VETS26 Conference Sets New Record & Expands Small Business Opportunities
Date: September 1, 2026
The National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) reached a milestone at its annual conference, welcoming a record 2,100+ attendees to VETS26 in New Orleans. The conference delivered a full three and a half days of learning, relationship-building, and business development opportunities – all designed to strengthen the participation of small businesses within the federal marketplace.
The record attendance this year was matched by strong participation from federal agencies and large prime contractors, giving Veteran-owned small businesses valuable access to organizations who oversee billions of dollars in federal procurement and subcontracting opportunities.
Through multiple educational sessions, networking activities, and matchmaking meetings, attendees were provided opportunities to learn about new agency priorities and better understand procurement needs as well as identify potential teaming partnerships.
For government agencies and prime contractors, VETS26 also provided an efficient way to identify qualified Veteran-owned and other small businesses to help meet their procurement and subcontracting objectives. For the many small businesses in attendance, those interactions sometimes provided immediate value. One participant reported connecting with several agency contracting officers and the impact that meeting would have on expanding their business opportunities.
The agency presentations were another important part of the VETS26 experience, providing up-to-date information on the rapidly changing federal marketplace along with practical strategies to help businesses better compete for contracts. One attendee particularly praised “the level of agency participation and the level of representation from each Federal agency,” adding that their sessions were extremely informative and timely.
Recognizing the value of a more diversified customer base, this year’s conference expanded its focus beyond the federal marketplace to also help small businesses explore potential commercial opportunities. VETS26 included a number of Fortune 100 corporations and multi-national firms who were available to connect with small business owners and explore potential supplier and business relationships. Several educational sessions were also devoted specifically to helping federal contractors understand how to translate their capabilities and experience into the commercial sector. Together, these resources provided attendees with another avenue for growth and diversification.
VETS26 also celebrated the most recent graduating class of the NVSBC Fellowship Program. This unique, 9-month cohort program is designed to equip veteran‑owned small businesses with the skills, relationships, and readiness needed to compete – and succeed in the federal contracting and supplier ecosystem. Participants are paired with Senior Fellows who are drawn from industry leadership positions and serve as mentors and business guides. The 2027 cohort has already been filled and the application window for 2028 is expected to open May 1, 2027.
Ultimately, the success of VETS26 is measured by more than attendance figures. Our goal is to support the quality and success of the entire government contracting ecosystem. To that end, we will continue to refine each VETS conference to provide both the platform and the activities that facilitate valuable connections between businesses and buyers, new teaming relationships, intensive yet practical training, and a focus on contracting excellence within our industry.