Attending
UIST 2026 will take place at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, MI, November 2–5, 2026. Workshops and the Doctoral Symposium will be held on Monday, November 2 and the main conference will be held on November 3–5. U.S. citizens should note that the U.S. midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3, the first day of the main conference. Please plan ahead to ensure you can participate in the election.
Situated in the iconic GM Renaissance Center along the Detroit River waterfront, the venue offers sweeping views of the skyline and easy access to Detroit’s vibrant arts, food, and culture scene.
Accommodation
All conference activities, including receptions and the demo session, will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center — the conference hotel is in the same building as the main conference venue.
A block of rooms has been reserved for UIST 2026 attendees at a special pre-negotiated conference rate. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to book early.
Transportation
The nearest major airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), about 20 miles southwest of downtown Detroit. Two convenient public options for reaching and getting around the conference area are the Detroit Air Xpress and the Detroit People Mover.
Detroit Air Xpress (DAX)
The Detroit Air Xpress (DAX) is a shuttle bus connecting DTW directly with downtown Detroit. It runs 16 trips daily from 3:30 AM to 11:00 PM, with fares of $6 in advance or $8 when boarding.
- To board the DAX at the airport (DTW), depending on your terminal (you can find which terminal your flight arrives at here):
- McNamara Terminal: Board the DAX at “Departures” (Level 3). Follow signs for “Ticketing/Check-In” or “Public Transit.” The DAX stop is just outside of Door 1 (labeled “International Ticketing”) going toward the ramp. You will see a sign of transit options.
- Evans Terminal: Board the DAX at “Ground Transportation”. From baggage claim, go up two levels to the skywalk or one level if not picking up luggage. Cross the skywalk; then, enter elevators on left side, and take down to ground level. Go out the doors next to elevator and find DAX in stall 1-2.
- To get from the DAX to the venue, you can either walk (0.8 miles or 1.3 km) or take the free “People Mover” light-rail (see below) to reach the venue from the DAX stop in downtown Detroit.
See the DAX website for schedules and fares.
Detroit People Mover
The Detroit People Mover is a free elevated, automated light-rail system that loops around downtown — a 2.9-mile route with 13 stations that can be ridden end-to-end in about 15 minutes. The Renaissance Center station is located in the conference venue (Tower 200, Level 2), making it an easy way to reach Greektown, Huntington Place, and other downtown destinations. See thepeoplemover.com for stations and hours.
QLINE Streetcar
The QLINE is a streetcar that runs 3.3 miles along Woodward Avenue, connecting downtown Detroit with the Midtown, New Center, and North End neighborhoods. It’s a convenient way to reach attractions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, and Little Caesars Arena. See qlinedetroit.com for stops, schedules, and fares.
MoGo Bike Share
MoGo is Detroit’s bike share system, with stations across downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods — including near the Renaissance Center. Classic and electric-assist bikes are available for single rides or day passes, and the Detroit Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut greenway offer scenic car-free routes right by the venue. See mogodetroit.org for stations, passes, and pricing.
Visa Support
The Association for Computing Machinery does not issue formal invitation letters for visas to attend ACM-sponsored conferences. However, you can request a Visa Support Letter from ACM at supportletters.acm.org .
ACM is able to provide visa support letters to registered attendees, authors and speakers with accepted papers/posters/talks, and conference committee members. Please allow up to 10 business days for your information to be reviewed and your support letter to be processed. All requests are handled in the order they are received.
If you cannot access that form, please email acmsupportletters@executivevents.com with the following:
- Name as it appears on your passport
- Current postal mailing address
- Name of the conference you are registering for
- Registration confirmation number and/or title of your paper or presentation
Travel Scholarships
Information about UIST 2026 travel scholarships will be posted here when available. Check back closer to the conference.
Gary Marsden Travel Award
In recognition of Dr. Gary Marsden’s contributions and inspiration, SIGCHI established the Gary Marsden Travel Awards (GMTA) to support its members in attending ACM SIGCHI conferences. Those eligible to apply include undergraduate and graduate students, early-career researchers (≤ 5 years post-graduation), and those experiencing financial hardship or lacking institutional support.
For full details and to apply, please see the SIGCHI call for applications .
Deadlines are on the 9th of January, February, March, May, July, September, and November at 11:59 PM AoE. You must apply to a deadline that occurs more than one month before the start of the conference.
Childcare and Caregivers
When you register yourself, you can also register children and/or a caregiver (for yourself or for the child).
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Children ($10) — If you intend to bring your children to any of the conference events, they have to be formally registered so that they are covered by the ACM insurance. Registered children are welcome to attend any UIST event, including the Demo Reception and the Conference Banquet. No drink tickets will be included with child registration. You will also need to fill out a waiver and email to registration2026@uist.org.
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Caregivers ($50) — This registration category is for people providing care to the conference attendees with impairments or to the children of conference attendees. It grants the person access to all events (including the Demo Reception) except the Banquet. No drink tickets will be included with the caregiver registration. If you would like your caregiver to attend the Banquet, you will be able to purchase an additional Banquet ticket when you register your caregiver. This fee can be waived upon request, particularly if the caregiver is required for accessibility needs.
Childcare and Parental Support Grants
UIST wil not provide on-site childcare, but we will provide grants for up to $700 USD to help cover the cost of childcare for attendees. The grant can be used as a contribution toward:
- Travel costs for children between the ages of two and seventeen
- Travel costs for a companion providing childcare, specifically for non-shared transportation costs such as airfare
- On-site childcare at the conference, arranged by the parent (e.g., shared care facilities, babysitting expenses)
Apply for a childcare grant by filling out this form before October 23rd. We strongly encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible so that the organizers can plan appropriately. Note: you must be registered for the conference to be eligible for a childcare grant.
Bringing your family along? See Visit Detroit’s family fun guide for kid-friendly things to do around the city.
Voting in the United States Midterm Elections 🇺🇸
The U.S. midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, which is the first day of the main conference. If you are a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote, please plan ahead to ensure you can participate in the election. You may want to consider voting early or by mail if you will be traveling during that time. Please see the following resources for more information: