CRE[AT]E Final Event 2026

The 2026 CRE[AT]E Final Event will be held both online and at MIT on Saturday, April 25th, 2025.

In-person RSVP form is at the bottom of this page. The event is open to the public, including minors, but please fill out an RSVP for in-person attendance

MIT In-Person Event

Cambridge, MA, USA: 

Host: MIT Beaver Works

Location: 34-101 (50 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139) lecture hall and the lobby outside

All times below are ET.

• 11:30 AM: In-person product showcase / start of online final submissions showcase

• 1:00 PM: Main Event

  • Event Introductions

  • Judge Introductions

  • Finalist Presentations and Q&A

  • Judge Deliberations

  • Category Winner Announcements

  • Closing

Virtual Event

Zoom information will be posted before the event.

Information for Challenge Teams

All teams must submit final event materials following the Black Gate submission requirements. All participating teams that meet the Black Gate requirements will have their videos shown throughout the day of the final event.

Eight finalists will be chosen from the participants. Finalist teams will be invited to give their presentation live (either in person or via Zoom), and will have an opportunity to answer questions from our judges. Finalists will be notified approximately a week before the event.

Down-selection to the finalist pool from among all the teams will depend on the following factors:

• The quality of the document

• The quality of the video

• How well the project addresses the co-designer's needs

• How well the team explained the workings of their product based on the above

From the finalist pool, the following category awards will be presented based on judges' choice:

• Co-Designer Collaboration

• Documentation

• Innovation

• Product Feasibility

Additionally, an Audience Choice Award will be presented independent of the above categories.