- Events and Regattas
Autonomous Navigation and OneNet Development Anchor the NMEA Technical Agenda
The Move to Texas
The 2026 NMEA Marine Electronics Conference & Exposition is relocating to the Hilton Rockwall/Dallas Lakefront in Texas. Scheduled from September 28 through October 2, the event positions itself directly on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard. This geographic shift aims to draw professionals from freshwater, brown water, light commercial, and saltwater markets into a single, centralized location to evaluate the current state of maritime technology.
The Global Trade Platform
The gathering functions as the largest industry trade event globally that focuses entirely on marine electronics. Attendees gain direct access to a dedicated Manufacturer Product Expo Hall displaying current hardware developments. To maximize the value of the schedule, the association provides a mix of educational and technical sessions hosted by both the NMEA and independent manufacturers.
On-Water Night Demonstrations
Evaluating digital displays and sensors in a static hall limits practical understanding. To counter this, manufacturers will host live demo boats at the docks immediately outside the hotel. These platforms will conduct test runs during both the day and night. Running vessels after dark allows operators to accurately assess low-light visibility, radar tracking, and thermal imaging equipment in a highly realistic environment.
Technical and Business Training Tracks
The conference structure balances executive strategy with hands-on mechanical training. Business seminars are programmed to provide owners and staff with industry-specific growth and management strategies. On the mechanical side, technical seminars cover modern installation techniques, while one- and two-hour manufacturer training sessions dive into specific product lines. To maintain high-quality presentations, the 2026 event introduces a voting contest where attendees evaluate and award the best training seminar of the week.
Certification and Network Architecture
Proper hardware integration dictates long-term vessel reliability. The event hosts full-day NMEA installer certification classes. Securing these basic and advanced certifications is a prerequisite mandated by most major manufacturers for technicians to handle warranty work and process installation credits. Additionally, software engineers can attend deep-dive programmer and developer courses detailing the NMEA 2000 and OneNet protocols, assisting teams in getting proprietary products officially certified.
