XR ASSOCIATION HOSTS 2026 TECHSUMMIT, BRINGING XR DEMONSTRATIONS TO CAPITOL HILL
Washington, D.C. – Last week, the XR Association (XRA) welcomed members to Washington for a two-day TechSummit. Day one featured meetings with members of Congress and their staff, as well as officials from the Department of Labor, and culminated in the 2026 Demo on the Hill at the Rayburn House Office Building.
The focus of this year’s summit was XR’s role as the infrastructure for enterprise and AI. In member discussions and live demonstrations, participants examined how immersive technologies are evolving beyond standalone devices into intelligent, human-centered systems that bridge the digital and physical worlds.
XRA’s fourth annual Demo on the Hill event convened staff and policymakers on Capitol Hill, academic experts, and industry leaders to explore how the convergence of artificial intelligence and extended reality (XR) is strengthening workforce readiness, advancing defense modernization, and reinforcing American competitiveness. The event gave Members of Congress and their staff hands-on access to cutting-edge immersive technologies deployed across workforce training, healthcare simulation, enterprise operations, and entertainment. Featured demonstrations included experiences from Meta, HTC Vive, Transfr, Select Reality, CareerViewXR, Qualcomm, MediView, Big Rock Creative, Mynd Immersive, and RP1.
Day two of XRA’s Tech Summit featured the All-Member Meeting, bringing together members for updates on the association’s priorities and discussions on the policy and market landscape shaping immersive technology. Elizabeth Hyman, XRA’s CEO, opened the session with remarks and organizational updates, followed by a briefing from representatives of Avoq on the 2026 political and policy environment and its implications for the tech sector.
The afternoon focused on engagement with policymakers and industry collaboration. A fireside chat with senior staff connected to the United States Congress provided insight into how tech policy is shaped on Capitol Hill, while breakout sessions and a closing discussion examined research initiatives and the challenges of scaling XR technologies from early adoption to broader market deployment.
Recognizing Congressional and Industry Leadership
New to this year’s Demo on the Hill was XRA’s inaugural XR Visionary Leadership Award to Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA), members of the bipartisan Congressional Reality Caucus, for their leadership in advancing immersive technologies.
“XRA is proud to recognize Representatives Pfluger and DelBene for their dedication to ensuring immersive technologies are acknowledged as vital technology infrastructure,” said Elizabeth Hyman, President and CEO of XRA. “Through bipartisan introduction of the XR Leadership Bill and sustained engagement with the XR community, they have helped elevate XR as a key driver of workforce readiness, innovation, and national resilience.”
Both Members have supported legislative initiatives that recognize immersive technologies as foundational to the next computing platform, particularly in workforce development, defense modernization, healthcare innovation, and advanced manufacturing.
On day two of the summit, XRA recognized Meta and CareerViewXR as recipients of the inaugural Limitless Future Award: For Leadership in Immersive Technology, honoring their measurable contributions to advancing the deployment of immersive technology over the past year.
Meta was recognized for advancing AI-enabled immersive systems and wearable technologies that accelerate the integration of AI and spatial computing. CareerViewXR was honored for expanding access to career-connected learning through immersive job simulations that support workforce exploration and skills development nationwide.
Following the awards presentation, XRA members gathered for a private tour and an intimate dinner at the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Keeping the Momentum Going
As a leading industry convener, XRA’s TechSummit brings together key stakeholders to exchange insights, share expertise, and advance the growth of the XR ecosystem. Through policy initiatives like the TechSummit, XRA advances the conversation around immersive technologies and investment, particularly as Congress considers relevant legislative proposals. Read XRA’s Policy Priorities for 2026.
To learn more about XRA’s membership, please reach out to info@xra.org.
