The Countdown is On: Join Us for the AI+ Expo 2026! 🇺🇲
Details about the AI+ Expo are inside.
I’m Ylli Bajraktari, President of the Special Competitive Studies Project. In just two short weeks, SCSP will convene the brightest minds in technology, policy, and national security for the AI+ Expo.
Whether you are a developer, a policymaker, or a curious citizen, this is your front-row seat to the innovations that will define the next 250 years of American innovation.
Skip the lines and dive in early: We have reserved May 6th for early badge pick-up and exclusive, high-impact partner programming and special events. Get a head start on the 2026 Expo experience, and beat the rush to get ready for the main Exhibit Floor, which officially opens May 7–9.
Read more about what is happening at the AI+ Expo and make sure to join us for D.C.’s largest tech event.
Do you have a technology that you want to showcase? There is still exhibit space available, but it is selling out fast. This is your chance to showcase your innovations to over 20,000 leaders from government, academia, and industry. Secure your exhibit space now.
AI+ Expo Stages: Keynotes and Panels
May 7-9, 2026 | AI+ Expo Show Floor
The AI+ Expo floor is a high-energy hub featuring stage programming designed to deliver specialized insights, AI+ Careers conversations, and live technology demos.
Join senior government officials and industry representatives as they tackle the biggest questions in tech. Hear from leaders including four members of Congress, ITA Under Secretary William Kimmitt, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins, Former House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry, Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels, Rhombus Power Founder & CEO Anshu Roy, Google Public Sector CEO Karen Dahut, Google DeepMind VP Pushmeet Kohli, Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach, and panels such as “AI In Operational Decisionmaking” and “The Future of Embodied AI.”
Watch the tech come to life on the Demo Stage. Witness Boston Dynamics’ Spot navigate the floor, see Parallel Systems activate autonomous rail networks, and get a look at the latest from OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, and Perplexity. Don’t miss Colossal Biosciences as they discuss “De-Extinction” and the future of conservation.
Whether you are a student or a seasoned professional, the AI+ Careers stage is your roadmap to the next generation of work. Hear directly from leaders at OpenAI, IBM, ClearanceJobs, and the U.S. Department of Labor on their thoughts regarding the AI-driven workforce.
Between sessions, head to the AI+ Expo Bookstore for thoughtful conversations with authors like David Sanger (New Cold Wars) and Katrina Manson (Project Maven).
Your AI+ Expo, in Your Pocket
Plan your schedule, bookmark sessions, and keep track of must-see exhibitors in the app.
Search AI+ Expo 2026 after downloading the Cvent Events app. You must be registered for the Expo to access the event.
America At 300: Force of the Future
May 7-8, 2026 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Happening alongside the Expo is The 6th Exchange, our premier national security and innovation forum focused on the intersection of technology and national competitiveness.
In celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, the theme of this year’s Exchange is —America at 300: Force of the Future. We are convening the builders, the innovators, and the leaders who are determined to ensure the United States remains the world’s finest innovation force the world has ever known.
We are excited to welcome some of the top leaders and innovators from government, industry, and academia to stage:
The American Innovation Journey: 250 Years of American Innovation Reception
May 6, 2026 | 5:30 PM-9:30 PM ET | Waldorf Astoria
Also join us at a special event before the exhibit floor opens at the Convention Center. Secure your place at the center of innovation for an exclusive reception hosted by SCSP. This immersive experience transforms the floor into a journey through 250 years of American ingenuity. Ticket includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and interactive activities as you travel through distinct eras to discover how pivotal technologies redefined how we work, learn, and lead. Don’t miss this unique look at the innovations that built a superpower.
Please note, in order to secure a ticket to The American Innovation Journey: 250 Years of American Innovation Reception, you must register for the AI+ Expo. If you have already registered for the Expo, simply modify your registration to purchase a ticket. Space is limited, register now.
