Know Before You Go: Attending re:Invent 2025 in person

Going to re:Invent in person this year? This guide covers tips for preparing BEFORE getting to Vegas.

Arleo, Livio

Published Nov 19, 2025

Last modified Sep 22, 2026

Friendly disclaimer: This article is going to do its best to not make assumptions about how prepared you are. If you have any questions or need clarification, post them over in the re:Invent 2025 Chatter .

Going to re:Invent in person? This is Know Before You Go (KBYG) guide for you! In addition to what you read here, the bottom of this article includes a list of resources from AWS community members.

Event overview

What: AWS re:Invent
When: December 1 - 5, with badge pick-up and activities starting on November 30
Where: Las Vegas, NV on Las Vegas Boulevard (aka The Strip) across six different venues: Encore, Wynn, The Venetian, Caesars Forum, MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay.

✅ Make sure you have an AWS Builder Center QR Code

At re:Invent, Builder Center is offering a variety of items and opportunities to enhance your experience. When you show your Builder Center QR Code, you get: limited-edition swag, access to the all-new Builders Loft, participate in challenges like /dev/quest , + more.

Since you are reading this article on Builder Center, just click Sign In on the top navigation or go to our Start page for more info on signing up.

📲 Download the official AWS re:Invent mobile app

This app is packed with useful tools. Use the app to use the app to navigate the event, find shuttle times, and get questions answered by our AI assistant. You can also explore session recommendations, reserve seats for sessions, watch livestreams and innovation talks.

Available now on both iOS and Android .

🪪 Registration and badge pick-up

You need to be registered for re:Invent in order to attend any event sessions or functions. A valid conference badge and lanyard are required when in the designated event spaces. All attendees must be at least 18 years of age by the day they pick up their conference badge.
Add your Attendee Photo

Before picking up your badge, make sure you added your Attendee photo on the re:Invent registration portal (you need to sign in to view the portal). The photo you choose is what will show up on your badge. If you forget to add a picture, then they will take one for you at badge pick-up. My advice is upload a picture you like so you don’t end up with one you don’t. 😁

Badge pick-up locations

When you pick up your badge, bring your government-issued photo ID to one of the pick-up locations:

Harry Reid International AirPort | Sunday, Nov 30 and Monday, Dec 1 | Open daily from 7:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Mandalay Bay | Sunday, Nov 30 - Thursday, Dec 4 | Open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
MGM Grand | Sunday, Nov 30 - Thursday, Dec 4 | Open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
The Venetian | Sunday, Nov 30 - Thursday, Dec 4 | Open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time to register to attend in person . Use the code DEVEXJVu6vUt to save $150 - only a few of these are left, so hurry up.

Before you arrive

🗓️ Plan your schedule

There are A LOT of options for how you spend your time at re:Invent. To make the most of your time, review the re:Invent 2025 event catalog and pick the sessions you want to attend. It’s important to also consider how and when you want to spend time networking and recharging.

Things to remember:

Time management is a BIG deal. Everything listed in the re:Invent 2025 event catalog is delivered across five venues: Wynn, The Venetian, Caesars Forum, MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay. This means that you need to make sure you have plenty of time to get to and from different venues (or inside the same venue). Check out the “Getting around re:Invent” section for more details.
Pick sessions that matter to you. The catalog allows you to filter based on your interests to make it easier to find what you want to attend.
Review the helpful guides created by AWS Heroes. If you don’t know where to start, browse the guides put together by AWS Heroes . They are available to help you choose the right learning sessions and make the most of your time in Las Vegas.
Use the Favorites feature. Mark sessions you like by favoriting it (click the heart next to the session ID). This doesn’t guarantee you a seat, but will help keep track of what interests you.
Session full? Use the walk-up line. If a session you want to attend has no reserved seats left, consider the walk-up line. People with reserved seats must arrive 10 minutes before the session starts. After that, the remaining seats are open to those in the walk-up line.
Session queuing starts 1 hour before the session starts. Reserved seating is open up until 10 minutes before the session starts.
Expand your professional network. One of the biggest reasons to go to re:Invent is to meet other AWS builders! Make sure you dedicate time to connecting with people throughout week. Great places to do this include the AWS Builders Loft in Mandalay Bay, Caesars Forum, the Expo in the Venetian, and before / after sessions.
Recharge. There’s a lot going on so you will need to make sure you are taking moments to recharge. This might include finding a quiet place to meditate, taking a short walk outside, or taking a break for meals and drinks. Whatever you enjoy doing that refills your energy, be sure to find time to do it.

