Over the years, we’ve attended countless industry events, yet there’s something uniquely distinctive about NerdioCon. It could be the sharp focus of the agenda. It might be the community of like-minded professionals. Or perhaps it’s simply the feeling of being surrounded by hundreds of people equally passionate about Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 (W365). Whatever the reason, we’re genuinely looking forward to joining NerdioCon in Palm Springs this May 4–6.

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Our coverage centers on End User Computing (EUC), virtualization, and the rapidly growing intersection with artificial intelligence. AVD and Windows 365 have become central to this evolution. No longer niche solutions, they now serve as strategic platforms for businesses looking to modernize their desktop environments without compromising security, control, or end-user experience. Over recent years, Nerdio has established itself as a key player in this shift, and NerdioCon stands as the highlight of its ongoing momentum. Since this will be our first time attending, we connected with several well-known EUC experts to gather insights for this piece.

Bernhard Tritsch summarized the event perfectly: “AVD and Windows 365 expertise brought together in an incredible location—that’s NerdioCon in Palm Springs. If you want to master deploying, managing, and optimizing Windows desktops on Azure, this is where you need to be.” We believe the blend of deep technical learning and a venue that fosters genuine conversation is hard to match. Palm Springs is more than just a setting; it creates a relaxed atmosphere where attendees are more likely to stay, share insights, and engage in more honest, detailed discussions than in a typical convention center.

Niall Jennings echoed Bernhard’s thoughts when reflecting on his own experience. “I last attended NerdioCon back in 2023 when it was still in Cancun, and it’s impressive to see how much it’s grown and improved since relocating to Palm Springs. The sales and technical tracks were clearly organized, making it simple to select the most relevant sessions. The technical breakout sessions were especially valuable for both learning and networking. It’s an excellent chance to gain new skills and connect with vendors across the virtual desktop space. The all-inclusive resort really helped facilitate networking too! Overall, it was a fantastic event, and I hope to return soon.” We fully agree with Niall about how well the topics are structured, making it straightforward to find sessions aligned with individual interests.

Then there’s the people aspect. Tom Dodds of 10ZiG shared: “I’ve attended the last two NerdioCon events in Punta Cana and Palm Springs. It’s safe to say Nerdio knows how to host a great conference. It strikes the ideal balance between great attendees, strong content, and innovative solutions, resulting in a highly enjoyable and rewarding experience.” That balance is essential. Too much marketing and attendees disengage. Too much uncontextualized technical depth and parts of the audience get left behind. NerdioCon appears to navigate this line deliberately.

Trentent Tye of ControlUp added further perspective on the event’s value: “What do you get when you bring together top professionals who truly live and breathe AVD? NerdioCon! If you’re seeking inspiration, knowledge, or practical ideas for your AVD deployment, the people at this event have you covered.” We share Trentent’s view that a strong IT community isn’t about generic marketing messages—it’s about real technical understanding. Cloud desktop technologies evolve rapidly: best practices shift, Microsoft rolls out new features, and cost models change. Gathering practitioners who work with these tools daily makes events like this incredibly valuable.

Chantelle Morales Smith, Alliance and Channel Manager at Numecent, expanded on this theme: “My role at Numecent is all about collaboration, and NerdioCon is the ideal place to embrace that. I’m eager to connect with peers from Nerdio, Microsoft, and other strategic partners. Equally important is engaging with customers and the MSP community to understand their challenges and how we can better support their changing needs. It’s all about building a stronger, more connected ecosystem.”

NerdioCon also offers valuable perspective. It’s easy to become consumed by daily testing, writing, benchmarks, and lab work. At StorageReview.com, we invest significant time evaluating platforms, testing configurations, and exploring how emerging technologies like AI intersect with desktop virtualization. Events like this allow us to step back, speak with people outside our regular circle, and see the broader industry landscape. To do our work effectively, we need to understand customer pain points, what ecosystem partners are building around AVD and W365, and where the market is heading in the year ahead.

We look forward to hallway discussions nearly as much as the keynote presentations. Some of our best article and project ideas come from casual conversations at these events. An offhand remark about image sprawl can spark a deep dive into automation. A quick monitoring tool demo can lead to broader talks about observability in cloud desktops. These unplanned moments are difficult to schedule, yet they’re often the most meaningful.

Simply put, we’re excited to attend NerdioCon. We’re eager to learn about the latest innovations in cloud desktop technology. We also look forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new professionals who share our enthusiasm for AVD and Windows 365. Most importantly, we’re curious to see how Nerdio has advanced its platform and expanded its ecosystem. We expect to return with fresh ideas, new professional connections, and a clearer vision of where the cloud desktop industry is moving next.

NerdioCon 2026 will take place at the La Quinta Resort & Club, located at 49-499 Eisenhower Drive in La Quinta, near Palm Springs, California, from May 4 to 7. You can register for the event via the link here.