Definitive Guide to attending VMware Explore in Las Vegas
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The Definitive Guide to Attending VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas

ByChristopher Kusek (PKGuild)

Originally published on LinkedIn.

VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas is mere weeks away, and the momentum is incredible!

Alright, let’s get it out of the way—I’ve written my fair share of ‘definitive guides’ for VMworld back in the day, and now it’s time to bring that same energy to VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas. If you want to survive the week, learn a ton, and keep your sanity (and budget) intact, read on.

INTRODUCING: Architect’s Edge LIVE at VMware Explore!

We aren’t just attending; we are capturing the pulse of the industry. We’ll be hosting an ad-hoc series of podcast recordings and interviews featuring experts, innovators, and people like YOU!

This isn’t a stiff, fixed-location studio. We’re going fully mobile—armed with a tripod, a camera, Lavalier mics, and a backdrop. You might find us on the show floor, out on the Vegas strip, or even next to a waterway! We want to have short (and long!) conversations about the topics that matter most right now: security, VMware, Broadcom, enterprise tech, healthcare, finance, and everything in between. If you are going to be there, we want to talk to you!

The Definitive Survival Rules for VMware Explore 2026

1. Bring and WEAR Comfortable Shoes

I cannot stress this enough. To quote a good friend: “You’re not there selling shoes, so you want to wear something comfortable.” Vegas casinos distort time and space. The walk from your hotel room elevator to the convention center floor alone is basically a 5K.

Fun fact: From the elevators at the Palazzo to the McDonald’s NEXT door is 0.8 miles ONE WAY walking through the resort, or 0.6 miles if you exit to the street… and that’s literally right next door! You’re going to be doing a ton of walking and standing. This isn’t the club—be comfortable!

2. Thermal Shock & Electrolytes (Pack a Jacket & Hydrate Smart)

Vegas in the late summer/fall is a brutal landscape of extremes. Outside, it is SO HOT it will melt your soles. Inside the Venetian/Palazzo convention spaces, it is a sub-zero meat locker. Pack a light hoodie or jacket in your bag every single day.

The Water Rule: You will dehydrate twice as fast as you think in the desert air. Drink water constantly, but don’t just drink plain water. If you chug gallons of water while walking 10 miles a day, you’ll flush your salts and end up with a killer hyponatremia headache. Grab some Liquid I.V., LMNT, or electrolyte packets to keep your salts balanced.

3. Don’t Stress the Schedule (Most Sessions ARE Recorded!)

We all do it—double and triple-booking ourselves in the agenda builder. But here’s the secret: Most sessions are recorded so you can catch the replay later! Use your on-the-ground time for things you can’t do from your office chair: talk to the experts, ask questions, do the hands-on labs (and talk to the folks who CREATED those labs!), record a podcast and interview with me and the Architect’s Edge LIVE team—and most of all, NETWORK!

4. Top 3 Can’t-Miss Sessions

While most things are recorded, live energy, Q&A, and real-time deep dives make these three standout sessions worth blocking on your calendar right now:

5. Leave the Heavy Laptop in Your Room

Are you presenting? No? Then leave the heavy gear behind. You will NEVER take it out of its case on the show floor. Carry only what you need on your person. Save your back and save yourself the grief of watching your bag like a hawk.

6. Network (And Yes, Bring Business Cards)

I know it’s 2026 and you probably have a QR code. But honestly? Physical business cards still stand out when you’re at the after-parties, and they are still the easiest way to get tossed into the fishbowl for a vendor raffle. Exchange real info, make real connections, and don’t rely entirely on the badge scanners.

7. Contact Your Vendors / Sales / SEs NOW

Did you know your SAs, TAMs, and SEs actually want to see you there? It helps them justify their own trips! Vendors throw fantastic events, dinners, and parties in Vegas. Let them know you’re attending so they can get you on the VIP invite lists. It’s a great opportunity to forge those partnerships over some free food and drinks.

8. BUDGET! BUDGET! BUDGET!

Vegas is expensive, but it doesn’t have to break the bank.

  • Food: The conference and vendor events will feed you at almost every opportunity. Take advantage of it! Don’t pay $30 for a casino burger if you don’t have to.
  • Transport: Carpool from the airport with other attendees. If you’re staying off-strip or off-property, figure out the best way to get to your sessions each day early.

FULL CURATED SESSION LIST OF MUST-SEE SESSIONS

To help you plan your week, we’ve been digging through the docket to curate a list of sessions that exemplify the immense value of this event. Whether you are looking for technical deep-dives, architecture strategies, or ways to optimize your hardware, these are the standout sessions we highly recommend adding to your schedule (click any title below to jump straight to the catalog page and register, add to your schedule, or join the waitlist!):

Hardware & Optimization

Memory Tiering (Beat the RAM-pocalypse!)

Security & AI

Automation, App Delivery & Architecture

Community & Hands-on

Dive into the full Content Catalog and build your agenda here:
VMware Explore 2026 Content Catalog

Stay hydrated, pack that jacket, pace yourself, and get ready for an epic week of tech in the desert. Drop a comment below with the session you are most excited for, share your #1 survival tip, and let us know if you want to be a guest on Architects Edge Live!

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