Vitalist Bay 2026 Returns to Berkeley May 14–17
BERKELEY, CA — The Vitalism Foundation announces Vitalist Bay 2026, the world’s largest longevity festival, returning to the Lighthaven Campus in Berkeley, California from May 14–17, 2026. Now in its second year, Vitalist Bay condenses the scope into four high-intensity days and six themes — Biotech, Investors, Replacement, Longevity Science, AI x Bio, Biostasis.
Organized by the Vitalism Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to making the defeat of aging humanity’s defining priority, Vitalist Bay brings together the world’s foremost researchers, biotech founders, clinicians, investors, and longevity enthusiasts in a single, purpose-built environment designed for breakthrough thinking and meaningful connection.
“Death is humanity’s core problem, and aging its primary agent,” said Adam Gries, co-founder of the Vitalism Foundation. “What makes Vitalist Bay unprecedented isn’t just its scale — it’s the density of interaction between scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors all converging in one dedicated space. In 2026, we’re doing it bigger and better.”
Speakers
Vitalist Bay 2026 has already revealed an exceptional lineup of more than 60 confirmed speakers spanning aging biology, artificial intelligence, translational medicine, longevity investment, biopreservation, policy, and beyond. Sessions will explore epigenetic reprogramming, the role of AI in defeating aging, vascular rejuvenation, female longevity, cryopreservation, geroscience, immune system reset strategies, and the future of longevity policy and regulation.
Aubrey de Grey (LEV Foundation) • Andrew Steele (Author) • Michael Snyder (Stanford University) • Morgan Levine (Altos Labs) • Nathan Price (Buck Institute) • Derya Unutmaz (The Jackson Laboratory) • Morten Scheibye-Knudsen (University of Copenhagen) • Charles Brenner (City of Hope) • Ralph Merkle (Alcor Life Extension Foundation) • Emil Kendziorra (Tomorrow Bio) • Matthew O’Connor (Cyclarity Therapeutics) • Marco Quarta (Rubedo Life Sciences) • Matt Scholz (Oisin Bio) • Martin Borch Jensen (Gordian Bio / Norn Group) • Kevin Caldwell (Ossium Health) • Amy Killen (Humanaut Health) • Molly Maloof (M3 Healthspan) • Kayla Barnes-Lentz (The Female Longevity Protocol) • Joe Betts-LaCroix (Retro Bioscience) • Mac Davis (Minicircle) • Yuri Deigin (YouthBio Therapeutics) • Adam Bataineh (Numenor) • Xiaoxi Wei (X-Therma) • Richard Fuisz (nonfiction.bio) • Alessandro Maggi (Ecate Inc.) • Michael Andregg (Eon Systems) • Jeff Chen (Radicle Science) • Jack Scannell (Etheros Pharmaceuticals) • Jacob Peters (Superpower) • Allison Duettmann (Foresight Institute) • Christine Peterson (Foresight Institute) • Raiany Romani (Institute for Life and Technology) • Laurence Ion (VitaDAO / Vitalia) • Karl Pfleger (Aging Biotech Info) • Nishant Bhat (Carbon Silicon Ventures) • Dave Messina (Pioneer Fund) • Jarod Rutledge (Starbloom Capital) • Andrew Herr (Flykitt) • Ari Tulla (Elo Health) • Ian Huyett (Cornerstone) • Curtis Estes (The Anti-Retirement Club) • Danielle Strachman (1517 Fund) • Omri Amriav-Drory (Nfx Bio) • Farbood Nivi (Ravikant Capital) • Patri Friedman (Pronoms Capital) • Sergey Jakimov (LongeVC) • Elaine Shi (Bodyspec) • P.D. Mangan (Independent Researcher & Author) • Nikolina Lauc (GlycanAge) • Eric Morgen (BioAge) • Richard K. Burt (Northwestern University) • Sebastian Giwa (Organ Preservation Alliance) • Robin Hanson (George Mason University) • Jean Hebert (ARPA-H) • Kelsey Moody (Ichor Therapeutics) • Laura Minquini (AthenaDAO) • Chris Bradley (Matter Bio) • And more
Hands-on Workshops
Most impressively, Vitalist Bay 2026 features an extensive program of expert-led workshops, each hosted by leading scientists, clinicians, founders, and investors at the cutting edge of their fields. Whether you’re a researcher, entrepreneur, investor, or engaged member of the longevity community, these sessions offer rare, hands-on access to the minds actively shaping the future
of human healthspan. Attendees can expect to leave not just inspired, but genuinely equipped with frameworks, data, and strategies they can apply immediately.
