SC - The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis 2026
Event Date
November 15–20, 2026
Location
Chicago, IL
About This Show
AI-drafted summarySC26 is The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis — the premier annual gathering of the global HPC community. SuperComputing 2026 is the premier international conference for high-performance computing, networking, storage, and analysis, convening thousands of scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and industry leaders from around the world, held November 15–20, 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
The event pairs a rigorous technical program with a large exhibition. The SC Technical Program delivers best practices and breakthroughs across algorithms, applications, architectures, distributed computing, data analytics, machine learning, performance engineering, and large-scale systems integration. On the show floor, attendees can meet and interact with industry, research organizations, universities, and startups joining from across the globe, as exhibitors showcase cutting-edge technologies, products, and services to thousands of attendees.
SC26 is worth attending for anyone shaping the future of advanced computing and AI. With its 2026 theme of HPC Unites, the conference emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and community—highlighting how high-performance computing accelerates scientific discovery and powers next-generation technologies.
Show Highlights
Signature features and program elements include:
- Technical Program with a keynote, the HPC Unites Plenary, invited talks, panels, and peer-reviewed papers.
- Tutorials and Workshops offering hands-on, in-depth learning across HPC topics.
- Exhibits where industry, research organizations, universities, and startups showcase their work.
- SCinet — the conference's technological heartbeat, an extraordinary, large-scale network connecting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of participants with performance levels rivaling the world's most advanced environments.
- Students@SC — a program oriented toward undergraduate and graduate students in computing-related fields that includes professional development programs, opportunities to learn from mentors, and engagement with SC's technical sessions.
- Additional features including the Student Cluster Competition, a Career Fair, research posters, the Doctoral Showcase, Birds of a Feather sessions, awards, and the Art of HPC.
Attendance
SC is one of the largest events in the field. In 2019, about 13,950 people participated overall; by 2022 attendance had rebounded to 11,830 both in-person and online. The audience spans scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and industry leaders from around the world.
Registration
Register online through the SC26 attendee, exhibitor, or media registration portals. Registration opened 8 July 2026, standard registration closes 14 October 2026, and late registration closes 20 November 2026.
- Fees increase after 14 October (11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth), so registering early saves money.
- In-person Technical Program (includes Workshops): on or before Oct 14 — Member $700, Non-Member $850, Student Member $300, Student Non-Member/Retired $400; from Oct 15–Nov 20 — Member $900, Non-Member $1,050, Student Member $400, Student Non-Member/Retired $475.
- Workshops Only, Tutorials (1-day and 2-day), Exhibits Only ($200), and Digital Experience options are also available.
- Members of ACM, IEEE, or SIGHPC receive discounted registration fees.
- Badges are picked up on the third floor of McCormick Place; a photo ID is required and no badges are mailed in advance.
- Cancellation requests must be received in writing by 11:59 pm EST, Thursday, October 15, 2026 to qualify for a refund, less a $50 processing fee.
History
SC has a long history as the field's flagship event. SC (formerly Supercomputing), the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis, is the annual conference established in 1988 by the Association for Computing Machinery and the IEEE Computer Society. Its founder was George Michael.
The conference has grown into a major international event drawing well over ten thousand participants. In addition to the technical program, SC hosts a research exhibition each year that includes universities, state-sponsored computing research organizations (such as the Federal labs in the US), and vendors of HPC-related hardware and software from many countries around the world. The 2026 edition is sponsored by ACM SIGHPC and the IEEE Computer Society.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does SC26 take place?
SC26 is held November 15–20, 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, located at 2301 S Martin Luther King Dr.
Who should attend SC26?
SC26 draws scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and industry leaders in high performance computing from around the world. It also has a dedicated Students@SC program for undergraduate and graduate students in computing-related fields.
How do I register and what does it cost?
Registration is done online via the SC26 portal; it opened 8 July 2026, with standard registration closing 14 October 2026 and late registration closing 20 November 2026. In-person Technical Program fees begin at $700 for members and $300 for student members if you register on or before 14 October, with discounts for ACM, IEEE, and SIGHPC members.
What is included in the SC26 program?
The program includes a keynote, the HPC Unites Plenary, invited talks, panels, peer-reviewed papers, tutorials, workshops, and a large exhibition. It also features SCinet, the Student Cluster Competition, a Career Fair, research posters, and awards.
How do I get to McCormick Place?
Midway International Airport is 9 miles away and O'Hare International Airport is 23 miles away. You can also reach the venue via CTA bus and 'L' trains, the Metra Electric line station inside the Grand Concourse, taxis, rideshare, or bike share.
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