Summercon is one of the oldest hacker conventions, and the longest running such conference in America. It helped set a precedent for more modern “cons” such as H.O.P.E. and DEF CON, although it has remained smaller and more personal. Summercon has been hosted in cities such as Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Atlanta, New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, Las Vegas, and Amsterdam.
NEWS
- Recommended SummerCon Hotels
Ranked by Crawling Distance from Canal Bar
When evaluating hotels for SummerCon, we use a highly scientific measurement system: distance from the After After Party at Canal Bar. The following properties have been field-tested by generations of SummerCon attendees and are all solid options.
1. Tru by Hilton Brooklyn
529 President St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
A solid choice and one of the closest hotels to Canal Bar. You’ll feel like a real New Yorker because the rooms are small, but efficient. In fact, this hotel can practically be reached by crawling from Canal Bar, making it a favorite among attendees who take the phrase “one last drink” as a personal challenge.
The free breakfast is particularly decent as free breakfasts go in NYC. (Hint: very few things in New York are actually free.)
2. TownePlace Suites by Marriott New York Brooklyn
561 President St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 765-5000Another tried-and-true SummerCon option located just around the corner from Canal Bar.
The biggest advantage here is the in-room kitchenette. If you’d prefer to avoid spending your entire bug bounty on New York food prices, having a refrigerator, microwave, and basic kitchen setup can be a surprisingly valuable feature.
Also close enough to Canal Bar that your GPS may simply display: “Good luck.”
3. Fairfield Inn & Suites Brooklyn
181 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 522-4000A few blocks from the conference venues and an easy walk to Littlefield, Ornate Studios, Lucky 13, and Canal Bar.
The Fairfield has long been a SummerCon favorite. The décor may not be luxurious, but somehow it manages to maintain the neighborhood dive-bar aesthetic even when you’re back in your hotel room. Think of it as an immersive Brooklyn experience.
4. Ace Hotel Brooklyn
252 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 313-3636Want to stay where all the baller hackers are? This is the place.
The Ace Hotel is stylish, comfortable, and frequently serves as an unofficial gathering spot for attendees, speakers, sponsors, and other conference regulars.
The rooms are, admittedly, expensive. And the “small room” category is so small that you may have to leave the room to change your mind. But if you’ve got the budget, it’s a fantastic option with great food, excellent common areas, and easy access to Downtown Brooklyn and the conference.
Honorable Mention: Anywhere Near a Subway
SummerCon is centered in Gowanus, one of Brooklyn’s most walkable neighborhoods. If the hotels above are sold out or outside your budget, don’t panic. Anything near the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, F, G, N, Q, or R trains will get you to the conference quickly, and New York’s subway system runs 24 hours a day.
Just remember: no matter where you stay, the After After Party is still at Canal Bar.
- Why We Don’t Have a Hotel Room Block
You may notice that SummerCon does not have an official hotel room block this year.
Normally, we like the simplicity of providing attendees with a discounted conference hotel option. However, SummerCon takes place during an unusually busy period for New York City due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has significantly impacted hotel contracting, availability, and pricing across the region.
At the same time, broader economic conditions, international travel trends, airfare costs, jet fuel prices, and other global factors have created a somewhat unusual travel market. While many people expected New York hotel rates to skyrocket for the summer, the reality has been more mixed than anticipated.
The good news is that there are still plenty of hotel rooms available throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, and many are priced reasonably—at least by New York City summer standards. In many cases, attendees can find rates that are comparable to, or even better than, what a traditional conference room block might have offered.
Rather than locking attendees into a single hotel, we’ve chosen to let everyone select accommodations that best fit their budget, travel plans, and preferred neighborhood. The SummerCon venue cluster in Gowanus is easily accessible by subway, making it practical to stay in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island City, or other nearby areas and still get to the conference quickly.
We’ll continue to monitor hotel availability and may post recommendations as the event approaches, but for now there are plenty of good options available—and we encourage attendees to book sooner rather than later as availability can change quickly.
- Getting to Gowanus, Brooklyn
Traveling to SummerCon is easy from any of New York City’s three major airports. The conference venues are located in Gowanus, Brooklyn, a walkable neighborhood served by multiple subway lines and accessible by public transportation.
From John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
The easiest public-transit route from JFK is usually the AirTrain and Long Island Rail Road. Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then take the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. From there, Summercon is a 12-15 minute walk south along 4th Avenue, or one stop on the Brooklyn-bound R train to Union Street.
The AirTrain costs $8.75. A discounted LIRR CityTicket from Jamaica to Atlantic Terminal costs $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 peak, bringing the total to $14 off-peak or $16 peak. Taking the R train for the final stop adds $3.
For a lower-cost subway-only route, take the AirTrain to Jamaica and transfer to the E train, then switch to the Brooklyn-bound R train at Queens Plaza. You can also take the AirTrain to Howard Beach, then the A train to Jay St-MetroTech and transfer to the R train. The AirTrain costs $8.75 and the subway costs $3, for a total of $11.75 per person.
From LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
The easiest public-transit route from LaGuardia is usually the Q70-SBS LaGuardia Link bus and the subway. Take the free Q70-SBS bus from Terminal B or C to Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av, then take a Brooklyn-bound R train directly to Union Street. Summercon is one block north on Sackett Street. The bus-to-subway transfer is free when you use the same card or device, so the Q70-SBS is effectively free, and the subway costs $3.
From Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Take the AirTrain Newark to Newark Airport Station, then board NJ Transit to New York Penn Station. From Penn Station, connect to the New York City subway system via the 2, 3, A, C, or walk over to the D, F, N, R in Herald Square. Travel time is typically 60–90 minutes.
Getting to the Conference Area
SummerCon’s venues are centered around Littlefield in Gowanus. The closest subway stations include:
- Union Street (R train)
- 4 Avenue–9 Street (F, G, and R trains)
- Carroll Street (F and G trains)
All conference venues—including Littlefield, Ornate Studios, Lucky 13 Saloon, and Canal Bar—are within a short walk of one another, making it easy to move between talks, sponsor activities, social events, and after-parties without needing a car.
New York’s subway system operates 24 hours a day, making it convenient to travel between conference activities and accommodations throughout the event.
Also, you can just take a taxi or an Uber 🚕
- Procrastinators: Don’t Delay!
Time is running out to buy Summercon 2026 tickets
Summercon 2026 is coming up fast. Join us July 10–11 in Gowanus, Brooklyn for two days of technical talks, hacker culture, sponsor activations, parties, music, side quests, and late-night conversations.
Tickets include admission for both days and the official Summercon 2026 t-shirt.
Buy your ticket now before you miss the glory of Gowanus.
- Volunteers Needed! Apply Now!
You know what it takes to make Summercon happen every year? An army of volunteers!
Free admission, cool swag, and bragging rights — do you think you have what it takes?