Quantum World Congress 2026
QWC returns in 2026—and we’re raising the bar again. After our inaugural year in Washington, D.C. and three trailblazing years in Tysons, we’re bringing the global quantum ecosystem to College Park: one of the most advanced quantum innovation corridors on Earth. This is where breakthroughs become industries. This is where the next era is being built. And in 2026, you’ll be right at the center of it. We can’t wait to show you around.
Quantum’s Biggest Convos Start HEre.
Early Bird registration for Quantum World Congress 2026 is now open. From groundbreaking research and emerging applications to investment, policy, workforce, and commercialization, QWC brings together the people building the quantum economy.
Three Days that Will Shape the Next Decade In Innovation
Quantum World Congress returns September 23–25, 2026 at The Hotel at the University of Maryland — anchored inside one of the strongest quantum ecosystems on the planet. From global keynotes to commercialization showcases, this is where research, policy, investment, and industry collide to define what comes next.
The Hotel at the University of Maryland
Quantum World Congress 2026 attendees are invited to stay at The Hotel at The University of Maryland, the official conference venue and hub for QWC programming, networking, and events. Special discounted rates are available through the official QWC hotel block for stays between September 20–25, 2026. We encourage you to book early, as availability is limited. The hotel block rate expires on August 21, 2026. Use the link below to reserve your room.
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Airport Information
The Hotel is located near the 3 major airports. The Hotel is 17 miles from Ronald Reagan National Airport; 27 miles from Baltimore/Washington International Airport; and 36 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport.
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Metro Access
The Hotel is less than one mile from the College Park Metro station (Metro’s Green Line). Daily parking, bike racks, car sharing and Metrobus transportation are also available at this station.
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Train Information
The Maryland MARC Train, which runs between Baltimore’s Camden Station and Washington DC’s Union Station is a quick and convenient way to travel between these two cities. The MARC Train Station is located on the West side of the College Park Metro Station.
Why College Park? It’s Where the Future Gets Made.
College Park isn’t just a venue — it’s the engine room of quantum commercialization. Anchored by the University of Maryland’s world-class research ecosystem and surrounded by groundbreaking federal, commercial, and startup activity, it offers something no other location can: a living quantum testbed. This is the place where breakthroughs jump off the whiteboard and into the world.
Let’s Talk About College Park, Maryland
The Global Center for the Quantum Revolution
College Park, Maryland isn’t just hosting QWC—it’s building the quantum economy in real time. This is where breakthrough research meets market demand, where partnerships become products, and where the next generation of quantum companies is taking shape.
IonQ Anchors a Thriving Quantum Corridor
IonQ, one of the world’s leading quantum computing companies, is headquartered right here in the Discovery District. Its presence anchors a rapidly expanding corridor of startups, labs, investors, and industry partners driving quantum technology into the real world.
Microsoft’s New Quantum Research Center
As announced at QWC 2025, Microsoft is launching a state-of-the-art quantum research center in UMD’s Discovery District. The facility will advance cutting-edge hardware and software, house one of the first prototypes of Microsoft’s topological quantum computer, and unite federal, academic, and industry partners to accelerate this region’s rise as the quantum ecosystem to watch.
DARPA’s Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub
College Park is home to the first-of-its-kind national hub that will evaluate and validate quantum systems for both national security and commercial applications. DARPA’s Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub sets the standards the entire industry will use to measure truth from hype.
The University of Maryland: A Quantum Powerhouse
The University of Maryland is one of the strongest academic engines in quantum science: the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS), and the Quantum Technology Center (QTC). Together, they form a research ecosystem pushing quantum theory, engineering, and applications forward at a global scale.
Discovery District: A Living Quantum Testbed
UMD’s Discovery District is a thriving launchpad for innovation, blending academic excellence, federal engagement, startups, and industry labs. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can walk from a national lab seminar to a venture-backed quantum startup to a world-class research institute—all before lunch.
A Next-Generation Ecosystem Designed for Breakthroughs
Maryland’s strategic investment, policy leadership, and public-private partnerships have created the most dynamic quantum ecosystem on the planet. The Greater Washington region is intentionally built for commercialization, collaboration, and scaling big ideas into global impact.
Full-Stack Talent + Workforce Pipeline
From undergraduate R&D to PhDs and postdocs, from federal agencies to commercial labs, College Park delivers the talent engine quantum needs. It’s one of the only regions in the world capable of supplying a full-stack quantum workforce—from theory to engineering to deployment.
What’s Next Happens in College Park
College Park is where quantum technology jumps off the whiteboard and into the world. This is the environment where deals get inked, partnerships form, companies launch, and innovation becomes commerce. It’s not just a hub—it’s a proving ground.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
If you have questions about Quantum World Congress 2026, use the form to get in touch. A member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.