Odyssey has a way of turning a conference trip into something you talk about for years. The competition is back at VMware Explore 2026 in Las Vegas, and if you missed it before, this is the year to show up ready to play.
Whether you’re there to win or just to see what the best in the room can do, Odyssey delivers. Complete technical challenges using VMware software, climb the leaderboard, and if you crack the top 8, walk away with serious prizes. Everyone who plays gets something. More on that below.
How it works
Stop by the Odyssey stage inside the Hands-on Labs room at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center, August 31 through September 2, 2026. Play the qualifying games Monday and Tuesday. Tasks are scored on accuracy and speed, so knowing your stuff and moving fast both matter. Bonus points go to players who finish fastest.
The top 8 scores across all three daily rounds advance to the live finals on Wednesday, September 2 at 11am. That’s when the leaderboard stops being a number and starts being a story.
What you take home
You don’t have to finish in the top 8 to leave with something. Everyone who plays a game receives an Odyssey keychain charm to add to your official collection* and while supplies last, an Odyssey pin. You’ll also pick up electronic tokens redeemable in the Explore Expedition game, accessible through the Explore Mobile App.
*Be sure to get your official VCF Keychain from the VMware booth in the HUB first!
The top 8 finishers each take home an Odyssey Yeti water bottle and receive an Odyssey Letterman Jacket. The jacket has been a fan favorite since the earliest tournaments, and this year’s version is worth competing for.
And the top 3? Fantastic Lego sets. The kind worth clearing shelf space for before you travel.
The live finals
The finals are worth attending even if you’re not on the leaderboard. Top players take on live technical challenges in front of the crowd, and the pressure is real. Lead changes happen right up until the end, and past tournaments have kept spectators on their feet until the final result. If you want to see VMware technical skill at its sharpest in a live setting, Wednesday, September 2 at 11am the Odyssey stage is where to be.
Hands-on Labs tours
Odyssey is also part of the Hands-on Labs tours running throughout the event. These behind-the-scenes tours take you through the entire Hands-on Labs room with the engineers and product specialists who built what you’re learning — business context, technical depth, and a look at the Command Center that monitors the lab environment in real time. Tours run approximately 30 to 45 minutes and are available to all attendees.
Hands-on Labs, for everyone
Not every experience at Explore 2026 needs to be competitive. The Hands-on Labs area covers cloud, security, and AI through Self-paced Labs and Expert-led Workshops. Labs are built for all experience levels — move at your own pace and ask questions without a clock running.
Workshop sessions run smaller and tighter, with direct access to the people who built the content. If you’re newer to the VMware portfolio, these labs give you practical, hands-on familiarity with the tools before you’re expected to use them in production. If you’ve been working with VMware software for years, the challenge content will find your ceiling.
Register and get on the leaderboard
Odyssey seats are limited. If competing is on your agenda, register for VMware Explore 2026 now and plan to stop by the Hands-on Labs room on day one.
VMware Explore 2026 runs August 31 through September 3 at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. See you there.