🧦 Packing

During the week, you will be inside the event moving outside to get to and from venues, and may have evening activities planned that ask you to follow a specific dress code or spend sometime in different environments.

The essentials. Don’t forget the important stuff like your ID, devices with chargers, and anything else that you deem important to any trip away from home. Oh, and don’t forget your curiosity and positive attitude! ☺️
Layers. It’s hard to know where it will feel hot or cold throughout the event. Wearing layers will help you stay comfortable throughout each day.
Leave extra room in your suitcase! It’s likely you will get SWAG and other goodies that need to travel home with you at the end of the week. After years of people going to re:Invent, a common tip is either leave room in your suitcase or even bring an additional bag. One of our AWS Heroes actually creates an article every year showcasing the things he received .
Shoes. There are two important tips to consider:
- Bring extra (comfortable) shoes. For anyone walking throughout the event all week with feet that tend to get sore easily, it may be helpful to have an extra pair of comfortable shoes to switch between throughout the week. The event is BIG so there is a lot of ground to cover.
- DO NOT bring new shoes. re:Invent is not the event to break in a new pair of shoes. (Speaking from experience, I did this last year and instantly wished I hadn’t.)
Lip balm, lotion, and a water bottle. Las Vegas is dry, so be prepared.
Pack small snacks. There are food options throughout the event, but having snacks on hand helps you stay energized while you’re moving between sessions.

Getting around re:Invent

Let’s talk transportation. There’s two major areas of transportation you need to figure out: how you arrive/depart Las Vegas and how you get around re:Invent.

🚌 Moving between venues

You have options! The re:Invent team has worked hard to make it easy (and fun) to get around the event throughout the week. Consider any or all of these when strategizing your plan to get to and from places. Don’t forget to use the mobile app for location-aware interactive maps.

Walking: Allow 30–45 minutes when walking between activities, whether traveling between venues or within the same venue. Want to impress your friends? Remember these direct walking routes:
- Encore and Wynn are connected venues.
- Use the bridge connecting Wynn and The Venetian.
- Use the temporary route connecting Caesars Forum and The Venetian (available during Expo open hours).
Shuttles: The event offers shuttles between most venues, except between Wynn and The Venetian and between Caesars Forum and The Venetian. Make sure to leverage the AWS re:Invent mobile app to get real-time travel time estimates and find the pick-up locations. On Thursday, shuttles are available to and from all re:Invent venues and sleeping hotels.
Monorail: Thanks to your re:Invent ticket, you are granted complimentary service to ride the Las Vegas Monorail at the MGM Station, Horseshoe/Paris Station, Flamingo/Caesars Palace Station and Harrah’s/The LINQ Station (Caesars Forum). Make sure to use your re:Invent mobile app to find real-time travel time estimates and maps.
Rideshare and taxis: There are rideshare and taxi pick-up locations at the re:Invent venues and hotels throughout The Strip. Check out the full list.
Rental cars: In general, I do not recommend renting a car while you’re attending re:Invent because there are plenty of ways to get around. If you do decide you’d like to get a car then please drop a picture of you posing with it in the AWS re:Invent 2025 Chatter !

🪩 Getting to and from AWS re:Play

AWS re:Play happens on Thursday evening at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. There are dedicated shuttles going to and from any re:Invent venue or sleeping hotel and re:Play. You can also take the monorail or a taxi.

A few tips from the community

Check out content from our community for even more advice on how to prepare for re:Invent 2025. If you have other articles you found valuable, drop them in the comments!