovations happening in our campus laboratories, in this 2026 edition, we welcome students from all the corners of the country including rural and villages schools and colleges.”