50+ Workshop topics include:
- The Future of Drug Discovery & R&D Productivity
- Building New Models for Health Governance
- Rebranding Longevity: Unlocking New Funding Pathways
- Building the Future of Transplant Medicine
- Nature-Inspired Biopreservation for Longevity
- The Science of Evidence-Based Wellness
- Investing in the Biology of Aging
- Metabolic Health & Longevity
- Systems Biology & AI-Driven Aging Research
- Perspectives on Longevity & Technology
- Precision Nutrition for Healthspan
- Inflammation & the Hidden Health Effects of Travel
- Bottlenecks in Cryopreservation
- Health & Longevity as the Investment Opportunity of the Decade
- Financial Planning for a Longer Life
- Personalized Longevity: Designing Your Own Health Experiments
- The Aging Vasculature: Degeneration & Rejuvenation
- Cryonics & the Future of Life Extension
- Multi-Omics & Precision Health
- Gene Therapy Approaches to Reversing Aging
- Ocular Longevity: The Future of Vision Health
- Making Longevity Accessible
Health Optimization & Activations
Vitalist Bay is not a passive conference. Every aspect of the festival is designed to let attendees live longevity, not just study it. The 2026 program includes an extensive slate of practitioner-led physical and mental wellness activations:
Somatic meditation session • 7-Minute Presence • Strength Isometrics • Sci-fi breathing exercise + Drums • HIIT workout • Posture Reset Lab (Scapula + Spine) / Mobility • Morning run • Body Mid Method class • Krav Maga classes • Supplement tasting room • Cold plunge corner • Murphyjitsu • From Mattress to Mat: Morning Pilates • Tapping and meditation • Reference Class Forecasting • Breathwork and HRV training
On-Site Health Diagnostics & Testing
Attendees will have direct access to a comprehensive suite of cutting-edge health diagnostics and biomarker testing — all on-site, including:
DEXA body composition scanning • Full blood panels • Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) • Blood banking • Research study participation • And many more
Investment & Startup focus
Vitalist Bay 2026 is purpose-built to accelerate capital formation in longevity. Through structured matchmaking, attendees gain curated introductions connecting investors directly with the founders and projects most aligned with their thesis, cutting through the noise of traditional networking. Each day of the festival features a dedicated startup pitch session, giving early-stage companies direct exposure to some of the most active investors in the longevity and biotech space.
The Venue: Lighthaven
Vitalist Bay 2026 takes place at Lighthaven, a 30,000 sq. ft. campus tucked into the heart of Berkeley, California — and there is no better setting for an event built around deep conversation and bold ideas. Unlike sterile convention centers, Lighthaven is a cluster of beautifully designed buildings and outdoor spaces that feels more like a private estate than a conference venue. Cozy nooks, whiteboard-filled discussion rooms, garden seating areas, an outdoor auditorium, and 20+ distinct session spaces create an environment where spontaneous conversation flows as naturally as the formal programming. Attendees describe it as “rambly and wondrous,” with “a wide array of nooks and pathways” that make every corner of the campus an invitation to connect. On-site accommodation is also available for those who want to be fully immersed in the Vitalist Bay experience from morning to night.
Lighthaven Campus • Berkeley, California
About Vitalist Bay
Vitalist Bay is the flagship event of the Vitalism Foundation, a nonprofit organization building the movement, infrastructure, and influence networks needed to make solving aging humanity’s top priority. Launched in 2025 as an eight-week longevity zone at the Lighthaven Campus in Berkeley, California, Vitalist Bay rapidly became the most ambitious and comprehensive convening in the global longevity movement, drawing over a thousand participants across eight themed conferences. The 2026 edition returns May 14–17 as a four-day festival — bigger, bolder, and more accessible than ever.
Media Contact
Adam Gries, Co-Founder
Vitalism Foundation / Vitalist Bay
Email: ops@vitalism.io
Website: vitalistbay.com
Launch Announcement: x.com/adamgries
Apply to pitch your startup: https://tally.so/r/mRj9Vv
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