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THE DAILY FLOP / CONFERENCE FIELD NOTES

Floppy the fish with a laptop and conference badge beside supercomputer racks, with Chicago’s skyline beyond the windows

CHICAGO · NOVEMBER 15–20, 2026

SC26

The Daily Flop field guide

Six days of scientific computing. A few good picks. One fish with a very limited attention span.

Chicago weather this weekOfficial program

An independent guide. Not affiliated with SC26.

01 / PACK ACCORDINGLY

Chicago weather, SC week

Live forecast for McCormick Place. Lake-effect wind makes it feel colder than the number. Layers win.

Forecast by Open-Meteo

02 / ADVICE

Ten rules for SC week

Practical, non-obvious advice from someone who has walked the whole floor.

Adapted from Andrew Jones, Microsoft

  1. 1.Comfort over style. Pick shoes for comfort, not smartness.
  2. 2.Force downtime. Eat, hydrate, rest. Fewer talks and meetings done well beat many done tired.
  3. 3.It’s about people. HPC is as much about people as tech—never more than at SC. Meet people, make introductions.
  4. 4.Talk to people, not badges. Give everyone a genuine conversation before checking where they work. (Thanks, Fernanda Foertter.)
  5. 5.Check the weather. Chicago can be freezing, warm, wet or snowy. Rethink the sandals.
  6. 6.Pack layers. Venues swing hot and cold; outside will probably be cold.
  7. 7.Be kind. To everyone—volunteers, event teams, venue, hotel, restaurant and airport staff.
  8. 8.Wash your hands. Wash them, and use hand sanitizer. ConFlu is real.
  9. 9.Mask up if you’re sick. If you’ve been sick in the last 7 days, wear a mask please.
  10. 10.Hydrate. Drink water. Flights, convention-center air and parties all work against you.

Make friends

SC is a great place to make new friends.

  • Introduce yourself to people and ask them something interesting they have seen this week.
  • Find a way to volunteer next year.
  • Meet your people in BoFs.
  • Meet speakers after a talk, tell them their slides looked pretty.
  • Enjoy a party, or four.

Try opening with

“Hi — what interesting thing are you working on?”

What we’d make time for

03 / HOW THE WEEK RUNS

The shape of SC week

Three rhythms: learn, then research, then people. Days belong to the program; evenings belong to the community.

Full session-level schedule
Learn

Sunday

15 Nov

Tutorials and workshops begin

  • Tutorials and workshops open the week — full- and half-day sessions.
  • Registration 7 am–6 pm. First-Timers Orientation 4–5 pm, Room W179a.
  • Student Guided Interest Groups kick off 5:30–6:15 pm, Room W180.
TutorialsWorkshops

EVENING

Exhibitor Reception

6–9 pm · McCormick Place Lakeside Ballroom · Shuttles 6:30–10 pm between SC hotels and the Lakewood Entrance

Reception details
Learn

Monday

16 Nov

Tutorials continue, then the week opens for real

  • Tutorials and workshops run again. Registration 7 am–9 pm.
  • The Student Cluster Competition starts: 48 hours straight through Wednesday.
  • HPC Unites Plenary 5:30–6:45 pm, Room W375de.
PlenaryStudent Cluster Competition

EVENING

Grand Opening Gala Reception

7–9 pm · Exhibit Hall, McCormick Place West (3rd floor) · Tech Program or Exhibitor badge · Hotel shuttles run until 10 pm

Reception details
Research

Tuesday

17 Nov

The technical program kicks off

  • Keynote 8:30–10 am, Room W375de.
  • Papers begin and run through Thursday — including the Gordon Bell Prize finalist talks. Birds of a Feather begin.
  • Rankings day: TOP500, Green500 and IO500 sessions. Exhibit floor opens 10 am–6 pm; posters go up for the week.
KeynoteTOP500 session

EVENING

Posters & Art of HPC Reception

5:15–7 pm · TOP500 BoF the same slot, 5:15–6:45 pm, W375de

Reception details
Research

Wednesday

18 Nov

Full tilt

  • Papers, BoFs, panels and invited talks. Exhibit floor 10 am–6 pm.
  • Career Fair all day — open to every attendee, any skill level. Bring a résumé.
  • Final day of the Student Cluster Competition. Posters still hanging — the quietest time to work the floor.
PapersBoFsCareer Fair

EVENING

No official reception

The mid-week evening is yours — the best window for the conversations the day crowded out.

People

Thursday

19 Nov

Last full day, short floor

  • Papers and posters finish. Exhibit floor 10 am–3 pm — the last chance to walk it.
  • Awards Ceremony and SC27 launch, 3–5 pm, Skyline Ballroom — reception 3, ceremony 3:30, SC27 launch 4:15.
  • Registration 7:30 am–5 pm.
AwardsExhibits

EVENING

Technical Program Reception

7–10 pm · Griffin Museum of Science and Industry · Tech Program badge or event ticket · Shuttles 6:30–10:30 pm from McCormick Place, back to all SC hotels

Reception details
Learn

Friday

20 Nov

Workshops and teardown

  • Workshops come back for the final day; panels continue.
  • Registration 8–11 am. Late registration closes.
  • Booths are torn down by noon — the floor itself shut at 3 pm Thursday.
WorkshopsPanels

EVENING

The week unwinds

Badges are due, the floor is empty, and the lake wind is still there. Travel home.

