AWS re:Invent 2026 runs from Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 4 across five venues in Las Vegas. For software companies, the week is two jobs at once: getting around a campus that stretches along the Strip, and making good use of time with AWS sellers, partner teams and customers.
We’ve put the logistics in one place in our free AWS re:Invent 2026 guide: key dates, a venue map, the day-by-day schedule, practical tips and a packing list. There’s even an 8-bit game, LAS Runner, for the shuttle line. This post covers how to plan your week with it, and how to prepare for the AWS conversations that matter after the event.
Key dates before you fly
- November 5: hotel room blocks close. Book through the attendee portal, where discounted rates apply while rooms last.
- November 14: deadline for accessibility requests such as ASL interpretation, sent to awsreinvent-support@amazon.com.
- November 29: badge pickup opens at Harry Reid International Airport (Terminals 1 and 3) from 7:00 AM, and at MGM Grand and The Venetian from 10:00 AM.
- December 4: sessions end at 12:30 PM, at The Venetian and Wynn | Encore only.
- January 31, 2027: the 50% AWS Certification exam discount for in-person registrants expires.
Plan your days around the venues
Sessions run across Wynn | Encore, The Venetian, Caesars Forum, Caesars Palace and MGM Grand. The Venetian hosts every keynote and the Expo, so most days start or end there. In 2025, AWS advised allowing 30 to 45 minutes between activities, even within the same venue.
The simplest way to plan is to group sessions by venue and stay in one place for a morning or an afternoon. Reserve seats in the event catalog, and arrive at least 10 minutes early to keep a reserved seat. Repeat sessions carry “-R” in the session ID, so a clash is often fixable.
Two keynotes matter most for partner teams: the CEO Keynote with Matt Garman on Tuesday, December 1 at 8:30 AM, and the Partner Keynote with Ruba Borno on Wednesday, December 2 at 3:00 PM, both at The Venetian. The full schedule by day is in the guide.
Getting around: shuttles, monorail and rides
- Shuttles link most venues during conference hours, with live times and stops in the AWS Events app.
- The Las Vegas Monorail is free with your badge. It runs along the east side of the Strip and closes at midnight from November 29 to December 2, and at 1:00 AM on December 3.
- Rideshare pickups at the big resorts sit in garages or at the back. At MGM Grand it’s the first floor of the self-parking garage, and at The Venetian it’s the second level of the parking ramp.
- When a session block lets out, the rideshare line backs up. Walking to a smaller hotel nearby and requesting your ride from its entrance is often faster, and taxis queue at main entrances. Expect surge pricing at busy times.
- From the airport, a rideshare takes about 15 to 25 minutes and costs roughly $20 to $35 before surge pricing. A taxi is roughly $25 to $40.
Food, water and shoes
Breakfast, lunch and snacks are served on full conference days, with dishes labeled for allergens and as vegetarian or vegan. The Tuesday and Wednesday networking receptions include food and drinks, and re:Play runs Thursday, December 3 from 6:30 to 10:30 PM at Allegiant Stadium. If you’re hosting customers, book dinners early, since restaurants near the venues fill up that week.
The desert air is very dry, so carry a refillable water bottle and lip balm. Bring two pairs of supportive shoes you’ve already broken in; AWS’s own advice is to leave new shoes at home. Session rooms run cold and evenings drop to around 42°F (6°C), so pack a layer. Smoking is allowed on casino floors, which many routes between rooms cross.
Prepare for your AWS meetings
For software companies, re:Invent is one of the few weeks when AWS sellers, partner managers and specialists are all in one place. Those conversations go further when you bring four things:
- A Better Together story: the customer problem you solve, why it runs better on AWS, the AWS services your product uses, and a customer who can vouch for it.
- A meeting plan: who you want to meet, what you need from each person, and what you can offer them.
- Your co-sell basics in order: your partner program standing, your AWS Marketplace listing and your opportunity records.
- A follow-up email written within days, while the conversation is fresh.
AWS decides which opportunities it engages on, and a good meeting at re:Invent doesn’t guarantee co-sell support. What preparation does is make your story easy for an AWS seller to understand and repeat to their customers. Our free AWS Meeting Prep Kit walks through all four in about two hours.
Not going to Las Vegas?
Keynotes stream free online, and breakout sessions are available on demand after the event. The weeks around re:Invent are still a good time for AWS conversations, since many teams plan the year ahead then. The prep kit works for any AWS meeting.
FAQ
When and where is AWS re:Invent 2026?
Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 4, 2026, across five venues in Las Vegas. Badge pickup and kickoff activities start Sunday, November 29.
Where do I pick up my badge?
At Harry Reid International Airport (Terminals 1 and 3), MGM Grand or The Venetian. MGM Grand and The Venetian keep badge pickup open through Thursday.
Is re:Play included in the pass?
Yes, a full conference pass includes re:Play. A guest pass costs $350.
Is the monorail free during re:Invent?
Yes. Badge holders ride the Las Vegas Monorail free by showing their badge at the entrance.
Work with Fractivo
Fractivo helps software companies turn AWS partnerships into revenue through AWS Competencies, AWS Marketplace and co-sell. If you’re planning AWS meetings around re:Invent, talk to us.
