Meta Connect 2026: New Smart Glasses, the Future of Quest and What to Expect

Meta has confirmed Meta Connect 2026 for September 23–24 at its Menlo Park campus, with the keynotes streamed online. The annual event is where the company shows its bets on smart glasses, virtual reality and AI — and this year it opened with a tease: Mark Zuckerberg posted a photo of a new pair of glasses, and CTO Andrew Bosworth told Quest owners to “stay tuned” because there would be more to share about the next headsets.

Quick answer: what to expect from Meta Connect 2026?

A new smart-glasses model (already teased by Zuckerberg), possibly with a display; Meta AI updates inside the glasses and the apps; and news about the future of the Quest line, which has not seen a new device since the Quest 3S more than a year and a half ago. Meta describes the event as two days about “AI technologies, AI glasses and VR.”

Smart glasses: the bet that paid off

Glasses have become Meta’s most successful hardware product. The lineup now spans audio-and-camera-only models (Ray-Ban Meta) up to a pair with a monocular display, launched last year. Zuckerberg’s teased photo suggests a new design — and the market’s guess is either a binocular-display model or a cheaper version to broaden the category. This is the product where Meta AI makes the most sense: you look at something, ask, and the answer arrives in your ear or on the lens.

Quest: the silence that worries fans

Meta’s last headset, the Quest 3S, launched more than 18 months ago. Since then the company has shipped several pairs of glasses, but no VR hardware. Bosworth promised Connect would bring “more to share” about the next headsets — which could mean a Quest 4 or a longer roadmap. For Quest 3 owners, the realistic expectation is software (Horizon OS, games and AI integration) rather than immediate hardware.

What we know so far

Why this matters to you

If you are considering smart glasses, wait until the 23rd: a new model usually pushes down the price of current ones. If you own a Quest and wonder whether to upgrade, the answer should come at the event. And for anyone following the race to put AI on devices, Connect is Meta’s counterpoint to the iPhone 18 Pro and the new Siri: a bet that the AI of the future lives on your face, not in your pocket.

Frequently asked questions

When is Meta Connect 2026?

September 23–24, 2026, at Meta’s Menlo Park campus, with the keynotes streamed online.

Will Meta launch a new Quest at Connect 2026?

There is no confirmation. CTO Andrew Bosworth said there would be “more to share” about the next headsets, which could be an announcement or a roadmap.

Which glasses will Meta unveil?

Zuckerberg teased a new pair of smart glasses, but Meta has not revealed the model. The current lineup includes audio-only versions and a model with a monocular display.

At DigitalRadar, we cover the events that define the year’s gadgets. Stay on the radar for our Meta Connect coverage.

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