RUNNING ALL WEEK

04 / AFTER HOURS

The party circuit

Why you should attend: the parties are how you unwind after the day closes. Make friends over food and drink, enjoy special venues you’d never otherwise get into — museums, ballparks, planetariums — and collect the swag that never makes it to the booth. RSVP early — the good ones fill up.

SUNDAY · 15 Nov

MONDAY · 16 Nov

TUESDAY · 17 Nov

  • 5:15–7 pm

    Posters & Art of HPC Reception (official)

    BadgeSC26 (official)
    McCormick Place · 2301 S Martin Luther King Dr
    Entry details · 1 host / sponsor

    Open to attendees; drinks among the posters and the Art of HPC display. The TOP500 BoF runs in the same slot, 5:15–6:45 pm, W375de.

    Hosts / sponsors: SC26

  • 4:30–7 pm

    SC26 SuperCompute Networking Party

    Sold outAMDVAST Data
    Marriott Marquis Chicago · 2121 S Prairie Ave
    Entry details · 4 hosts / sponsors

    Sold out; no longer taking registrations. Private event — do not assume walk-in entry.

    Hosts / sponsors: Supermicro · AMD · VAST Data · Vultr

  • 6–11 pm

    Petaflop 2026

    BadgeNVIDIADell TechnologiesAMDVAST Data
    The Field Museum · 1400 S Lake Shore Dr
    Entry details · 29 hosts / sponsors

    Conference badge required; registration encouraged, not required. Dinner 6–7:30 pm is invitation-only: ask premier sponsors on the exhibit floor. Drink tickets are available from sponsors in the vendor lounge while supplies last.

    Hosts / sponsors: Cambridge Computer (host) · NVIDIA · Dell Technologies · Lenovo · AMD · CIQ · DriveNets · Starfish Storage · VAST Data · WEKA · SourceCode / DataCore · TD SYNNEX / Nebius · OSNexus · MinIO · Lava · DDN · Vertiv · Viking Enterprise Solutions · Liqid · NetApp · Quobyte · Qumulo · Western Digital · Aberspace · Nimbus Data · Arista · Cedana · OpenHPC · Juno

  • 6:30–9:30 pm

    Microsoft + AMD Reception

    WaitlistMicrosoftAMD
    Soldier Field
    Entry details · 2 hosts / sponsors

    Sold out. Submit the form to join the waitlist; RSVPs require organizer approval and a confirmation.

    Hosts / sponsors: Microsoft · AMD

  • 7–10 pm

    HPE Industry Reception

    BadgeHPEAMD
    Adler Planetarium · 1300 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr
    Entry details · 2 hosts / sponsors

    Conference badge required. No RSVP necessary.

    Hosts / sponsors: HPE · AMD

  • 6:30–8:30 pm

    AMD + Oxide Computer Happy Hour

    WaitlistAMDOxide Computer
    Entry details · 2 hosts / sponsors

    Event full; join the waitlist. Exact location is shared only with registered attendees.

    Hosts / sponsors: AMD · Oxide Computer

  • 6:30–8:30 pm

    On Tap, Off the Record with VAST

    Check entryVAST Data
    Fatpour McCormick · 2206 S Indiana Ave
    Entry details · 1 host / sponsor

    Previously listed as walk-in; current entry requirements could not be independently confirmed.

    Hosts / sponsors: VAST Data

    Time and venue retained from the supplied party list; no current organizer listing found.

WEDNESDAY · 18 Nov

  • 8–10 am

    VAST Data Breakfast

    Check entryVAST Data
    Revel Motor Row · 2400 S Michigan Ave
    Entry details · 1 host / sponsor

    Previously listed as ticket request; current registration link and availability could not be confirmed.

    Hosts / sponsors: VAST Data

    Time and venue retained from the supplied party list; no current organizer listing found.

  • 11:30 am – 2 pm

    Microsoft + NVIDIA Lunch & Learn

    WaitlistMicrosoftNVIDIA
    Apolonia
    Entry details · 2 hosts / sponsors

    Sold out. Complete the event form to join the waitlist.

    Hosts / sponsors: Microsoft · NVIDIA

  • 12–2 pm

    SC26: SLED AI Industry Roundtable

    RSVPVAST DataNVIDIA
    Revel Motor Row · 2400 S Michigan Ave
    Entry details · 3 hosts / sponsors

    Reserve a seat through the registration form; seating is limited. Complimentary lunch provided.

    Hosts / sponsors: VAST Data · Cambridge Computer · NVIDIA

  • 6:30–10:30 pm

    Dell Customer Appreciation Event

    WristbandDell Technologies
    Punch Bowl Social
    Entry details · 1 host / sponsor

    Pick up a wristband at Dell Technologies booth #2223 during the show; confirm availability with the booth team.

