Explore 2026 recap series
This is historical coverage of VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas. Event schedules and offers below refer to that conference.
Day 1 (this recap) · Day 2 highlights · Day 3 highlights · Explore 2027 dates and venue
VMware Explore 2026 opened in Las Vegas with a clear message: private cloud is becoming the foundation for secure, practical AI at enterprise scale. Day 1 brought together technical sessions, customer stories, hands-on learning, and the community energy that has long defined VMware Explore.
Day 1 featured 118 sessions across four content tracks at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center. Attendees moved between product announcements, technical sessions, Hands-on Labs, expert areas, and community spaces, while hallway conversations created additional opportunities to compare real-world experiences and operational priorities.
Private AI, security, and faster innovation lead the plenary
The opening plenary focused on how organizations can scale artificial intelligence cost-effectively, strengthen security, and innovate faster as agentic AI moves from experimentation toward production. Broadcom leaders combined product news with customer stories, grounding the larger AI conversation in the operational realities enterprise teams face today.
For infrastructure and platform teams, the takeaway is straightforward: successful AI adoption depends on more than models and accelerators. It requires a dependable private cloud platform, strong governance, secure operations, and an application platform capable of turning ideas into repeatable services. Those themes align closely with the direction of VMware Cloud Foundation and the broader VMware by Broadcom portfolio.
Hands-on time with VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1
The Hands-on Labs returned as one of the most useful parts of the event. New VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 labs gave attendees a chance to test-drive capabilities in a guided environment rather than relying only on slides and demonstrations.
Participants could choose from more than 30 self-paced labs or join 90-minute expert-led workshops. That mix makes the lab area valuable for both experienced administrators who want to investigate a specific workflow and newcomers looking for structured instruction. Direct access to the experts who build the labs also helps turn technical questions into practical learning.
VMware Odyssey returned as well, adding a competitive layer to the hands-on experience. Qualifying rounds were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, followed by the Wednesday final. It is a fun format, but it also rewards the troubleshooting speed and product familiarity administrators build through day-to-day work.
Community remains central to VMware Explore
Day 1 was not only about product announcements. The Hub, the Expert Bar, Meet the Expert roundtables, live podcast interviews, and informal conversations all created opportunities to learn from peers and VMware specialists. The evening Welcome Reception continued that momentum, while the VMware {code} Hackathon brought data-center automators together to explore what people and AI can build collaboratively.
That community aspect matters. Documentation and recorded sessions are valuable, but events like Explore create space for the candid conversations that reveal how technologies behave in real environments—what works, where the friction is, and how other teams are approaching similar challenges.
What followed Day 1
The rest of the week included more technical sessions, Hands-on Labs, expert roundtables, and certification opportunities. Full Event Pass holders could also use a complimentary VMware Cloud Foundation certification exam voucher during the event.
One final announcement looked beyond this year’s conference: VMware Explore will move to Resorts World Las Vegas for 2027 and shift to spring dates, May 3–6. Day 1 of Explore 2026 set the tone around private cloud, enterprise AI, secure operations, and the people who make those technologies work.
Source: VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas | Day 1 Recap, published by VMware Explore.