Navigating SC26: Know Before You Go

Registration Badges and Receipts

Badges are not mailed in advance. Pick up your badge at the registration counter located on the third floor of McCormick Place, West Building. Bring your government-issued ID.

Lost badges can be reprinted. Bring your government-issued ID to the Assisted Registration desk. There is a $40 reprint fee.

If you need a receipt for your registration and did not retain it upon registering, please contact:

Registration and Store Hours

Get Your Badge Early
As space fills quickly, we recommend picking up your badge the day before your first session, so you do not miss out. Wear your badge at all times while in McCormick Place.

Location

McCormick Place is located approximately 3 miles south of downtown Chicago, stretching along the western shore of Lake Michigan in the Near South Side neighborhood.

Transportation

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers an extensive network of bus and “L” train routes, providing an affordable and eco-friendly way to reach McCormick Place from anywhere in the city. The Metra Electric line has a station inside of the McCormick Place Grand Concourse that travels from downtown Chicago all the way south to University Park, IL. Chicago taxis are very familiar with the campus, rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber have multiple campus locations in their menus (use the West Building’s Gate 40 for a quick exit!), and even bike sharing platforms are available.

Shuttle Buses

SC provides shuttle bus service to and from hotels one half mile or more away from McCormick Place. Buses are located in the Transportation Center, West Hall, Gates 43 and 44. Shuttles run every 15–30 minutes.

Concessions

There are several food options within McCormick Place, most of which are located in the West Building, Level 2. There is also a Starbucks in the West Building Concourse.

Packing Pro Tips
Check the weather before packing your bag. Chicago temperatures can range from 50ºF/10ºC to 20ºF/-6.67ºC. And bring comfortable shoes. McCormick Place is a large venue.

Schedule

Plan your SC journey using the SC26 Schedule, the ultimate tool for creating an agenda. This one-stop resource offers comprehensive information about programs, exhibits, and daily events. New this year is a Recommendations function, pulling sessions based on your saved schedule.

Digital Experience

The Digital Experience is a customized event platform integrated within the Schedule, offering attendees the flexibility to engage with SC26 content with live-streamed sessions and Q&A options tailored to different registration categories.

To access the Digital Experience, registered attendees will receive an email invitation with instructions to sign in using their registration email and ID.

Mobile App

Stay connected and organized with the official SC26 Mobile App, available for Apple and Android devices. The app now persists across years, simply update instead of downloading a new version. With the app, users can plan their schedules, navigate the conference center with point-to-point maps, and connect with attendees.

Exhibits+ Folding Map

If you prefer a more analog approach to wayfinding, the folding Exhibits map has been fortified with general information and shuttle bus schedules. It’s pocket-sized and available at Registration, the Info Booth, and near Exhibits.

First-Timer Orientation
For those new to the conference, the Community Engagement Committee hosts a First-Timers Orientation session on Sunday, November 16 from 4-5 pm, McCormick Place, Room W179a.

SCout the Chatbot
The Digital Experience is hosting an AI chatbot, SCout, which is trained on SC26 website and schedule data. SCout is available to all Technical Program registrations. Ask SCout about SC.

On-Demand Sessions
On-demand recordings in the Digital Experience will be available until January 31, 2027. Catch up on sessions you missed!

Unmissable SC Sessions and Events

Discover inspiring speakers and engaging experiences only found at SC26.

HPC Unites Plenary

This special opening plenary features an international mix of expert panelists, including Satoshi Matsuoka, Evangelos Floros, Yutong Lu, and Darío Gil.

Keynote

SC26 Keynote Animashree Anandkumar of Caltech invites the HPC community to join her on a journey to explore AI’s next frontier: understanding the physical world to accelerate discovery.

Invited Talks

Invited speakers for SC26 discuss a variety of poignant topics including AI in healthcare, quantum programming and applications, HPC facilities and instruments, and AI applications in the real world.

Regional Tech Hub

This interactive experience showcases the people, institutions, and technologies driving discovery across the Chicago region. Wednesday’s Invited Talks feature Hub participants speaking about quantum and biomedical research.

Get a Good Seat
Overflow rooms exist for many sessions, but we encourage early arrival to ALL sessions this year to maximize your SC experience.

Career Fair, Wednesday, South Level 1, S100
Find your next employer at SC26! In addition to the in-person fair, you can also peruse job postings in the schedule.

Exploring Innovation

A vibrant tapestry of discovery and enlightenment showcasing nearly 600 exhibitors.

Exhibits

The exhibit floor is open from Tuesday–Thursday. A week at SC can go by rather quickly, so make sure you slot some time to check out the 589 exhibitors showcasing the latest HPC products and services.

Tuesday–Wednesday, 10 am–6 pm, West Level 3

Thursday, 10 am–3 pm, West Level 3

Exhibitor Forum

Dive into the Exhibitor Forum, where exhibitors and technical program attendees take center stage to deliver deep technical insights. These sessions explore the cutting edge of HPC, encompassing everything from state-of-the-art hardware and advanced software solutions to data management infrastructure, large-scale research projects, and collaborative community endeavors.

Opening Gala, Monday, 7–9 pm, Exhibit Hall
Celebrate the official kickoff of SC26 with an evening of innovation and energy on the exhibit floor. There’s food!

