The Venetian Convention and Expo Center has become this week’s global hub for virtualization and cloud innovation. Thousands of IT professionals, partners, and clients are participating in VMware Explore 2025, an event packed with technical updates, inspiring conferences, and, as always, a community eager to share experiences and knowledge.
The heart of VMware Explore is in The Hub, a redesigned space that gathers exhibitors, networking zones, hands-on labs, and rest areas. Attendees could stop by lightning sessions, visit the VMware by Broadcom booth, try out Hands-on Labs, or just relax at the popular Bark Park, surrounded by puppies that have become the event’s most endearing feature.
This year’s expansion of The Hub has made interactions more seamless—from impromptu chats with vExpert and VMTN community experts to live interviews at the Broadcast Booth with theCUBE. The result is a vibrant ecosystem where technical training coexists with relaxed networking.
One of the most anticipated moments of the opening day was the Modern-Day Explorer Showcase, featuring diverse speakers like NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, MIT robotics pioneer Kate Darling, and Columbia professor Hod Lipson, a leader in AI and robotics.
From the challenges of spacewalks to discussions on human-robot relationships and AI’s capacity to solve problems beyond our imagination, their talks conveyed a shared message: exploration and innovation require courage and future-oriented vision.
Private cloud takes center stage on Day 2 with the general session where executives from Broadcom, VMware engineers, and strategic clients addressed current priorities: optimizing, scaling, and securing workloads in complex multicloud environments.
The spotlight was on VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, described as the most mature platform for managing private clouds, meeting the demand for efficiency, security, and innovation.
Key highlights of VCF 9.0 include:
- GPU management for AI workloads to enhance AI and machine learning model performance
- Tiered Memory for cost and performance balancing
- A unified console designed to simplify cloud administrator operations
- Expanded APIs to boost automation and flexibility
The core message was clear: AI is not just a use case but a driving force transforming enterprise cloud infrastructures.
Beyond keynote sessions, attendees could explore over 40 self-guided labs and 90-minute workshops led by experts. Hands-on experience with VCF 9.0, configuration validation, and real-world application was available.
The collaborative spirit was further evident in the night-time Hackathon {code}, where global teams teamed up to tackle data center automation challenges, fostering competition, learning, and community.
On Monday afternoon, the traditional Welcome Reception took place, sponsored by giants like AWS, Google Cloud, Intel, and Microsoft. The event featured music, networking, abundant food—including 600 kilos of bacon and 1,000 kilos of chicken—and life-sized LED robots roaming among attendees.
More than entertainment, it was clear that VMware Explore remains a unique gathering point: a place where partners, customers, engineers, and enthusiasts exchange ideas and reaffirm their identity as a global community.
The event still holds surprises, such as the VMware Odyssey Tournament final on Wednesday, where the top eight participants will compete live to test their technical skills.
Additional activities include:
- Free or discounted certification exams
- Roundtables with experts in small groups
- Workshops led by the technology creators themselves
The focus on education is evident: VMware Explore not only showcases products but also helps professionals grow in their careers.
The 2025 edition arrives at a pivotal moment: after Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, the ecosystem needed signs of continuity. The event demonstrated that, far from slowing down, the technological roadmap remains active.
The emphasis on VCF 9.0, AI applications in private cloud, and hybrid experiences bridging on-premise and public infrastructures paves an innovation path aimed at reassuring clients and partners while strengthening VMware’s leadership in private and multicloud environments.
The first two days of VMware Explore 2025 confirmed that the event is more than a tech showcase; it’s a space where community, education, and innovation converge. The spotlight on AI, the expansion of VCF 9.0, and the need to rethink cloud architectures reflect the ongoing transformation in the corporate world.
One thing is clear in Las Vegas: VMware’s future depends not only on its technology but also on its community, which continues to drive this journey.
FAQs
What is VMware Explore?
It’s VMware’s premier annual conference where the company unveils updates in virtualization, cloud, security, and increasingly, AI applied to infrastructure.
What is VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0?
It’s the latest version of VMware’s unified platform for deploying and managing private clouds, supporting advanced AI workloads, offering greater operational flexibility, and introducing new automation tools.
Why is VMware Explore 2025 important?
It marks the first major event after VMware’s integration into Broadcom and confirms that the technological roadmap remains active, with a focus on AI and private cloud.
What value does it offer IT professionals?
Besides staying up-to-date with innovations, attendees can participate in labs, earn certifications, join expert roundtables, and network with the global tech community.
Sources: VMware day 1 and day 2 recaps.