Special Events and Educational Workshops
May 6-9, 2026 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The AI+ Expo is more than just a showcase, it’s a perfect opportunity to collaborate on ideas, build practical skills, and connect with the people actively shaping the future of AI. We are expanding the experience far beyond the exhibit floor by hosting an extensive variety of Educational Workshops and Partner-led Special Events.
Whether you are looking for a technical deep dive into AI coding agents or a high-level policy discussion with industry leaders, our partners are bringing their most cutting-edge insights to the stage. These sessions are designed to provide the actionable knowledge you need to navigate the rapid shifts in the emerging tech landscape. You can find a full list of our event partners here.
Explore Global Perspectives
May 6-8, 2026 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The future of technology is not being written in a vacuum. It is being forged through international alliances, localized ingenuity, and the hard-won lessons of the modern battlefield.
SCSP is proud to host a series of full-day discussions as part of the AI+ Expo 2026 to highlight critical global developments that will shape the future of technology, including:
May 6: The China Challenge: The View from Taiwan, Room 151.
May 7: The Africa AI Village: Beyond Frontier Capabilities and Building Practical AI, Room 151.
May 8: The U.S.-India AI and Emerging Technology Forum, Room 151,
May 8: Innovation Under Fire: Lessons Learned from Ukraine, Room 154.
You can read more on these sessions here.
The Drone Arena: Human vs. AI
May 7-9, 2026 | AI+ Expo Show Floor
The Drone Arena is back and bigger than ever, featuring three days of high-speed, unmanned aerial competition. Right in the heart of the show floor, witness the ultimate showdown of speed and precision as U.S. Service Members go head-to-head against AI-powered autonomous drones.
Are you a U.S. Service Member who is interested in competing? Visit our website to learn more.
Saturday at the AI+ Expo: Tech for Everyone
May 9, 2026 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center
On Saturday May 9th, we’re opening the doors to everyone—families, students, and tech enthusiasts alike—for an interactive, all-ages experience designed to spark curiosity. We are transforming the Convention Center into an interactive environment where the next generation of “techies” can get hands-on with the latest tech.
Saturday highlights include:
Fresh Perspectives on Stage: Hear from speakers like Under Secretary for Science at the Department of Energy, Darío Gil, and Dr. Eric Xing, President and University Professor at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
Build and Battle Robots: Design your own machine and join a live competition to see how your bot stacks up in the arena.
Interactive Zones: Experience the “History of Gaming,” dive into AR/VR worlds, or visit our AI-enabled RoboSketch booth.
Educational Workshops: From vibe-coding to agentic AI builds, these practical workshops are perfect for K-12, university students, and early- to mid-career professionals who want to learn how to use current AI tools
Robots & Retro: From the Arena to the Arcade
May 7-9, 2026 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The AI+ Expo floor is packed with interactive hotspots that bridge the gap between cutting-edge engineering and the cultural milestones of technology including:
Robot Arena: Witness high-performance robots in action, showcasing the latest in advancements in humanoids, and a robot orchestra.
The History of Gaming: Trace the evolution of computers through the lens of video games—from 8-bit classics to today’s AI-driven immersion.
The President’s Tech Brief: Live from D.C.
May 7-9, 2026 | AI+ Expo Show Floor
Our hit weekly show, The President’s Tech Brief, is breaking out of the studio and landing directly on the Expo floor! We’re bringing our most popular digital program to life with special live tapings right in the middle of the action.
Don’t miss the SCSP team as they provide analysis on the week’s biggest headlines in tech and national security. This is your chance to see the briefing happen in person, hear real-time reactions to the innovations debuting at the Expo, and get the “insider’s take” on how these technologies are shifting the global landscape.
Thank you to our 2026 AI+ Expo sponsors! Your support fuels our commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
The technologies we discuss and the alliances we forge over these four days will determine whether the next century is defined by American values and ingenuity.
The momentum is building. Don’t leave your seat at the table to chance. See you in D.C.