{"id":58578,"date":"2025-10-23T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/?p=58578"},"modified":"2025-10-08T09:37:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:37:10","slug":"networking-opportunities-at-3dexperience-world-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/2025\/10\/networking-opportunities-at-3dexperience-world-2026.html","title":{"rendered":"Networking Opportunities at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mark your calendars \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dexperienceworld.com\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"><strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World<\/a> returns to Houston, Texas, from <strong>February 1\u20134, 2026,<\/strong> at the George R. Brown Convention Center.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the keynotes, product announcements, and deep-dive technical sessions, one of the event&#8217;s greatest strengths is the opportunity to <strong>connect<\/strong> with old friends, new colleagues, and fellow SOLIDWORKS users.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to get the most out of your time in Houston, here\u2019s your guide to maximizing your networking efforts at <strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World 2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why Networking Matters (Especially in 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In an era when remote work and hybrid collaboration are the norm, in-person connections are more valuable than ever. At <strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World 2026, you\u2019ll find:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A global community of designers, engineers, makers, and innovators, all sharing a common language of CAD.<\/li>\n<li>Opportunities to bounce ideas, share challenges, and learn new workflows directly from your peers.<\/li>\n<li>Access to speakers, product developers, and Dassault Syst\u00e8mes leaders \u2014 many of whom stay around the floor after sessions and welcome conversation.<\/li>\n<li>Unstructured time built into the event for serendipitous conversations \u2014 in the hallways, at meals, or in the Playground.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-58577\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_-615x410.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_-728x485.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0005_websize20_2_.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Networking Touchpoints to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here are some networking highlights you\u2019ll want to bookmark when the full agenda is published in early November:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Meetup Sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like previous years, <strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World 2026 will offer a rich slate of <strong>Meetup sessions<\/strong>, pairing topic-focused discussion with networking.<\/p>\n<p>What to expect:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fireside chats with SOLIDWORKS leadership.<\/li>\n<li>Industry-specific roundtables (e.g. Life Sciences, Robotics, Industrial Equipment).<\/li>\n<li>Community-led sessions (e.g., Makers, First-Timers, Startups).<\/li>\n<li>Speed-networking events and \u201cAsk Me Anything\u201d panels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These sessions create structured chances to meet people who share your interests or challenges.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0007_websize20_1_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>2. The Hive &amp; The Playground<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Hive <\/strong>will once again serve as a social hub. This year, it will be located outside of the Playground, ensuring that conference goers can access this space at all times. You will find comfortable seating and an inviting atmosphere that fosters meaningful conversations in a quieter setting. The First Timers Meetup and The Core Podcast will also take place in The Hive. Drop in to meet a User Group Leader or a SOLIDWORKS Champion and look for\u00a0<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">the<strong>\u00a03D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE<\/span>\u00a0World Ambassador shirts!<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Playground<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is the official gathering place for the event. The Playground will showcase the latest and greatest products and services, while providing a unique opportunity to network with SOLIDWORKS experts, partners, makers, and other like-minded users. Model Mania, The Shop Floor, The Maker Zone, and much more! Exhibitor booths often host demos, mini-talks, or drop-in Q&amp;A opportunities. Use those as conversation starters to make the most of your time at <strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Social Events &amp; Evening Gatherings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Evening receptions, party nights, and partner events are staples of <strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World. These provide a more relaxed setting for mingling and building relationships beyond the formal sessions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0017-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Certification &amp; Learning Hubs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re planning to take a SOLIDWORKS certification exam during the event, be sure to arrive early or stay afterward \u2014 many people arrive early or linger in the certification area, which naturally leads to more conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, breakout rooms before and after training sessions can be rich networking zones. Someone\u2019s always willing to chat about \u201cwhat just blew their mind\u201d from the session.