Top GovCon Events for 2026
The Must-Attend GovCon Events of 2026
Federal contracting is entering one of its most consequential years in over a decade. The $900 billion NDAA, paired with the sweeping investments of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has pumped unprecedented resources into defense, homeland security, digital modernization and emerging technologies. At the same time, agencies are under heightened scrutiny to justify spending, strengthen oversight and modernize aging systems at speed.
For industry, that means 2026 is a year where staying informed is no longer optional. Leaders need direct access to the government officials setting priorities, the innovators pushing boundaries in national security and the executives shaping the GovCon ecosystem. Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 lineup reflects that urgency, offering unmatched visibility into federal missions, modernization roadmaps and major program shifts across defense, civilian and homeland portfolios.
Below is your complete guide to the top GovCon events for 2026 — the essential conferences where policy is explained, partnerships form and the future of U.S. government technology takes shape.
2026 Defense R&D Summit
January 29 | Hilton McLean, VA
Sponsored by SAIC, Lockheed Martin, CACI, Ericsson Federal, Carahsoft, Exiger, Nokia Federal Solutions, Oceus, JMA, Vantor, SandboxAQ, Adroit, Future Technologies, TechnoMile, Aretum, Cognyte
POC’s 2026 season opens with one of the most anticipated gatherings of the year — the Defense R&D Summit, headlined by Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, the most significant speaker confirmed across the entire 2026 portfolio to date. Michael’s leadership is central to modernizing the Department of Defense’s technology architecture, accelerating innovation pipelines and strengthening integrated deterrence. His appearance sets a powerful tone for the event and underscores the Summit’s strategic importance.
Additional featured leaders include Dr. Thomas Rondeau, principal director for FutureG at DOW, along with senior officials representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, DIU and Space Force. Sessions will examine next-generation technologies including AI at mission scale, quantum at the edge, wireless innovation across INDOPACOM and the DoD-wide transition from 5G to FutureG. Attendees will gain rare insight into where the Pentagon is placing its technical bets — and how industry can align to meet rapidly evolving mission needs.
Register for the 2026 Defense R&D Summit
2025 Healthcare Summit (Rescheduled)
February 12 | Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park
Sponsored by LMI, GDIT, SAIC, LogicMonitor
Rescheduled due to the government shutdown, the 2025 Healthcare Summit now lands in early 2026 while retaining its original name. The event features a standout keynote lineup including Sam Kaardal, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Interoperability within ASTP, as well as Bill Tinston and Cori Hughes from the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office. Their work sits at the center of the government’s push toward seamless, interoperable digital health systems.
Panels will explore CMS platform modernization, modern healthcare delivery models and how cloud-first, AI-ready architectures are reshaping public health services. With leaders from HHS, DHA, CMS and NIH participating, attendees will come away with a clear view of how federal healthcare technology is being rebuilt for speed, transparency and improved patient outcomes.
Sign up for the 2025 Healthcare Summit
2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit
February 26 | Location TBD
Sponsored by Bcore, Xpect, C Speed, NewSpring, Tricentis, Vultron
This first-of-its-kind gathering for POC is designed as a high-level, Davos-esque meeting of the minds for senior GovCon leaders. The 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit is industry-focused — a space for CEOs, rising executives and strategic thinkers to examine the forces shaping federal contracting’s future.
Sessions include conversations with established CEOs, followed by a showcase panel of new and ascending leaders. Agenda topics span shifts in innovation strategy, the rise of digital warfighting and the structural reforms reshaping federal acquisition. The event offers an uncommon opportunity for candid industry-to-industry dialogue on growth, competition and long-term positioning.
Join the 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit
2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit
March 19 | Location TBD
Lead Platinum Sponsor: MANTECH | Additional sponsors: SAIC, Empower AI, HII, Oracle, ECS, Cloudera, LMI, Slalom, SOSi Seekr, BTI360, Invisible, SMX, TechnoMile, Recorded Future, Vultron, RightSeat
Now in its sixth year, the AI Summit remains one of POC’s most popular and widely attended conferences. Experts across federal agencies and defense components are navigating the fastest-moving wave of AI development ever recorded — a period where breakthroughs occur not over years, but over days and months. This event convenes the executives and practitioners driving mission-ready AI adoption inside government.
Sessions will address the infrastructure required for resilient AI operations, applied GenAI for mission workflows and why traditional SaaS architectures are giving way to unified AI data estates. With strong representation from leading integrators, cloud providers and national security technologists, the 2026 edition offers a real-time view into how AI is transforming federal operations and reshaping agency modernization strategies.
Register for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit
2026 Digital Transformation Summit
April 22 | Location TBD
Sponsored by CACI, Guidehouse, Tricentis, MTSI, Tyler Technologies, Valiantys Federal, Recorded Future
Modernizing government systems remains one of the top priorities across the federal enterprise, and the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit brings together the CIOs and technology leaders driving this change. This event typically attracts some of the highest-ranking IT officials in defense and civilian agencies, with past appearances including the DOW CIO and service-level CIOs.
Discussions will examine enterprise IT modernization, user experience improvements, cybersecurity architectures and the adoption of emerging technologies across defense missions. Attendees will also hear how top decision-makers are working to replace legacy systems, adopt commercial best practices and strengthen partnerships that accelerate transformation at scale.
