Shaastra is the Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ flagship annual technical festival entirely student-managed and certified with ISO 9001:2015 that celebrates science, engineering, innovation and technology. It has been held every year since 2000 and attracts participants from all over India.
Shaastra 2026 Dates & Location
Dates: January 2 to January 6, 2026
Venue: IIT Madras campus, Chennai
Public Open House: January 2–4 (Institute Open House – public can explore labs & research)
Theme & Focus
Theme 2026: “Artifacts of Arcade” — frames the fest as an interactive, game-inspired ecosystem where each segment feels like a new level of challenge and learning.
What to Expect at Shaastra 2026
Events & Competitions
80 competitive events spanning engineering, computing, robotics, strategy and innovation.
Hands-on challenges in robotics, AI, brain-computer interfaces and more.
Examples of new competitions:
Robo GP – High-speed nitro robotic racing
BioBattle — biomimicry healthcare innovation
NeuroHack — brain–computer interface hackathon with EEG data
E-Contest — coding with esoteric languages
Quantified Dilemma — game theory & psychology challenge
Exhibitions & Innovation Stalls
130 innovation stalls showcasing cutting-edge research from IIT-M students & labs.
Workshops, Talks & Conferences
Workshops across domains like robotics, software, electronics, AI and design.
ICON26 — International conference on smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0.
Digital Governance Summit — citizen-centric digital solutions.
Spotlight Lectures by leading figures like:
Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India
Prof. Jeffrey Ullman, Turing Award laureate
Subra Suresh, former director, NSF
Dr. Vidita Vaidya, neuroscientist
Entertainment & Outreach
Tech-Entertainment Night featuring electronic music (e.g., Lost Stories)
Comedy performances (e.g., Pranav Sharma)
Hear4You 5K Run (Dec 28, 2025) — social awareness run on hearing health
Enreach Outreach — support for SMEs, accessibility ideathons, cybersecurity for seniors
Participation & Scale
Student-organised by 750+ volunteers.
Expected audience: 80,000+ visitors from across the country.
Open to students from other colleges, professionals, hobbyists and the public (especially via the Open House).
Why Attend?
For Students & Tech Enthusiasts
✔ Competitions that challenge problem-solving & design skills
✔ Workshops & talks with experts and industry leaders
✔ Networking with peers, researchers, and recruiters
For General Public
✔ Insight into cutting-edge research
✔ Access to laboratories & innovation spaces during the Institute Open House
For over two decades, Shaastra, the annual technical festival of IIT Madras, has stood as a beacon of innovation, intellect, and youthful curiosity. As Shaastra 2026 approaches, the festival once again promises to transform the IIT-Madras campus into a living laboratory of ideas where technology, creativity, and real-world problem solving converge.
Recognised as one of Asia’s largest student-run technical festivals, Shaastra is not just an even it is an experience that shapes future engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers.
A Legacy Built on Student Power
What makes Shaastra truly remarkable is that it is entirely organised and managed by students of IIT Madras. From planning logistics and designing competitions to inviting global speakers and managing large-scale outreach, everything is executed by a dedicated student body.
Shaastra is also ISO 9001 certified, making it one of the very few student festivals worldwide to meet international quality management standards an achievement that reflects its professionalism and global outlook.
Since its inception in 2000, Shaastra has evolved from a campus event into a national and international platform for technological exchange.
Technology at the Core: Events & Competitions
Shaastra 2026 is expected to host dozens of high-impact technical competitions across multiple domains:
Core Engineering & Tech Domains
Robotics and autonomous systems
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Data science and coding challenges
Electronics and embedded systems
Mechanical design and simulation
Next-Gen & Emerging Tech
Brain–computer interfaces
Biomedical engineering challenges
Cybersecurity and cryptography
Game theory, strategy, and analytics
Sustainable energy and climate-tech solutions
Each event is carefully designed to mirror real-world engineering problems, ensuring participants gain skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
