The PNWAVS Annual Symposium is a forum to discuss the latest advancements in surface, interface, and vacuum research within the Pacific Northwest region. The 2026 event commemorates the 64^th anniversary of the PNWAVS chapter, the oldest in AVS. Topics will encompass developments in the fields of surface science, state-of-the-art characterization methods, and applications of surface science to a variety of material systems, including semiconductors, oxides, critical minerals, ceramics, metals, polymer composites, and biomaterials.  This year, one session will focus on emerging techniques to integrate AI/ML-enabled workflows for surface and bulk characterization. The 2026 symposium will be held at Discovery Hall on the PNNL campus. PNNL is one of the 17 national laboratories of the Department of Energy and is renowned for breakthrough research in energy resilience, national security, chemistry, and Earth sciences. PNNL also stewards the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) and Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) user facilities that attract multiple users from across the globe to conduct cutting edge research at PNNL campus.