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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.

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 🚕