    Hosts / sponsors: Dell Technologies

    Dell's post confirms Wednesday at Punch Bowl Social; time and wristband instructions remain from the supplied party list.

  • 6:30–8:30 pm

    Mixed Workloads: Happy Hour with VAST + Bytebridge

    Check entryVAST Data
    Fatpour McCormick · 2206 S Indiana Ave
    Entry details · 2 hosts / sponsors

    Previously listed as walk-in; current entry requirements could not be independently confirmed.

    Hosts / sponsors: VAST Data · ByteBridge

    Time, venue and co-hosts retained from the supplied party list; no current organizer listing found.

  • 6:30–8:30 pm

    The 200 kW Happy Hour

    Check entryCisco
    Cisco Studio · 2337 South Michigan Ave
    Entry details · 1 host / sponsor

    Ask the organizer whether registration or an invitation is required; no public entry rules found.

    Hosts / sponsors: Cisco

    Time and venue retained from the supplied party list; no current organizer listing found.

THURSDAY · 19 Nov

“Pace yourself and have fun .” — Floppy

All times Chicago / CST. Party links checked November 13, 2026; availability can change. Unconfirmed details are marked under each listing.

05 / CREATURE COMFORTS

Quiet rooms & care spaces

SC is an intense week. These are the places to recharge, pray, pump, create — or pet a dog.

Community Engagement

  • Low Stimulation SpaceW186b

    A quiet room to decompress when the floor gets loud.

  • Prayer RoomW186c

    Open to all, all week.

  • Art & ActivitiesW187a

    Hands-on breaks between sessions.

  • Parent RoomW187b

    A private space for nursing and pumping.

  • Child CareW187c

    Registered child care during the conference.

  • Community Engagement ProgrammingW194a

    Meetups and community sessions.

  • Mobility ScootersRoaming

    Ride-on scooters (like the supermarket ones) for getting around the convention center.

  • First Aid StationOn site

    For blisters, headaches and everything else.

  • Coat CheckLobby

    Drop the winter layers before you hit the floor.

  • Shuttle BussesLobby

    Rides to and from official hotels.

  • Therapy Dog StationLobby

    Puppies on site 11 am–1 pm, Sunday–Thursday. Plan your days accordingly.

  • IEEE CS Assist & SIGHPC CARESW186a

    SC welcomes everyone. Report harassment by email to cares@sighpc.org or assist@computer.org, or in person at the Community Engagement office.

06 / THE BIGGEST FLOPS

The Biggest FLOPs

The Daily Flop’s irreverent SC26 awards — good-natured, lightly judged, entirely unscientific. Winners get filled in after the show; for now, every trophy is up for grabs.

  • Floppy the fish on a couch with a coffee mug, beside a gleaming gold trophyWinner TBD

    Best swag

    The giveaway actually worth the suitcase space.

  • Floppy the fish on a couch with a coffee mug, beside a gleaming gold trophyWinner TBD

    Best booth

    Design, demos, or sheer nerve — whatever made you stop walking.

  • Floppy the fish on a couch with a coffee mug, beside a gleaming gold trophyWinner TBD

    Best snack

    The fuel that got you through the exhibit floor.

  • Floppy the fish on a couch with a coffee mug, beside a gleaming gold trophyWinner TBD

    Best party

    The one people were still talking about at breakfast.

  • Floppy the fish on a couch with a coffee mug, beside a gleaming gold trophyWinner TBD

    Best lanyard pin

    Tiny metal, enormous prestige.

  • Floppy the fish on a couch with a coffee mug, beside a gleaming gold trophyWinner TBD

    Best sticker

    The one that ends up on your laptop, badge holder, or water bottle by Friday.

Seen a worthy contender on the floor? Nominate it on LinkedIn with #thedailyflop.

07 / THE HUMAN BIT

Meet Floppy

Floppy is lazy. The conversations shouldn’t be.

We’d love to talk about the papers you’re reading, the software you wish worked better, and the HPC centers the rest of the world should hear more about.

No in-person meetup, booth or attendance is confirmed yet. A time and place will appear here if one is arranged. Want to meet up at SC26? Send us a message on LinkedIn. Until then, Floppy lives right here on The Daily Flop.

The Daily Flop sticker: Floppy the fish lounging on a couch with a coffee mug, above the words HPC news that scales

Sticker scavenger hunt

Floppy stickers are being dropped around McCormick Place all week — near session rooms, coffee lines, the exhibit floor. If you spot one, it’s yours.

Found one? Post a photo with #thedailyflop so we can see how far the Floppy travels.

Before, during, and after SC26

The conference is one week. Scientific computing keeps going. Catch the daily headlines, explore new papers, or take the Friday briefing with you.

The daily briefingBrowse papersHPC calendar

“Peak performance? I’m mostly here for sustained coffee.” — Floppy

Source of record: SC26’s official website. Dates last reviewed October 23, 2026. This guide is not live-synced; check the official program for changes.