Quantum Junction, Exhibit Hall
Here, emerging products, tools, and services shaping the quantum landscape are the focus.

Where Learning and Innovation Converge

Fulfilling its mission to inspire and empower the next HPC generation.

Cluster Competitions

Celebrate 20 years of the SC Student Cluster Competition. Visit the SCC area on the exhibit floor to view a timeline wall commemorating the occasion and catch the students in action from Monday through Wednesday as the SCC and SCC Connect teams compete.

Student Programming

SC’s Student Programming is set to bring you two days of technical and professional enrichment and opportunity! With professionals from across industry, academia and government agencies — ready to connect with you — it’s sure to be rewarding.

Guided Interest Groups (GIGs)

GIGs provide community learning experiences where students lead participants through the Technical Program, offering opportunities to explore the program in depth. While open to all conference attendees, students in the Students@SC cohorts receive priority for GIG participation.

Posters Display, Tuesday–Thursday, 10 am–5 pm
ACM SRC and Doctoral Showcase posters are on display, along with those from Research and e-Posters. Art of HPC is also nearby. Get an eyeful in the Skyline Ballroom North Pre-Function.

Doctoral Showcase, Thursday, 10:30–3 pm, W185d
SC provides an opportunity for students near the end of their PhD to present a summary of their dissertation research in the form of short talks.

Empowering the SC Conference

A global assembly of experts create the world’s most potent volunteer-driven network.

SCinet: Booth 3034, Exhibit Floor

Since its inception at SC91, SCinet has consistently delivered an innovative networking infrastructure that empowers SC Conference attendees and the HPC community to connect, transport, and showcase HPC research from across the globe. Beyond enabling high-performance demonstrations, SCinet ensures that conference attendees stay seamlessly connected through wired and wireless connections.

The dynamic force behind SCinet is a collaborative effort involving volunteers from academia, government, and industry who collectively design and deliver this extraordinarily powerful network. SCiet is realized by generous contributions from industry stakeholders, encompassing millions of dollars in equipment and services to support local and wide area networks. Global collaboration and dedication continually redefine SCinet and have made it a vital part of the SC Conference experience.

SCinet is realized by generous contributions from industry stakeholders, encompassing millions of dollars in equipment and services to support local and wide area networks.

SCinet by the Numbers

Mingle. Explore. Relax.

Enjoy a delightful array of gatherings and mingle with the computing community while at SC in Chicago.

Exhibitor Reception

Sunday, 6–9 pm
McCormick Place, Lakeside Ballroom

This venue will blend the buzz of Chicago and its sports, along with its Chinatown and Little Italy areas providing a great place to unite our HPC community. An exhibitor badge and government-issued ID are required.

Registration Category: EX

6:30–10 pm Shuttles | Continuous service between SC hotels and McCormick Place, Lakewood Entrance

Grand Opening Gala Reception

Monday, 7–9 pm
McCormick Place, Exhibit Hall

Experience the exhibit hall and its vast array of innovations in this fun evening event. Open to all Technical Program, Exhibitor, and Students@SC registrants.

Registration Categories: TP | EX

Poster and Art of HPC Reception

Tuesday, 5:15–7 pm
McCormick Place, West Level 3 North and West Prefunction

Celebrate the opening of the Posters program. Meet this year’s poster authors and enjoy complimentary refreshments and appetizers. Open to attendees with a Technical Program badge.

Registration Category: TP

Awards Ceremony and Receptions

Thursday, 3–5 pm
McCormick Place, Skyline Ballroom

Celebrate the people and achievements that continue to advance the HPC community. This special afternoon event begins with a pre-ceremony reception before SC26 recognizes award recipients and celebrates their contributions to high-performance computing. Following the ceremony, get a first look at SC27 with a special video presentation then stay to congratulate the honorees and connect with colleagues during a post-awards show reception.

Registration Categories: TP | EX

Schedule

Technical Program Reception

Thursday, 7–10 pm
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

SC hosts this reception to thank the attendees and contributors, providing food, drink, and festivities after a long week.

Registration Category: TP (or event ticket for purchase at registration)

6:30–10:30 pm Shuttles | Continuous service between McCormick Place to Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and back to all SC hotels and McCormick Place, West Building, Gates 43 and 44

Free parking is available for SC attendees at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

SC Is a happy place

We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Please review the Code of Conduct.

SIGHPC CARES / CS Assist

IEEE-CS Assist and the SIGHPC Committee to Aid Reporting on Discrimination and Harassment (CARES) field emails for those seeking assistance or advice while at the SC Conference. You may also report any concerns in-person at the Community Engagement office (West, Level 1, W186a).

Family Day

On Wednesday, November 18, 3–6 pm, SC26 will host a Family Day on the exhibit floor. Family members 6 months and older are invited to take part. 

Community Engagement Programming

Experience Meets Innovation: Intergenerational Collaboration in HPC

Tuesday, 10:30 am–12 pm, W194a

The Mission Continues: Veteran Voices in SC26

Wednesday, 1–3:30 pm, W194a

Conversations on Neurodiversity

Thursday, 10:30 am–12 pm, W194a

Wellness@SC Initiatives

The Fractal Generator Returns
Join this interactive, community-building experience by scanning your badge at the interactive kiosk, located in the Central Concourse, across from Registration.