Justyne Yan
Autodesk University 2026 returns to Las Vegas September 15 to 17. Autodesk Forma, the industry cloud for architecture, engineering, construction, and operations, has one of its biggest AU presences yet, and if planning and design is your world, this is the year to pay attention to where Forma is heading. Here’s how to plan your three days, whether you’re deep in schematic design, working in site planning, or coming from the civil side.
One tip before anything else: start with the General Sessions on Day 1 and Day 2. That’s where the biggest Forma news lands, and everything below builds on it.
Where to find Forma at Autodesk University 2026: the AECO Zone booth
You’ll find us on the expo floor in the AECO Zone all three days. The booth is set up around how you actually work, with dedicated stations for architectural design (Revit, Autodesk Forma Building Design, and design collaboration), site planning and analysis with Autodesk Forma Site Design, carbon analysis with Autodesk Forma Carbon Insights, and design reviews with Forma Board.
The most valuable two minutes you’ll spend at AU: the License Checker. A surprising number of attendees discover they already have access to Autodesk Forma’s early stage and schematic design solutions through their existing subscription and never knew about it. Stop by, enter your email, and instantly find out what’s already sitting in your account. Not sure what you have? That’s exactly who it’s for.
For architects and designers
The below Forma-focused sessions at AU 2026 are approved for AIA Learning Units. Join us across September 15–17 for hands-on labs and technical deep dives spanning site planning, low-carbon design, connected AECO workflows, and what’s next in Revit and earn AIA LU while you’re there. If your projects live in pre-design and schematic design, build your agenda around these:
Hands on labs:
- Stop Rebuilding Your Project: The Autodesk Forma Lifecycle Challenge—From AI Planning to Built Outcomes (AS1700) | Sep 15, 2026, 2:00–3:30 PM PDT: an interactive hands-on lab following a project across the full Forma lifecycle—from AI-powered site planning and data management to collaboration and construction outcomes.
- Learn How to Use Autodesk Forma Building Design by Recreating a Modernist Classic Design (AS3578) | Sep 17, 2026, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM PDT: a hands-on lab where you’ll recreate a modernist residential icon in Forma Building Design, moving from massing and environmental analysis to façade and plan options, with continuity into Revit.
- Shaping Low-Carbon Buildings from the Start (AS2634) | Sep 16, 2026, 4:30–6:00 PM PDT: a hands-on lab with Forma, Revit, and Insight, where you’ll run carbon analysis while you design, instead of after.
- Technical Deep Dives Connecting AECO Workflows End-to-End with the Autodesk Forma Industry Cloud (BLD1669) | Sep 17, 2026, 8:30–9:30 AM PDT: a technical deep dive into connecting planning, design, coordination, and construction workflows through Forma, with AI-powered design iteration and continuous project data.
- Accelerating Real Estate Development with Autodesk Forma and Revit (AS2714) | Sep 17, 2026, 8:30–9:30 AM PDT: a technical deep dive into connecting Forma Site Design with Revit to rapidly generate, evaluate, and iterate development scenarios and feasibility studies.
- What’s New in Revit 2027: AI, Data, and Connected Workflows (BLD1842) | Sep 16, 2026, 4:00–5:30 PM PDT: a technical deep dive into Revit 2027, including AI-assisted workflows, cloud data, automation, and carbon-informed design with Forma Carbon Insights.
- From Dirt to Data: Automating Site Design with Dynamo as a Service and Autodesk Forma (AS4209) | Sep 17, 2026, 10:00–11:00 AM PDT: a technical deep dive into automating site-development workflows across Civil 3D, Revit, Forma Site Design, and Dynamo as a Service to rapidly generate and compare design options.
- An Agentic Future-State of Embedded Certainty Through Autodesk Forma, Informed Design, and KOPE (CS33291) | Sept 17, 2026, 10–11AM PDT: A technical deep dive into using AI agents to turn early design intent in Autodesk Forma Building Design into constructible building systems in KOPE and manufacturing detail in Informed Design, with quantifiable insight into cost and risk before construction starts.
