30th Anniversary program highlights networked creativity, collaboration as a strategic multiplier, and purpose-driven AI.
Internet2 announces the full slate of plenary speakers for the 2026 Internet2 Community Exchange (CommEX26), April 13-16 in Chicago.
As Internet2 marks its 30th anniversary, CommEX26 will spotlight the people and collaborations driving progress across research and higher education (R&E) — and the leaders shaping what comes next.
“For three decades, Internet2 has shown what is possible when the research and education community comes together to pursue shared infrastructure, solutions, and ambitions,” said Tripti Sinha, president and CEO of Internet2. “As AI, quantum technologies, and the next wave of digital transformation reshape our world, that same spirit of collective innovation will guide the future we build together.”
Sinha, who became president and CEO in October 2025, will open CommEX26 on April 14 with remarks on Internet2’s 30-year milestone and her vision for the organization’s next chapter.
The fiber of connection
Domenico Vicinanza, senior research engagement manager at GÉANT, music composer, and associate professor at Anglia Ruskin University, will deliver the plenary on April 15, “The Fiber of Connection: Internet2’s Three Decades of Networked Creativity and Community Building.”
Vicinanza’s talk will explore how Internet2’s founding vision in 1996 — to provide advanced networking for R&E that could accelerate innovation — catalyzed new forms of global artistic collaboration. From early telematic music experiments to today’s immersive, multi-site performances spanning continents, high-performance networking has enabled shared experiences across cultures and disciplines.
His work transforming scientific data into music and multimedia experiences has been featured by NPR, BBC, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Guardian.
A community-driven gathering for R&E
Unlike traditional technology conferences, the Internet2 Community Exchange is a collaborative event created by and for the R&E community. The event convenes IT leaders and decision-makers, including chief information officers, network directors, security professionals, cloud architects, research computing and data professionals, and regional and global network executives.
CommEX26 is made possible through the generous support of industry organizations that collaborate closely with R&E, including platinum sponsors Ciena and Cisco-Splunk-Duo; gold sponsors Delinea, HPE, Lumen, and ServiceNow; silver sponsors 1Kosmos, Carahsoft, Four Points Technology, Nokia, Radware, Rubrik, and UpGuard; bronze sponsors CDW and Kajeet; supporting sponsors Arista, Chainguard, Extreme Networks, IDMWORKS, and PIER Group; and sponsors from the InCommon Catalysts Program, Cirrus Identity, Globus, Instrumental Identity, Moran Technology, Omnibond, and Unicon.
Registration is now open. For more information, visit the 2026 Internet2 Community Exchange website.
