July 13–17, 2026
San Diego, CA
ESRI | Environmental Systems Research Institute 2026 is a trade show in San Diego, CA.
More detailed information about this show will be added soon.
The 2026 Esri User Conference is expected to draw more than 18,000 in-person participants from over 100 countries, with thousands more joining virtually. Attendees include GIS analysts, urban planners, data scientists, conservationists, engineers, infrastructure managers, and policymakers. For historical context, the 2025 conference drew over 20,000 in-person attendees; attendance topped 14,000 in 2008 and reached a then-record of more than 16,000 in 2014. The event traces back to 1981, when the first gathering hosted roughly 11–15 users.
Registration is completed online through the official Esri UC registration portal. You will need an Esri Events account (which can be created during registration) and your organization's customer number.
In-person and digital passes are available:
Cancellation policy: cancellations after June 15, 2026 forfeit 50 percent of the fee; cancellations or no-shows after June 29, 2026 forfeit the entire fee. Substitutions can be made at any time. For help, contact confregis@esri.com or call 1-888-377-4576.
The Esri User Conference dates back to 1981, when Esri hosted a small group of about 11 to 15 users at its Redlands, California headquarters to discuss ARC/INFO, the first commercial GIS product. The conference was the brainchild of Esri president and founder Jack Dangermond. It was held in Palm Springs, California from the mid-1980s through 1996, and has been hosted in San Diego since 1997. The first version of what became ArcGIS was announced at the Esri UC in 2000. Attendance grew to more than 14,000 by 2008 and to a record of over 16,000 by 2014. More than four decades on, the conference now runs for five days, features over 150 technical sessions, more than 200 organizations in its Expo, and hundreds of maps in the Map Gallery in the Sails Pavilion—an exhibition that has become one of the conference's defining traditions.
111 West Harbor Drive
The San Diego Convention Center is the main convention center in San Diego, California, located in the Marina district of downtown San Diego. This modern facility includes a 615,700-square-foot exhibition hall, an 80,700-square-foot ballroom and 123,400 square feet of breakout meeting space. Its ground-floor exhibit space is divisible into seven halls. The center's best-known feature is the Sails Pavilion, a 90,000-square-foot exhibit and special event area. The venue offers panoramic views of both the city and the bay and is ideally situated within a mile of thousands of first-class hotel rooms and about 10 minutes from the airport.
The Convention Center is conveniently located just three miles from San Diego International Airport and less than one mile from the Amtrak station. Getting to the airport takes approximately 10-15 minutes by car or shuttle. The San Diego Trolley has two stops directly in front of the building, at Harbor Drive/First Avenue and Harbor Drive/Fifth Avenue, and the Trolley links downtown, Old Town and Mission Valley hotels to the Convention Center and also connects to the Mexican border. The free FRED (Free Ride Everywhere Downtown) system provides free transport in the downtown area via an app. A quick, free shuttle at the airport connects to the consolidated rental car center, featuring over a dozen rental car agencies.
The convention center sits in a vibrant downtown setting within a mile and a half of more than 11,000 first-class hotel rooms, including four headquarter hotels, and about 10 minutes from the airport. There are over 13,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center, with plenty more options in neighboring districts. The Hilton San Diego Bayfront is adjacent to the center, and the historic Gaslamp Quarter directly outside offers additional lodging options. WEST publishes official hotel blocks; attendees should be aware that companies unaffiliated with the official WEST hotels may claim to offer 'reduced' rates, and it is recommended not to use such services.
The 2026 Esri User Conference takes place July 13–17, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Drive, San Diego, California.
It is designed for the global GIS community, including GIS analysts, urban planners, data scientists, engineers, conservationists, infrastructure managers, and policymakers. Programming spans every skill level, from GIS beginners to enterprise architects running location intelligence at national scale.
You register online through Esri's registration portal using an Esri Events account. In-person Standard registration is $2,600 (through May 29, 2026), with Late/On-site at $2,900; discounted rates are available for students ($150), educational ($600), nonprofit, federal government, and young professionals. Digital access is $99 or free for qualifying maintenance customers.
The week is anchored by the Plenary Session led by Esri president Jack Dangermond, followed by more than 150 technical sessions, hands-on training, user presentations, a large Expo with 200-plus organizations, the Map Gallery in the Sails Pavilion, networking socials, and the Thursday Night Party. The 2026 theme focuses on GIS and AI.
San Diego International Airport is about three miles (10–15 minutes) from the convention center, and the MTS Trolley stops directly in front of the building. Numerous hotels sit within walking distance in the Marina and Gaslamp Quarter districts, including the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Omni San Diego, and Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.
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