Dream Theater has confirmed they are in the studio working on their 17th full-length album, the follow-up to 2025’s Parasomnia. The band shared a photo with the caption "#DT17 is underway…" indicating the project is actively progressing. The album marks the return of drummer Mike Portnoy, who previously left the band in 2010 before rejoining in 2023. Parasomnia was released on InsideOut Music.

Separately, on October 3, 2026, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess performed two concerts at MIT’s Thomas Tull Concert Hall during the inaugural MIT Future Fest. The events featured live improvisation with jam_bot, an AI model co-developed by Rudess and the MIT Media Lab during his residency at the institution. The system generates real-time musical material that is performed by student musicians onstage, enabling new forms of collaborative improvisation.

The concerts highlighted a central concept: generative AI is not intended to replace musicians but to expand their creative possibilities. The project, which began three years ago, demonstrates the integration of AI into live performance settings. The program spanned from Baroque counterpoint to progressive rock, emphasizing live interaction between Rudess and the AI model.

The MIT Future Fest also featured musical guests alongside the jam_bot performances, showcasing a rare demonstration of AI-driven music creation in a live setting.