Meta Connect 2026 is set to bring CEO Mark Zuckerberg to the stage Sept. 23 for the company's annual showcase of artificial intelligence, smart glasses, virtual and mixed reality and developer technology. The two-day event will run Sept. 23-24, with Meta's developer platform confirming that the program will include the keynote and a developer-focused State of the Union.

The event has expanded considerably from its early focus on virtual reality. Meta now uses Connect to highlight hardware, AI products, developer tools and its broader plans for immersive computing.

This year's keynote could be particularly significant as Meta continues developing AI-powered wearables while expanding its work on mixed reality and AI agents.

New AI Glasses Could Take Center Stage

Smart glasses are expected to be one of the major topics at Connect.

According to reporting from Engadget, Meta is reportedly developing new glasses that would not include cameras. Instead, the frames could use additional microphones to interact with Meta's AI assistant.

Camera-free glasses could give Meta another option for consumers who want wearable AI technology without a camera built into the frame. The reported design could also allow the glasses to be thinner and resemble conventional eyewear more closely.

The possibility comes as Meta continues expanding its wearable technology program. Meta's developer platform now provides tools for developers to build hands-free applications for AI glasses and access capabilities involving audio, cameras and displays.

Ray-Ban also has indicated that additional Meta-branded glasses are in development, although the specific products that could be unveiled at Connect have not been confirmed.

Privacy Questions Surround AI Glasses

Privacy is expected to remain an important issue surrounding Meta's wearable products.

Current Meta glasses can capture photographs and video while allowing users to interact with Meta AI. The technology has generated questions about when people are being recorded and how bystanders can recognize when a camera-equipped device is being used.

A camera-free model could address some of those concerns, although the reported product remains unconfirmed ahead of the event.

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has previously discussed concerns surrounding inappropriate use of the company's smart glasses. According to Engadget's preview of Connect, Bosworth indicated that Meta would have more to say about the issue during the event.

'Phoenix' Mixed Reality Headset

Another potential headline announcement is a mixed reality headset

reportedly known by the codename Phoenix.

Images that recently surfaced through a HorizonOS update appear to show a lightweight device that is considerably slimmer than traditional VR headsets. Engadget reported that the device could use a tether connected to a separate computing puck and may rely on hand and eye tracking rather than conventional controllers.

Meta has not publicly confirmed that Phoenix will be announced at Connect.

If the device does appear, it would represent another step in Meta's effort to develop smaller and more specialized mixed reality hardware.

The company is also working with developers through its Horizon platform, which provides tools for building virtual and mixed reality applications. Meta says its Horizon developer ecosystem supports Unity, Unreal Engine and OpenXR development.

HorizonOS and the Metaverse

A new headset could also bring changes to HorizonOS, Meta's operating system for its immersive devices.

The company has spent years developing its metaverse strategy, although its emphasis has increasingly included artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

One possibility at Connect is additional information about Meta's work on digital avatars. The company has previously demonstrated highly realistic avatars through its research projects, including technology associated with its Orion augmented-reality prototype.

New hardware could provide another platform for those avatars and other immersive experiences.

Meta's developer materials currently describe Horizon as a social platform spanning mobile and VR, while its Connect programming is expected to provide developers with more information about future tools and technologies.

Meta AI and Muse

Artificial intelligence is likely to occupy a significant portion of Zuckerberg's presentation.

Meta has been investing heavily in AI and has increasingly integrated its technology across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and its hardware products.

One of the technologies expected to receive attention is Muse, Meta's AI agent. Engadget reported that Meta has indicated support for glasses is coming, raising the possibility that Connect could provide more information about how users will interact with AI through wearable devices.

Meta's developer platform is already highlighting Muse-related development. The company says developers can build with Muse through its AI tools, suggesting that agentic AI will be an important part of the developer-focused portion of Connect.

Developers and Third-Party Apps

Meta could also use Connect to encourage developers to create more applications for its smart glasses.

The company has been working to expand its wearable ecosystem beyond Meta's own software. Third-party applications could make the glasses more useful for communication, entertainment, productivity and other everyday activities.

Meta's wearable developer program now allows developers to experiment with audio, camera and display capabilities and create hands-free experiences.

A larger collection of third-party applications would also give Meta an opportunity to demonstrate practical uses for AI glasses rather than focusing solely on hardware specifications.

When and Where to Watch Meta Connect 2026

Meta has confirmed that Connect will take place Sept. 23-24. The company's developer website directs viewers to its livestream and says the event will include Zuckerberg's keynote and the developer State of the Union.

The keynote is scheduled for 4 p.m. Pacific time, or 7 p.m. Eastern, on Sept. 23, according to the event preview.

The second day will focus more heavily on developers, including software tools, SDK updates and Meta's technology roadmap.

Whether Meta announces the reported Phoenix headset, new camera-free glasses or additional AI capabilities remains to be seen. The confirmed focus of the event, however, is broad: Meta says Connect 2026 will showcase developments in AI technology, AI glasses and VR.

USA Herald Coverage by Jackie Allen

USA Herald has previously covered Meta, artificial intelligence and the company's evolving technology strategy in articles by Jackie Allen.

Allen reported on “AI-Generated Voices Coming to Meta Chatbots: Meta Connect 2024 Unveils New Features,” examining Meta's AI chatbot developments and announcements from an earlier Connect event.

She also reported on “Leaked Meta AI Guidelines Show How the Chatbot Is Trained to Spot Sensitive Content and Avoid Controversy,” examining Meta AI and the company's approach to chatbot behavior.

Another Jackie Allen article, “Meta Plans to Revolutionize its Platforms with AI-Generated Characters,” examined Meta's plans for AI-generated characters across its platforms.

As Meta prepares for Connect 2026, those earlier developments provide context for an event that increasingly sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, wearable computing, virtual reality and social technology.

Clickable sources and additional information

• Meta Connect 2026 — Official Meta Developer Event Information
• Meta Connect Developer News and Updates
• Meta AI Glasses Developer Platform
• Meta Horizon Developer Center
• Engadget — What to Expect at Meta Connect 2026
• USA Herald — AI-Generated Voices Coming to Meta Chatbots: Meta Connect 2024 Unveils New Features — Jackie Allen
• USA Herald — Leaked Meta AI Guidelines Show How the Chatbot Is Trained to Spot Sensitive Content and Avoid Controversy — Jackie Allen
• USA Herald — Meta Plans to Revolutionize its Platforms with AI-Generated Characters — Jackie Allen
• USA Herald — Legal Battles Loom: Meta's AI Training Strategy Faces Scrutiny Over Copyright Issues — Jackie Allen