Meta Connect 2026 Confirmed for September 23–24: New Smart Glasses and VR Headsets Teased

Meta has officially confirmed Connect 2026 will take place September 23–24 at the company's Menlo Park campus. As with previous years, the event will center on VR, wearables, the metaverse, and AI — but this year's teasers suggest smart glasses will take center stage.

Zuckerberg's Teaser

CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a photo on social media showing off a new pair of smart glasses, with key design details and features deliberately obscured by blue markings over the frame. The teaser is widely read as confirmation that new hardware is imminent, though Meta has not detailed exactly what will be unveiled.

Multiple Headsets in Development

Meta's CTO has confirmed the company is working on multiple next-generation headsets simultaneously, with at least one expected to make its debut at Connect. Rumored hardware includes:

• Ray-Ban Gen 3 glasses: A follow-up to the current Ray-Ban Display, possibly including a more affordable display-equipped tier
• An ultralight tethered headset: A slimmer VR form factor designed to offload processing to a phone or puck
• A gaming-focused Quest successor: Aimed at competing more directly with dedicated gaming VR hardware like Valve's Steam Frame

Adding to the anticipation, Qualcomm has teased "something new" of its own that could debut alongside Meta's announcements at Connect, hinting at a next-generation XR chipset.

What This Means for Buyers

With Connect roughly ten weeks away, buyers eyeing Meta's current lineup should weigh waiting. The Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are currently $379 and remain a solid buy if you need glasses now, but our Gen 3 wait-or-buy guide breaks down whether it's worth holding out. Browse all current options in our smart glasses guide.