Frequently asked questions

AI Safety Week is an annual convening focused on how advanced AI is understood, evaluated, governed and made safer. It brings together people working across research, policy, technical practice, journalism, funding, civil society and industry, alongside opportunities for broader public participation.

Programming includes research presentations, workshops, working sessions, demonstrations and structured opportunities to meet people working on related questions.

AI Safety Week takes place from November 9 to 13, 2026 in Toronto. The official calendar and daytime programming take place from November 9 to 11, with closed-door events and unofficial calendar events scheduled for November 12 and 13.

Programming will take place across several locations in the city rather than at a single conference venue. Each event page will include its location and attendance information.

AI Safety Week brings together researchers, policymakers, engineers, technical practitioners, journalists, funders, civil society, industry and people interested in understanding or contributing to AI safety.

Some programming is designed for people already working directly in the field, while selected events are open to broader public participation.

No. You do not need to work full-time in AI safety or have a technical background to participate. Different events are designed for different audiences, so check the access information on each event page.

Start by selecting Register Your Interest on the AI Safety Week website.

After confirming your email, complete your profile. From there, you can follow program updates and register for events as they become available.

If you would also like to be considered for the delegate cohort, you must separately select Apply as a delegate and complete the short statement of intent.

No. Registering your interest creates your AI Safety Week profile. It does not submit a delegate application.

If you want to be considered as a delegate, sign in to your profile, select Apply as a delegate and complete the short application.

Your profile helps AISF understand your background and interests, provide relevant event information and review delegate applications. It will also help you manage your participation as individual events are released.

Yes. AI Safety Week daytime programming is free unless an individual event states otherwise.

The Hinton Lectures are a separate, ticketed evening event.

No. AI Safety Week is made up of individual events with different capacities and participation requirements. Registering your interest gives you an AI Safety Week profile, but it does not automatically reserve a place at individual events.

Where an event requires registration, your place is confirmed only after you register for that event and receive confirmation.

Yes. Participants with a place in AI Safety Week daytime programming must confirm their attendance through Luma 48 hours before the event. If you do not confirm by the deadline, you will lose your spot and it may be released to another participant.

AI Safety Week will have a cohort of approximately 100 selected delegates who form an important participant pool for much of the week’s limited-capacity programming.

Delegate status provides opportunities to register for a wider range of workshops, working sessions and other programming. It is not an all-access pass and does not automatically reserve a place at every event.

Consider applying if you want to participate more deeply across the week and would benefit from, or contribute to, smaller working sessions, research discussions and structured opportunities to connect.

Delegate places are not based on seniority or institutional prestige. You do not need to already work full-time in AI safety to apply.

First register your interest and confirm your email. Once you have completed your profile, select Apply as a delegate and complete the short statement of intent.

Applications close on Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Yes. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and AISF will contact applicants by email as decisions are made.

You will become part of the approved delegate pool for AI Safety Week.

As programming is released, AISF will provide delegates with opportunities to register for relevant events. You will still need to complete the registration process for individual events you want to attend.

No. Different events have different capacities, formats and participation requirements. Some sessions may be very small, designed around a particular working purpose or organized by a partner with its own attendance requirements.

Delegate status means you can be considered for more of the week’s programming. It does not guarantee a place in every session.

For many AI Safety Week events, a portion of available places will be reserved for delegates while other spaces may be available through general registration. The number of places available through each route will vary by event.

AISF will release delegate registration opportunities as programming becomes available. Even after receiving access to an event, delegates must complete the event registration through Luma and receive confirmation before their place is secured.

Yes. AISF will provide delegate badges during relevant AI Safety Week daytime programming. Once issued, delegates should keep their badge with them and be prepared to show it at the door for programming where delegate status is required.

Delegate badges are personal and should not be shared. A badge does not replace event registration or guarantee access to a session. Delegates must still follow the registration and confirmation requirements for each event.

Yes. There will be opportunities to participate without delegate status. Some events will be open to the public or to general AI Safety Week registrants, subject to capacity and any event-specific registration requirements.

Other programming is designed primarily for delegates, invited participants or specific working groups.

Yes. The format and access model vary across the three days. Monday is primarily delegate programming with event-specific registration. Tuesday includes delegate programming as well as an afternoon poster and gallery session that is open to the public. Wednesday includes smaller, outcome-focused working sessions, with participants for certain sessions selected in advance.

