Design Automation Conference - DAC 2026
Event Date
July 26–29, 2026
Location
Long Beach, CA
Expected Exhibitors
200
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe Design Automation Conference (DAC) is recognized as the premier global event for the design and design automation of electronic chips to systems. Now in its 63rd edition, DAC brings together the worldwide electronic design community for a five-day program of technical research, engineering practice, training, and exhibition. DAC offers outstanding training, education, exhibits and superb networking opportunities for designers, researchers, tool developers, and vendors.
The conference draws a diverse international audience. Members are from a diverse worldwide community of more than 1,000 organizations that attend each year, represented by system designers and architects, logic and circuit designers, validation engineers, CAD managers, senior managers and executives, and researchers and academicians from leading universities. Content spans five interconnected pillars — AI, Design, EDA, Security, and Systems — with artificial intelligence a dominant theme in the 2026 program.
DAC is worth attending for its combination of rigorous peer-reviewed research and hands-on engineering insight. Over five days, DAC provides over 300 technical presentations and sessions that are selected by a committee of electronic design and university research experts offering information on recent developments and trends, management practices and new products, methodologies, and technologies in the electronics industry.
Show Highlights
DAC 2026 organizes its program around five core pillars — AI, Design, EDA, Security, and Systems — with artificial intelligence featuring heavily this year. 55% of the program covers AI & Design, with a 26.34% increase in Research Track submissions and 26% growth in Engineering Track submissions.
Marquee speakers for 2026 include:
- John Martinis, CTO & Co-Founder of Qolab and 2025 Nobel Laureate in Physics; Dr. Baaziz Achour, EVP and Chief Technology Officer, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.; and Jan M. Rabaey, Professor Emeritus at University of California at Berkeley, as keynote speakers.
- A Sunday Welcome Address by Timothy Costa, General Manager and Vice President of Computational Engineering, NVIDIA.
Signature features include SKYTalks, TechTalks, Analyst Reviews, and the DAC Pavilion on the exhibit floor. Sunday programming focuses on intensive workshops and tutorials designed to provide deep technical training before the main conference sessions begin. Other highlights include the Poster Gladiator contest, the Hack@DAC hardware security challenge, the Ph.D. Forum, DAC Young Fellows, and university demonstrations.
Attendance
Members are from a diverse worldwide community of more than 1,000 organizations that attend each year, represented by system designers and architects, logic and circuit designers, validation engineers, CAD managers, senior managers and executives, and researchers and academicians from leading universities. The audience spans academia and industry across the global semiconductor and electronic design ecosystem.
Registration
Registration is completed online through the official DAC registration system. Pass types include Full Conference, Engineering Track, Student Full Conference, a Sunday Workshop/Tutorial-only pass, and the free I LOVE DAC / Exhibits Only pass. ACM/IEEE members receive discounted rates, so members should have their membership ID ready.
Advanced registration rates (in effect February 10 – June 26, 2026):
- ACM/IEEE Member Full Conference: $1,239 (advance) / $1,449 (onsite)
- Non-Member Full Conference: $1,449 (advance) / $1,649 (onsite)
- ACM/IEEE Member Student Full Conference: $719 (advance) / $829 (onsite)
- Non-Member Student Full Conference: $929 (advance) / $1,029 (onsite)
- Engineering Track: $359 (advance, extended to 7/20/2026) / $419 (7/21–7/29/2026)
- Sunday Workshop/Tutorial only (code WKSPFULL26): $249
- I LOVE DAC / Exhibits Only: $0 (available 3/30/26 – 7/28/26)
Key timeline dates: Advanced Registration runs February 10 – June 26, 2026, and Onsite Registration runs June 27 – July 29, 2026. Note the age policy: anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to register or attend a DAC conference. International attendees who need a visa letter should complete the invitation letter form on the DAC website. Cancellations received in writing on or before June 30, 2026 receive a refund less a $50 administrative processing fee; no refunds are given after that date.
History
DAC is the 63rd edition of the ACM/IEEE Design Automation Conference and has influenced the semiconductor ecosystem for more than 60 years. The conference is sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and is supported by ACM's Special Interest Group on Design Automation (SIGDA) and IEEE's Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA). DAC is ranked A* in the latest ICORE (International CORE) conference rankings — the highest rating — reflecting its reputation as a top-tier conference for chips-to-systems innovation across computer science and engineering. The 2026 conference is being held in Long Beach, California, and reported a record year in submissions.
Exhibitors
Exhibitor Information
Detailed exhibitor list is being compiled. Check back soon or visit the official show website for the most current information.
Last updated: July 18, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is DAC 2026 taking place?
DAC 2026 takes place July 26-29, 2026 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California.
Who should attend DAC?
DAC is designed for system designers and architects, logic and circuit designers, validation engineers, CAD managers, senior managers and executives, tool developers, vendors, and researchers and academics from leading universities. It draws attendees from more than 1,000 organizations worldwide each year.
How do I register and what does it cost?
Registration is done online through DAC's official registration system, with Full Conference, Engineering Track, student, and free I LOVE DAC/Exhibits Only passes available. Advanced Full Conference rates start at $1,239 for ACM/IEEE members and $1,449 for non-members, with student and Engineering Track passes offered at lower rates.
What topics and program tracks does DAC 2026 cover?
DAC 2026 is organized around five pillars: AI, Design, EDA, Security, and Systems, with 55% of the program covering AI and design. It offers over 300 technical presentations and sessions, plus keynotes, SKYTalks, TechTalks, workshops, tutorials, and an exhibition.
What makes DAC worth attending?
DAC is recognized as the premier global chips-to-systems event and is ranked A* (the highest rating) in the ICORE conference rankings. It combines rigorous peer-reviewed research, practical engineering insight, an exhibition of roughly 200 leading and emerging companies, and extensive networking opportunities.
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