As you might already noticed, this year there is no VMware EXPLORE Europe, but only VMware Explore on Tour. The US Version of VMware EXPLORE (August 25 – 28, 2025) is maintained and you can register here (the Full Event price is $1,995, plus hotel nights and fly tickets…. so yes, unless your company can afford to send you there, it is quite out of reach for most individuals when you count all the costs). But is it worth it? Definitely YES.
The VMware Explore on Tour (for the rest of the World) is only 1-2 day events, and will attract visitors in different countries. The cities where those events are held are: Mumbai, London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo and Frankfurt.
This is the first year that there is no VMworld Europe. Perhaps next year there is no VMware EXPLORE US and we'll see only EXPLORE On Tour only everywhere? We don't know if Broadcom will maintain the event or not. I guess it will depends how many visitors will show present for the show. Who knows. Anyways, the registrations for some of the cities has already available. For example, you can save your spot and register for Paris here. The ticket is for €150.00 and you'll get:
Your registration for Explore on Tour in Paris includes:
- One VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) certification exam voucher.
- Technical content such as a plenary session, breakout sessions, hands-on labs and product demos.
- Opportunities to connect with Broadcom experts, sponsors and your peers.
- Exclusive Explore swag (while supplies last).
It looks like it will be only a small event, a kind of a “micro-VMworld” kind of style of event, during a single day.
However, you can get certified VCF because you get a VCF certification exam voucher!
Registration for Explore on Tour in Paris includes one complimentary VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) certification exam voucher. Exam vouchers, details on available exams, and scheduling instructions will be emailed directly to the registrant by the Certifications team within 7 business days after completing registration.
My thoughts
VMware/Broadcom is maintaining (for now) the VMware EXPLORE event in the US while the rest of the World and Europe will host 1-2 days events called EPLORE On TOUR. The future will tell if the VMware EXPLORE event will be maintained. The technology is evolving and what, back in a day was a virtualization revolution, now becomes a technology accessible via alternate hypervisors platforms (which got better in 10 or more years time).
Considering the fact, that many backup vendors are switching and adding more hypervisors platforms to their support, I imagine that many more users will leave the VMware ecosystem and joins many of those alternatives. VMware does not have the monopoly to virtualize workflows. The end users, clients, SMBs and enterprises, all of them has now a choice to leave this ecosystem that has become 3-10 times more expensive.
Alternate hypervisors with many robust open source solutions, developed by third party editors, are growing because “good enough” for 90% of regular virtualization customers. the 10% are big players with lots of money so they can afford to stay with VMware/Broadcom despite the increase in the cost for the licensing. Many hosting providers are also switching to alternatives, such as Proxmox.
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