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Student &amp; Early Career Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For students and early-career attendees, 3DEXPERIENCE World is an opportunity to connect with mentors, hiring managers, or future collaborators. Many attendees working in various industries love helping and mentoring students. Be bold, introduce yourself, and ask questions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0087_websize20_1_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tips to Get the Most from Networking<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pre-plan your schedule, but stay flexible.<\/strong> Identify the meetups and sessions you absolutely want \u2014 but leave gaps for walking around the floor or bumping into people.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bring business cards or digital contact info.<\/strong> Even in a digital age, a quick QR-code or card exchange helps. Tape your QR code to the back of your badge.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Show up early and linger.<\/strong> People often arrive before sessions start \u2014 a great chance to strike up a conversation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use the event app &amp; community platform.<\/strong> Sign in to the 3DEXPERIENCE World app and use it ahead of time to see who\u2019s attending and arrange meetups. Do the same on the <a href=\"https:\/\/forum.solidworks.com\/\">SOLIDWORKS User Forums<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Join a SOLIDWORKS User Group.<\/strong> Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.swugn.org\">SWUGN.org<\/a> to join the group closest to you. This will put you way ahead of the networking curve long before you pack your bags for Houston. Be on the lookout for exclusive SWUGN events at 3DEXPERIENCE World.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Follow up after the event.<\/strong> Within a few days, send a quick \u201cGreat to meet you\u201d \u2014 even a short message can strengthen a new relationship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/0018_websize20_1_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While the full 2026 agenda may evolve, sessions are being shortened to <strong>45 minutes<\/strong> to make content more focused \u2014 less time in session means more time for hallway discussion and connections. 3DEXPERIENCE World is always a whirlwind of content, innovation, and conversation, but what often leaves a lasting impact is <strong>who you met<\/strong> and <strong>what new ideas you carried home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re attending <strong>3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE World 2026, come with curiosity, an open mind, and a willingness to talk to strangers. You never know which conversation will spark your next big move.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/reg.3dexperienceworld.com\/flow\/3ds\/3dx2025\/site\/page\/registration?utm_campaign=202509_glo_event_swks_3DXW26Registration_en&amp;utm_medium=socialnetwork&amp;utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_content=img&amp;_gl=1*1v36i6u*_gcl_au*MTMwMTU3MTc1OC4xNzU1NTQ3Mzc2*_ga*NDYzOTQ3OTQ1LjE3NTU1NDczNzU.*_ga_XQJPQWHZHH*czE3NTk5MzAzNzUkbzEzMyRnMSR0MTc1OTkzMDQzNiRqNjAkbDAkaDA.*_ga_TPGKGE8GTG*czE3NTk5MzAzNzYkbzYyJGcxJHQxNzU5OTMwNDM2JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..&amp;3dssid=3cd3f563-5742-4813-9164-fd2e1fafbfd8&amp;3dsvid=1d83566a-ad8c-4171-8b0d-7826c55a160d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-58472 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/3DXW26_REGISTERTODAY_961x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"961\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/3DXW26_REGISTERTODAY_961x250.jpg 961w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/3DXW26_REGISTERTODAY_961x250-300x78.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/3DXW26_REGISTERTODAY_961x250-615x160.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/3DXW26_REGISTERTODAY_961x250-768x200.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/3DXW26_REGISTERTODAY_961x250-728x189.jpg 728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to get the most out of your time in Houston, here\u2019s your guide to maximizing the networking opportunities at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026.<\/p>\n... <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/2025\/10\/networking-opportunities-at-3dexperience-world-2026.html\">Continued<\/a>","protected":false},"author":545,"featured_media":58574,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2933,50,3,826,14,18],"tags":[2966,451,54,654,3409,1777],"class_list":["post-58578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3dexperience","category-collaboration","category-community","category-dassault-systmes","category-design","category-solidworks","tag-3dexperience-world","tag-cad","tag-collaboration-2","tag-dassault-systemes-2","tag-meetup-sessions","tag-networking"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/545"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58578"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58639,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58578\/revisions\/58639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}