NextGenMaterials explores cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of materials science. The conference covers life-emulating materials, such as engineered living materials that utilize living cells as biological factories, and quasi-living systems – artificial materials inspired by nature that can autonomously respond to their environment. Another topical focus is on programmable materials that change properties in response to stimuli, enabling self-assembly, adaptation, and repair, and metamaterials with innovative internal structures that enable unique properties. Finally, the topic of materials design methods emphasizes design through advanced tools like machine learning, multiscale simulations, and high-performance computing. By integrating these technologies with high-throughput experiments, researchers accelerate discovery and unlock the full potential of next-generation materials. With the challenges addressed being highly interdisciplinary contributions from communities across materials science, computer science and electronic, chemical, mechanical engineering, and robotics are welcome. In line with the conference topics, scientific contributions in three distinct tracks are invited: