Casey Chaisson
Looking to stay ahead of the latest trends in digital water infrastructure? Autodesk University 2026 offers a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders, connect with peers, influence product direction, and explore the technologies shaping the future of water. Here’s why water professionals won’t want to miss this year’s event in Las Vegas.
Autodesk University returns to Las Vegas this September 15–17, 2026. As Autodesk’s Design & Make Conference, it brings together professionals from across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and operations to explore how technology is transforming the way we plan, design, build, and operate infrastructure.
For water teams, AU2026 offers something unique: the opportunity to learn from both the water industry and the broader Design & Make ecosystem. Utilities and engineering firms are facing many of the same challenges as organizations across infrastructure, including aging assets, workforce transitions, increasing project complexity, sustainability goals, and the rapid emergence of AI. AU provides a forum to see how industry leaders are responding, what technologies are delivering results, and where the future is headed.
Whether you’re responsible for hydraulic modeling, drainage design, asset management, digital transformation, or utility operations, AU delivers practical insights you can take back to your organization.
Learn from the industry’s leading practitioners
One of the biggest reasons water professionals attend AU is the opportunity to learn directly from peers who are solving real-world challenges.
Each year, utilities, engineering firms, and technology leaders share the strategies, workflows, and lessons learned behind their most impactful projects. Sessions span the full water lifecycle, from drainage design and flood resilience to hydraulic modeling, asset management, digital twins, and operational analytics.
If you’ve never attended before – or if you’re curious about what kind of water industry instruction happens at AU – we’ve got a deep archive of on-demand sessions you can explore from AU 2024 and AU 2025:
- AU2025: Water Utilities and Engineers On-Demand Sessions
- AU2024: Drainage Design Sessions
- AU2024: Hydraulic Modeling Sessions
- AU2024: Digital Transformation & Customer Stories
At AU 2026, attendees can expect a similarly robust line-up featuring the latest product innovations, customer case studies, and industry best practices. Keep an eye out on the One Water Blog (or follow us on LinkedIn) for a more detailed session agenda as we get closer to the event.
Join the Water Summit
Now entering its third year, the Water Summit at AU has become one of the defining experiences for water professionals at Autodesk University.
Designed specifically for utility leaders, engineers, and technology innovators, the summit combines strategic presentations, customer perspectives, interactive roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities into a single focused experience.
Unlike a traditional conference session, the Water Summit is designed to encourage conversation. Attendees have the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers, discuss common challenges, and explore emerging trends shaping the future of water infrastructure.
The summit concludes with a dedicated networking reception, creating even more opportunities to connect with industry colleagues and continue the conversation.
If you’d like a preview of the themes discussed last year, explore our recap of the AU 2025 Water Summit and its key takeaways, including our free report featuring the ideas and solutions discussed live at the summit.
The Water Summit is for in-person attendees only. The first step is to register for AU. Then, we’ll send you an email invitation to the Water Summit.
Hear directly from Autodesk product leaders
AU is also the best opportunity of the year to engage directly with the teams building Autodesk’s water solutions.
The annual Water Roadmap session is very popular – sometimes standing-room only. It provides an inside look at the future direction of Autodesk’s water portfolio. Attendees gain visibility into upcoming investments, strategic priorities, and emerging technologies while having the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback directly to product leaders.
Whether you’re interested in drainage design, hydraulic modeling, asset management, cloud solutions, or AI-enabled workflows, these conversations offer valuable insight into what’s coming next.
Get hands-on with the technology
Beyond the classroom, AU provides opportunities to see technology in action.
Visit the Autodesk booth to meet water specialists, explore new capabilities, attend live demonstrations, and discuss your organization’s challenges with experts who work with utilities and engineering firms around the world.
Whether you’re evaluating new workflows, looking for ways to improve efficiency, or simply trying to get more value from the tools you already own, these conversations often become some of the most valuable moments of the event.
Gain perspective from across the Design & Make ecosystem
While the water content is a major draw, some of the most valuable insights at AU come from outside the water industry.
Organizations across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and operations are exploring many of the same questions around AI adoption, data management, automation, collaboration, and digital transformation. AU provides a unique opportunity to learn how other industries are approaching these challenges, what lessons can be applied to water, and where innovation is creating measurable impact.
The result is a broader perspective that helps attendees think differently about the future of their own organizations.
Join us in Las Vegas
Autodesk University 2026 takes place September 15–17 at the Venetian Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen technical skills, connect with industry peers, influence product direction, or better understand the future of water infrastructure, AU offers an experience that goes far beyond a traditional conference.
Registration is now open – and there is a discount until August 4. Can’t make it to Las Vegas? Grab a free digital pass.
We look forward to seeing you there!