# AUSA Annual Meeting 2026 — Association of the United States Army Landpower & Defense Tech Exposition
- **Canonical Guide:** https://conventions.com/events/ausa-annual-meeting-defense-washington-dc
- **Dates:** October 12–14, 2026 (2026-10-12 to 2026-10-14)
- **Host Facility:** Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Halls A–E) (Washington, DC)
- **Host Facility Engineering Dossier:** https://conventions.com/venues/walter-e-washington-convention-center-dc
- **Organizer:** Association of the United States Army (AUSA) (https://meetings.ausa.org/annual)
- **Attendance & Format:** 34,000+ Attendees | Verified Industry & B2B Trade Professionals | Defense & GovCon Mega-Expo
- **Labor Jurisdiction:** Union Jurisdiction
- **Hotel Compression Index:** 9.7 / 10 Penn Quarter & GSA Per-Diem Block Sellout
- **Federal GSA Per-Diem Benchmark:** $276/night Lodging | $92/day M&IE
- **Official Housing Registry:** Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Official Housing Desk (meetings.ausa.org, onpeak.com, connectionshousing.com)
## Executive Summary
<strong>AUSA Annual Meeting 2026</strong> (Association of the United States Army Landpower & Defense Tech Exposition) convenes <strong>34,000+</strong> industry buyers, engineers, and executives at <strong>Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Halls A–E)</strong> in Washington, DC (October 12–14, 2026). Compare walkable Washington corridor hotels with live wholesale rates, private steakhouse buyouts, 30-day advance utility cutoffs, and local 3-bid booth & AV suppliers.
## Key Event Benchmarks
- **Confirmed Dates:** October 12–14, 2026
- **Audited Scale:** 34,000+ Attendees
- **Host Campus:** Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Halls A–E)
- **Market:** Washington, DC
- **10x10 Booth Benchmark:** $3,900 Raw → ~$11.8k–$17.2k All-In
- **Advance Utility Cutoff:** 30 Days Pre-Show (Save 30%–35%)
## Audience Composition
- **Enterprise Buyers, Operators & Decision Makers:** 46%
- **VPs, Directors & Technical Department Heads:** 28%
- **Exhibiting Manufacturers, SaaS & Solution Partners:** 18%
- **Analysts, Media & Channel Distributors:** 8%
## Arrival, Badge Pickup & Floor Timing
- **Airport & Badge Strategy:** Book walkable or skybridge-connected Washington headquarters hotels 60+ days out and pick up badges the afternoon prior to opening day to bypass Day-1 morning registration lines.
- **Peak Floor Hours:** Day 1–2 Main Exhibition Hours (9:30 AM – 4:30 PM) & Evening Washington Corridor Client Buyout Dinners.
- **Hand-Carry & Union Policy:** Walter E. Washington CC Exhibitor Carry-In Policy (Union Jurisdiction): One exhibitor badge-holder may hand-carry personal display materials or a single rolling luggage case in one trip through main public/hotel entrances without drayage charges; two-wheel dollies, pushcarts, and crated dock deliveries route through official material-handling labor.
## Walkable Corridor Hotels (Washington)
| Hotel | Access / Connection | Show-Week Rate | Off-Peak Rate | Block Status | Rooms |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Marriott Marquis Washington, DC | Underground Concourse Direct to WEWCC | ~$720/nt | ~$269/nt | Limited (<15%) | 1,175 |
| Conrad Washington, DC (CityCenterDC) | 4-Min Walk + Capitol Rooftop Terrace | ~$955/nt | ~$379/nt | Limited (<15%) | 360 |
| The Westin DC Downtown | Across 9th St from South Lobby (2 Mins) | ~$655/nt | ~$245/nt | Limited (<15%) | 807 |
| Grand Hyatt Washington | 6-Min Walk + Direct Metro Center Link | ~$620/nt | ~$229/nt | Available | 897 |
## Exhibitor Building Services vs. Open-Market Local Suppliers
| Service | Facility Policy | Show-Manual Rate | Local Market Benchmark | Savings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electrical Drops, Compressed Air & Overhead Rigging | Exclusive Building Service | $245 – $1,390+ per drop | Exclusive Facility Utility | Order 30d Early (Save 30%) |
| 4K Booth Monitors (55"–85"), LED Video Walls & Keynote AV | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $1,750 – $6,400 / show | $475 – $2,050 (Local Washington EAC AV) | Save 55% – 70% |
| Custom Booth Build, Turnkey Rentals & Booth I&D Labor | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $22,000 – $60,000 (Official Turnkey) | $11,800 – $34,000 (Local Washington Builders) | Save 35% – 48% |
| 24hr Local Rush Print, Backlit SEG Graphics & Hotel Delivery | Independent Suppliers Permitted | $390+ signage + CWT dock drayage | $145 – $1,150 Delivered in Washington | Save 60% + $0 Drayage |
## Private Client Dining & VIP Buyout Venues
| Venue | Cuisine | Walk / Transit | Private Capacity | Typical F&B Minimum | AV Ready |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab | Prime Steaks & Florida Stone Crab ($$$$) | 5-min cab / 10-min walk near White House | 16–180 Guests (Upstairs Gigabit AV Salons) | $5,500 – $35,000+ | Yes |
| RPM Italian (Mt. Vernon Triangle) | Upscale Handcrafted Pasta & Prime Steaks ($$$$) | 3-min walk east on K St from WEWCC | 14–150 Guests | $5,000 – $28,000+ | Yes |
| Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse (CityCenterDC) | Two-Story Prime Steakhouse ($$$$) | 4-min walk to CityCenterDC | 16–200 Guests (Eagle's Nest & Wine Rooms) | $5,500 – $32,000+ | Yes |
## Verified Logistics & Procurement FAQs
### Where is AUSA Annual Meeting 2026 held and what are the dates?
AUSA Annual Meeting 2026 takes place October 12–14, 2026 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Halls A–E) in Washington, DC, organized by Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
*Source: AUSA Annual Meeting Official Schedule*
### How can exhibitors reduce 10x10 and 20x20 booth costs at AUSA Annual Meeting?
Submit electrical, internet, and rigging orders before the 30-day advance deadline to avoid 30%–40% floor penalties, and source 4K monitors, rush print, and turnkey rental booths from local Washington suppliers to bypass cross-country LTL drayage.
*Source: Conventions.com Exhibitor Cost Audit*