Check each event page for its specific access and registration requirements.

Public events will be clearly identified in the AI Safety Week program.

The Tuesday poster and gallery component will be open to the public. Other Tuesday programming has separate attendance requirements, so attending the public gallery does not provide access to the entire day’s program.

Additional public programming will be identified as it is confirmed.

Check the access information on each event page. Each event will indicate who can register and whether advance registration, delegate status or an invitation is required.

Some workshops and working sessions are intentionally smaller because of the room size or the format of the session.

A limited-capacity event may require advance registration even if you are already registered for AI Safety Week or have been approved as a delegate.

Wednesday includes smaller, outcome-focused working sessions.

Some sessions have specific participation requirements based on their size, format, subject matter and intended outcome. Access information will be provided on each event page.

Delegate status does not automatically provide access to every Wednesday session.

A closed session is restricted to a defined group of participants. This may include invited participants, a particular professional group or people participating in a specific working session. Closed events will be identified in the program.

When a session is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants may use the information they receive, but they may not identify the person who shared it or reveal that person’s affiliation without permission.

The rule is used to support candid discussion. Events using it will be identified in advance.

Some Thursday and Friday programming is being organized by AI Safety Week partners and may have its own participation requirements.

Some of these events will be closed. AI Safety Week delegate status does not automatically provide access to partner-led programming.

Programming will continue to be released throughout October. Registered participants will receive updates as new sessions, speakers and individual event registrations become available.

Swapcard is the networking and meeting platform for AI Safety Week. Participants in daytime programming across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will receive access and can use it throughout the week.

Swapcard will allow participants to create a networking profile, see other participating attendees, request one-to-one meetings and manage accepted meeting times. AISF is using it to make introductions more intentional and help people find researchers, funders, policy practitioners, hiring organizations and others whose work may be relevant to them.

One of the intended outcomes is for participants to leave with a clearer view of the people, organizations and pathways across AI safety, as well as useful connections they can continue after the week.

Swapcard is separate from event registration. Access to Swapcard does not confirm a place at an AI Safety Week event. Event registration and attendance confirmation will continue to be handled through Luma and the access instructions for each event.

The Hinton Lectures are the evening anchor of AI Safety Week and take place on November 9, 10 and 11 at the John W. H. Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

They use a separate ticketing system from AI Safety Week daytime programming.

No. Registering for AI Safety Week does not include a Hinton Lectures ticket.

No. Approved AI Safety Week delegates receive a 50 per cent discount code for Hinton Lectures tickets, but they must still book the evening or evenings they would like to attend.

Up to 100 discounted delegate tickets are available in total, subject to availability. Please bring your delegate name card; it will be checked at the door.

Yes. You do not need to be an AI Safety Week delegate or daytime participant to attend the Hinton Lectures. Tickets are sold separately; use the ticket buttons on The Hinton Lectures page.

A cash bar will be available following the Hinton Lectures at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Drinks are not included in your ticket, and attendees are responsible for their own purchases.

Anyone wishing to purchase alcoholic drinks must bring valid government-issued photo ID and meet Ontario’s legal drinking age requirements. Alcohol service is subject to venue policies and applicable law, and service may be refused by the licensed operator.

All attendees remain subject to the event Code of Conduct. Please drink responsibly, respect venue staff and other attendees, and arrange safe transportation after the event.

No. Outside food and drinks are not permitted at the venues used for AI Safety Week daytime programming on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please plan accordingly.

If you have a medical, disability, allergy or other access-related need that may require an exception, contact the AI Safety Week team in advance so we can coordinate with the relevant venue.

AI Safety Week takes place across several venues, so accessibility information may vary by event.

Venue-specific details will be included on individual event pages as they are confirmed. If you have an accessibility requirement, please contact the AI Safety Week team in advance.

If you need an accommodation, please contact us before the event so we can work with the relevant venue on your requirements.

Photography and audio or video recording may be restricted depending on the event.

Please do not record a session, speaker or participant unless the event information or organizers indicate that recording is permitted.

For media inquiries, accreditation or interviews, please submit a press request through the Press page.

Use the AI Safety Week contact form for questions about registration, programming, accessibility, media or partnerships.