Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is welcoming the general public to Institute Open House 2026, being held from 2nd to 4th January 2026. It will provide a unique opportunity for the people to gain a first-hand experience of an IIT Ecosystem.

The event will offer the public an opportunity to explore the Institute’s advanced research laboratories, innovation centres and student-led technology projects. 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 event is open to schools and colleges students and teachers, researchers, industry professionals, and the public keen to learn more about the diverse research and innovation activities taking place at IIT Madras.

The last date to register through the following link is 5th December 2025 - https://shaastra.org/open-house

‎Follow the IITM Open House 2026 channel on WhatsApp for regular updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBWCxdHFxP5N77XMs1w

Welcoming the public to attend the event in large numbers, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, 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. With that inspiration, we wish that those students will return as our own students in the future.”

The Highlights of Institute Open House 2026 include:

O Around 80 exhibition stalls featuring student and faculty-led research and development projects, live demonstrations, and innovations.

O Access to over 100 laboratories, including 4 National Research Centres, 11 Institute Research Centres, and 15 Centres of Excellence spanning 18 academic departments.

O Expected participation of over 95,000 registrants and 60,000 visitors, making it one of the largest public engagement initiatives of IIT Madras.


HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVIOUS EDITION

The Institute Open House (IOH) 2025 witnessed an overwhelming response from the public, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for IIT Madras’ outreach initiatives. The event recorded a footfall of nearly 35,000 visitors, doubling the engagement figures from 2024.

A total of more than 550 schools participated in IOH 2025, of which around 130 were rural institutions. The event drew participants from 250 cities across India, including 118 rural cities and 249 locations outside Chennai, underscoring IIT Madras’ wide national reach. The event website also received over 20,000 visits, highlighting strong digital engagement alongside on-ground participation.

The large-scale initiative was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the IIT Madras student and staff community, with over 200 volunteers contributing more than 4,000 man-hours and covering over 1,000 kilometres in outreach activities. Their coordinated efforts ensured smooth logistics and accessibility for thousands of visitors.

‘IIT MADRAS FOR ALL’

The Open House is being organised as part of ‘Annaivarakum IITM’ (IIT Madras for All) initiative, which aims to make the Institute’s research ecosystem and academic environment accessible to all sections of society.

Elaborating on the event, Prof. Sathyanarayana N Gummadi, Dean (Students), IIT Madras, said, “This is a unique opportunity for everyone to visit IIT Madras and experience innovative research being done here. We believe this will be an opportunity to motivate the young generation - the leaders of tomorrow.”

Further, Prof. Murugaiyan Amirthalingam, Advisor - Co-curricular, IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras opens up its doors to the public to gain a first-hand experience of its state-of-the-art research laboratories and facilities through this annual event. This is a unique opportunity for aspiring school and college students who are aiming to get into IIT education, along with their teachers and parents. We welcome everyone, including aspiring school children, college students, professionals, and technology enthusiasts, to visit our beautiful green campus during this open-house event, followed by the annual technical festival of IIT Madras, Shaastra 2026.”

This year’s event is being conducted in association with Shaastra 2026, the annual technical festival of IIT Madras. The Open House will serve as a gateway for visitors to witness the Institute’s vibrant innovation culture and see how world-class research is being translated into real-world solutions.