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Get ready, explorers! VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas is less than 90 days away!
Registration opened on April 28, and early-bird pricing is available through June 16. If you plan to attend Explore, now is a great time to register and save $200 before early-bird pricing ends.
Once the early-bird pricing window closes, the event typically begins to pick up momentum. One of the next major milestones to watch for is the Explore 2026 Content Catalog, which traditionally becomes available within a few weeks to a month after the early-bird deadline.
The Explore Content Catalog is one of the most important planning tools for attendees. You can use it to review available sessions, identify topics that align with your goals, and mark sessions as favorites. I highly recommend using the favorites option early because it can help streamline the process of building your schedule once the Scheduling Tool becomes available.
This is always an exciting milestone because it gives attendees the first real look at the technical content, learning opportunities, and major themes planned for Explore.
Pick Your Own Adventure at Explore 2026
What brings you to Explore?
One of the best parts of the event is that you are not locked into a prescribed path. You can build your own experience based on your interests, your role, and the outcomes you want to bring back to your organization.
Maybe you are focused on VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). Maybe you want to sharpen your automation skills, prepare for certification, strengthen your private cloud strategy, or better understand what it takes to support private AI. Whatever your goal, Explore gives you the flexibility to choose the sessions and experiences that matter most to you.
⚙️ Build your professional toolkit
Explore offers curated technical training, hands-on learning, and accelerated certification opportunities.
One of the most valuable resources at the event is VMware Hands-on Labs. Attendees with a Full Event Pass can work through technical scenarios in a dedicated lab environment, completely risk-free. These labs are a great way to explore products, test workflows, and build confidence without impacting a production environment.
The Hands-on Labs area also includes technical tutorials and guided learning opportunities. These are ideal if you prefer a structured walkthrough instead of exploring independently. Whether you are new to a product or looking to deepen your existing knowledge, this is one of the best ways to gain practical experience during the event.
After refreshing your technical knowledge, attendees with a Full Event Pass can also take advantage of the onsite certification exam center. The Full Event Pass includes a complimentary VCF certification exam voucher for onsite testing, making Explore a great opportunity to sit for a certification exam while the material is fresh and you are immersed in the event experience.
🤝 Tap into a community powerhouse
Community has always been one of the strongest parts of Explore.
The event brings together customers, partners, engineers, architects, product experts, and technology leaders from across the Broadcom ecosystem. It is one of the few places where you can attend a technical session, work through a lab, visit The Hub, and speak directly with subject matter experts in the same day.
A major community destination at Explore is The Hub. This is the interactive heart of the event, where attendees can exchange ideas, ask questions, connect with peers, and engage with experts.
One of my favorite stops inside The Hub is the expert bar. If you have never experienced it, I highly recommend making time for it this year. The expert bar gives attendees direct access to VMware software experts who can answer questions across a wide range of products and solutions.
Seriously, you can walk up and ask your questions.
The expert bar is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so you might need to wait a few minutes during busy times. In my opinion, it is absolutely worth it.
Networking is also an undeniable part of Explore. Even for those of us who are naturally more reserved, the event creates plenty of opportunities to meet other attendees and start meaningful conversations. Everyone attending has some connection to the technologies, products, and solutions being discussed, which gives you common ground right away.
⚛️ Master the unified private cloud
VMware Hands-on Labs, certification opportunities, breakout sessions, and expert conversations all help sharpen your technical skills. But Explore is not only about learning new features or checking sessions off a schedule.
It is also about bringing value back to your organization.
The goal of mastering the unified private cloud is especially relevant as organizations continue looking for ways to improve efficiency, control costs, strengthen data sovereignty, and modernize infrastructure. Explore gives attendees access to technical content and real-world conversations that can help shape those decisions.
Every organization is at a different stage of its private cloud journey. Some are modernizing existing VMware vSphere environments. Others are evaluating VMware Cloud Foundation, refining operations, expanding automation, or aligning infrastructure strategy with business requirements.
One of the most valuable parts of attending Explore is hearing how other customers approach similar challenges. Their questions, lessons learned, and practical experiences can highlight opportunities or considerations you had not thought about yet.
That exchange of ideas is a major reason Explore continues to be valuable. You leave with more than session notes. You leave with perspective you can bring back to your own team.
🤖 Shape your AI-ready cloud strategy
AI has been one of the biggest technology conversations over the last few years, and private AI is expected to be a major focus at Explore 2026.
But what does it actually mean for an organization to be AI-ready?
How do modern workloads fit into that strategy? What infrastructure decisions need to be made now to support future AI initiatives? How do private cloud, data control, security, and scalability factor into the conversation?
For many organizations, adopting AI in the data center can feel intimidating. The pace of innovation is fast, and the pressure to make the right strategic decisions is a focal point for many.
That is where Explore can provide real value. From the plenary session to breakout sessions, labs, and technical discussions, attendees can better understand how AI-ready cloud strategies are taking shape and how those concepts can apply in their own environments.
The goal is not to chase the latest trend. The goal is to make smarter infrastructure decisions that support real business outcomes.
Important Explore 2026 Milestones
Be on the lookout for upcoming announcements related to these important Explore 2026 milestones:
- Content Catalog Go-Live: TBD
- Scheduling Tool Go-Live: TBD
- Hotel Block Access Closes: July 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM PDT
These dates are important because they directly impact how you plan your event experience. Once the VMware Explore Content Catalog and scheduling become available, I recommend reviewing sessions as early as possible and building your schedule before popular sessions begin filling up.
Stay Informed
To keep up with the latest Explore 2026 news and announcements, follow the official event channels on your preferred social media platforms.
You can also expect additional posts from me as we get closer to the event. I will share practical tips, planning guidance, and personal insights to help you make the most of your time at Explore 2026 in Las Vegas.
Until then, take care — and I will see you at Explore 2026!
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