Save your spot at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit
2026 Cyber Summit
May 21 | Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park
Sponsored by MANTECH, ECS, Corelight, North Star Labs, Recorded Future
With the DOW’s 2027 zero trust deadline approaching rapidly, cybersecurity has become one of the government’s most urgent priorities. The 2026 Cyber Summit brings together leaders from the public and private sectors to assess where agencies stand, what obstacles remain and how federal organizations can secure data in an era where cyberspace is a primary battlefield for nation-state conflict.
Sessions will focus on zero trust implementation, cyber readiness across defense and civilian environments and the partnerships needed to protect national infrastructure. As adversaries increase pressure on U.S. networks, this summit provides timely insights for executives navigating expanding threat landscapes and rising compliance expectations.
Register for the 2026 Cyber Summit
2026 Army Summit
June 18 | Location TBD
Sponsored by LMI, Ultra I&C, Cubic, AT&T, SAP NS2, Carahsoft, Vultron
Following the sweeping reforms introduced in the 2025 Army Transformation Initiative, the Army is entering a pivotal modernization cycle. The 11th annual Army Summit helps the industrial base understand how the service is reshaping its acquisition strategies, digital infrastructure and operational concepts.
Attendees will hear from Army leaders about unified network development, 2030 readiness goals and how modernization efforts translate to new requirements for industry. With major changes to contracting, resource allocation and tech adoption underway, this event provides essential clarity for companies aligning to support the revitalized Army.
2026 Air and Space Summit
July | Location TBD
Sponsored by Ultra I&C, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Kepler, Intel Foundry, Carahsoft
As the U.S. Space Force matures and integrates more deeply with the U.S. Air Force, air and space superiority have become inseparable components of national defense strategy. The 2026 Air and Space Summit brings together senior leaders from both services to discuss evolving mission demands and the technological innovations shaping future operations.
Sessions will cover advanced sensing, digital engineering, satellite resilience and strategies to maintain advantage in contested environments. Golden Dome missile defense and integrated deterrence are expected to be major themes, reflecting the Department’s increased focus on layered defense architectures. POC has historically secured some of its most notable defense speakers for this event, including the secretary of the Air Force, in prior years.
Save your spot at the 2026 Air and Space Summit
2026 Navy Summit
August | Location TBD
Sponsored by Carahsoft, AT&T, SAP NS2
The Navy continues to modernize rapidly across shipbuilding, unmanned systems, cyber readiness and fleet digitalization. The 2026 Navy Summit will bring together senior Department of the Navy leaders and industry executives to examine modernization priorities, infrastructure recapitalization and emerging maritime mission needs.
With a strong track record of attracting senior service officials — including the secretary of the Navy in previous years — this event offers critical insight into evolving naval strategy and the technologies shaping sea power in the decade ahead.
Gain insights at the 2026 Navy Summit
2026 Intel Summit
September | Location TBD
Sponsored by SAP NS2, Recorded Future
Despite shifting political dynamics and conversations around resourcing, the intelligence community’s mission has never been more complex. The threats facing the U.S. — including foreign interference, cyber espionage and global instability — continue to grow in scale and sophistication. The 2026 Intel Summit provides a clear window into how agencies are adapting.
Regular participants include senior leaders from the CIA, ODNI, DIA and other IC organizations, offering insights on intelligence modernization, data integration, emerging technologies and partnerships that strengthen national security. The event remains a cornerstone for executives working in classified, analytical or national security technology environments.
Boost your bottom line at the 2026 Intel Summit
2026 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit
October | Location TBD
As global defense markets expand and allied nations deepen cooperation on emerging technologies, industry opportunities are increasing beyond U.S. borders. The 2026 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit reflects this shift, exploring foreign military sales trends, multinational defense programs and the rising importance of interoperability with partner nations.
This year’s revised event title highlights POC’s renewed focus on global defense integration — a theme expected to draw new audiences from firms pursuing cross-border contracting, strategic partnerships and participation in the expanding global defense-industrial ecosystem.
Expand your company’s horizons at the 2026 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit
2026 Homeland Security Summit
November | Location TBD
Sponsored by T-Mobile, Exiger, MANTECH, AT&T, Capgemini Government Solutions, SOSi, LMI, Slalom, Clearview AI, Procentrix, Ericsson Federal
The 2025 Homeland Security Summit was POC’s most-attended event ever, anchored by an opening keynote from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. In 2026, homeland missions continue to accelerate as DHS agencies receive major investment across border security, immigration modernization, public safety, infrastructure protection and cyber defense.
With components like ICE, USCIS and CISA receiving heightened attention and expanded resources, the 2026 summit will spotlight program priorities, modernization strategies and the technologies reshaping homeland security operations. Strong participation from senior DHS leaders ensures this event remains one of the most important conferences for executives supporting national security missions.
Secure new business at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit
2026 Healthcare Summit
December | Location TBD
The end-of-year Healthcare Summit returns to its regular schedule with a focus on digital modernization, data-driven health delivery and emerging technologies that enhance patient outcomes and agency mission performance. With leaders from across federal healthcare agencies, attendees will gain critical insight into upcoming programs, procurement activity and long-term modernization efforts shaping the federal health landscape.
Register now for the 2026 Healthcare Summit
Stay Ahead of 2026’s Most Impactful GovCon Shifts
Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 events bring together the decision-makers defining federal missions during a year of major investment, tighter oversight and rapid technological evolution. Whether your organization works in defense, intelligence, healthcare, cybersecurity or federal IT, these summits provide the access, insight and relationships needed to navigate the changing landscape.
Registration is open now for all events. Secure your seat early to ensure access to the speakers and conversations shaping government and industry in the year ahead.
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