Roadmap Sessions
- AEC Roadmap: Architecture (3057) | Sep 16, 2026, 3:00–4:00 PM PDT: a roadmap session on what’s new and coming next across Revit, Forma Site Design, Forma Building Design, cloud collaboration, sustainability, and the Forma Connected Client initiative.
The hands-on labs are the ones to book early. They fill up, and they’re the difference between watching a demo and leaving AU having built something yourself.
For civil engineers and infrastructure teams
Forma has a growing story for the civil side of AECO this year, and two sessions anchor it:
- Autodesk Forma Site Design for Infrastructure: Rapid Context and Site Setup (CES1026) | [Sept 15, 2026, 11:30am–12pm PDT: how site intelligence and fast contextual setup apply to infrastructure work.
- The Civil Infrastructure roadmap session (CES1530) | Sept 16, 2026, 5:30pm–6:30pm PDT: worth staying late for. If you work in Civil 3D, don’t miss the Day 1 and Day 2 General Sessions either.
There’s also the Transportation Summit on September 14, the day before AU officially opens, if you’re arriving early.
The Design Slam, now live on LinkedIn
The Design Slam is back, and this year the brief is a big one: can great urban design turn a global event into a permanent destination? Two teams compete live to reimagine the corridor between Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Strip as a climate-smart, hospitality-driven district, one that works for a major sporting event and keeps delivering for residents and visitors long after. They’ll be working in Forma Site Design and Forma Building Design, with sustainability analysis and AI visualization running alongside, and you’ll see every decision made in real time. The audience will also vote for the winner.
Make sure to check out this session: AECO Design Slam: Designing the Future of Event Cities (4696) | Innovators Stage | Sep 15, 2026, 5:00 to 6:30 PM PDT
New this year: we’re livestreaming it on LinkedIn, so if you’re not in Las Vegas, or you’re stuck in another session, you can watch the whole thing from wherever you are. Follow Autodesk Forma on LinkedIn, so you don’t miss the start.
Forma Futures
Tuesday evening at Rockhouse, we’re launching Forma Futures, a design challenge season that runs from AU through to mid-October.
Sprint 1 is a 100-minute hackathon so make sure to bring a laptop, take on the brief, and post your entry to LinkedIn before you leave. Three more sprints will follow across a four-week season, hosted with design communities around the world, with external judges and a few prizes worth entering for.
There’s also swag: stickers, socks, caps, tote bags, tumblers, and chocolate, most of it better than the usual conference haul. Come for the challenge, leave with a bag!
Make sure to check out this session: Forma Futures | Sep 15, 2026, 7:00 to 10:00 PM PDT | Rockhouse, Las Vegas
Every entry is a public LinkedIn post tagged #FormaFuturesChallenge. Space at Rockhouse is limited, so turn up early. Full details at autodeskformaverse.com/forma-futures
The Studio Stage
Autodesk Forma is taking over the Studio Stage throughout the event, with conversations spanning partners and product teams. It sits right next to our booth on the expo floor, it’s open to every attendee, and there’s no need to register: just walk up. Check the AU event app on the day for the full Studio Stage schedule.
We’ll be sharing highlights across our channels after AU, so there’s no wrong way to tune in.
Can’t make it to Las Vegas?
Plenty of AU still comes to you. The General Session keynotes stream live, the Design Slam livestream is on LinkedIn, and we’ll be publishing recaps, session highlights, and the biggest announcements right here on Design with Forma throughout the week. Follow along on LinkedIn for the fastest updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Autodesk University 2026?
When and where is Autodesk University 2026?
Where can I see Forma’s design solutions on the AU 2026 expo floor?
Will the Design Slam be livestreamed?
Can I try Forma’s design solutions at AU 2026?
Which AU 2026 sessions cover Autodesk Forma?
We’ll see you in Las Vegas. And if you can’t wait until September: if you have an active AEC Collection, Revit, or Forma for Buildings subscription, you can log into Forma Site Design and Forma Building Design with your Autodesk account today.