Welcome to the 2026 Port of the Future Conference!
The 2026 Port of the Future Conference is focused on creating and revitalizing our Nation’s seaports, infrastructure, and processes – across maritime, air, land, and cyber domains. This symposium addresses the urgent and emerging issues facing ports of entry, regulators, and associated industries.
This year’s Conference brings together the leaders of more than 60 seaports from the United States and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Central and South America to Houston – offering their vast accumulated knowledge and experiences to address the port and maritime industries’ most pressing challenges, formulate viable solutions, highlight innovations, and identify best practices.
The Conference offers free registration to its speakers and to one representative from each participating port. The 2026 Port of the Future Conference is shaped by new concepts, research and innovation, advances in technology, increased dependence on automation, enhancements in data security and information sharing, and heightened environmental compliance – all impacting the ability to move cargo and people rapidly and securely across international borders.
7 IMPACTFUL TRACKS
- Ensuring America’s Maritime Security
- Port Development
- Inter-modal Connectivity
- Port Infrastructure 4.0
- Increasing Ports’ Operational Efficiencies
- Decarbonization and Alternative Fuels
- Port Energy and Sustainability
- Port Security, Cybersecurity, and Emergency Management
- Advances in Dredging Technology and Techniques
- and other relevant topics
Hear from industry visionaries, thought leaders, government agency executives, and prominent researchers on their visions for Ports of the Future, projected trends and emerging challenges, promising research, and new, innovative technology. The Port of the Future Conference has attained a stellar record of hosting premier industry leaders and visionaries.
The 2026 Port of the Future Conference offers a dynamic and highly informative agenda. This event features keynote presentations, case studies, panel discussions, interviews, and technology demonstrations – all organized into the following seven tracks, relevant to our port and maritime industries:
- Ensuring America’s Maritime Security
- Port Development
- Inter-modal Connectivity
- Port Infrastructure 4.0
- Increasing Ports’ Operational Efficiencies
- Decarbonization and Alternative Fuels
- Port Energy and Sustainability
- Port Security, Cybersecurity, and Emergency Management
- Advances in Dredging Technology and Techniques
Special Events
It’s not all work! The Port of the Future Conference offers the following special events:
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Port Grants Workshop (Monday, March 23rd)
On the afternoon preceding the conference, port officials are invited to participate in a Port Grants Workshop with invited speakers and grant program managers from MARAD, FEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Energy, and the EPA to discuss upcoming grant opportunities open to U.S. ports. Join April Danos, Vice President of OD Grant Solutions LLC from 2pm – 4:30 pm. -
Book Signing (Tuesday, March 24th)
The authors of “ZeroPointFour: How U.S. Leadership in Maritime Will Secure America’s Future” will hold a book signing at 5:00 – 6:30 pm in the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom. The authors are RADM James Watson, (USCG, Retired), Carleen Lydon Walker, Rich Mason, Jonathan Kempe, Nishan Degnarain, and Captain Anuj Chopra. -
Networking Reception (Tuesday, March 24th)
Join our sponsors and exhibitors for a two and a half hour evening reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Enjoy the music of country music recording artists Bill Mock and Karl Waitz while networking with colleagues and perusing exhibitors’ displays. -
Student Research Poster Contest (Wednesday, March 25th)
The WGMA will again host the annual Port of the Future Conference Student Research Poster Contest. Posters depict research done by college and university students in the port and maritime domains. This is an opportunity for undergraduate students and teams to contribute to research in the port and maritime domains, gain professional recognition and build a network of like-minded colleagues and mentors. -
Port Houston Tour (Wednesday, March 25th)
Conference participants may participate in an evening tour of Port Houston aboard the M/V Sam Houston. Interested individuals may sign up for the Port Houston Tour when registering for the conference. Seating is limited to 96 persons and allocated on a “first registered, first served” basis.Buses will depart promptly from the Hilton’s entrance at 5:15 pm in order to arrive at Sam Houston landing prior to the 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm tour.
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