May 14 – 19, 2026
PyCon US 2026 — Long Beach, CA · Speaking Saturday
Attractions, hotels and restaurants — all on one map.
Where the event happens — logistics, address, and access details all in one place.
Downtown Long Beach / Waterfront
A Mariatta tradition — at every conference, snap a photo with an ice cream. Here are the sweet spots scouted for this trip.
4141 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90807 · Maps ↗
Small-batch organic flavours — honey lavender, salted caramel, Mexican chocolate, seasonal fruit scoops
Long Beach's beloved indie creamery — murals out front and retro shop vibes make for a great selfie
5138 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803 (Belmont Shore) · Maps ↗
Graham central station, banana cream pie, Guinness chocolate — rich, hand-dipped scoops made fresh daily
Belmont Shore's buzziest ice cream spot — line out the door, bright pink-and-white sign, 2nd Street backdrop
The official PyCon host hotel, directly connected to the Long Beach Convention Center via the Rainbow Lagoon walkway. Spacious rooms with bay or city views, outdoor pool, and on-site dining. Zero-commute to the venue — step out of your room and onto the conference floor. Book inside the PyCon room block for the conference rate.
Best for: Speakers who want zero-minute commute on talk day
Full-service Marriott in downtown Long Beach, part of the PyCon US 2026 room block. Short walk to the convention centre, close to Pine Avenue dining and the waterfront. Reliable Bonvoy option with a pool, on-site dining, and comfortable rooms. Book inside the PyCon block for the conference rate.
Best for: Bonvoy loyalists who want a walkable downtown stay inside the PyCon block
Reliable Westin right next to the convention centre — a classic conference pick. Heavenly Bed, heated pool, and a lobby Starbucks. Standard rooms are comfortable if not flashy; the location does the heavy lifting. Frequently in the PyCon room block.
Best for: Bonvoy loyalists who want the convention rate
Solid mid-range Marriott option 3 minutes on foot from the convention centre. Home to James Republic restaurant for breakfast and dinner. Clean rooms, smaller footprint than the Hyatt/Westin but a noticeably better price point. Great value for a solo traveller.
Best for: Solo budget-conscious traveller who still wants to be steps from the venue
Chef-driven American bistro inside the Courtyard Marriott, steps from the convention centre. Solid farm-to-table menu — great for a quick, reliable breakfast before a conference day or a sit-down dinner after. Solo-friendly bar seating.
White-tablecloth Italian on Pine Avenue inside a historic brick building. Handmade pastas, proper risotto, and a serious wine list. A bit special-occasion — perfect for a celebratory post-talk dinner. Bar seating welcomes solo diners.
Long-running Pine Avenue staple serving solid Greek classics — gyros, souvlaki, moussaka, and big Greek salads. Patio seating is lovely in May. A safe, welcoming pick for a quick and hearty dinner between conference sessions.
Long Beach's go-to brunch spot, a short rideshare north in Bixby Knolls. Inventive takes on breakfast classics — chicken and waffles, crab cakes benedict, shrimp & grits. Worth the trip on a sprint break morning.
Elevated seafood restaurant on the Shoreline Village waterfront with Queen Mary views across the bay. Oysters, cioppino, and seasonal catches. Sunset dinner here is a Long Beach essential. Bar seating is great for solo diners.
Everything you need to know before the trip — money, weather, transport, and practical essentials.
The US uses the US Dollar ($). Credit and debit cards are accepted virtually everywhere in Long Beach — contactless is the norm. Bring $50–100 USD in small bills for tips and the rare cash-only spot.
Tipping is expected in the US: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 for coffee, 15–20% for rideshares, $2–5/night for hotel housekeeping. Visa and Mastercard from Canada work universally. Apple Pay / Google Pay are widely accepted — including on the Metro A Line.
A solo PyCon trip runs roughly $350–450 CAD/day covering hotel, meals, transit, and incidentals. Conference-day lunches are typically covered, which trims food costs noticeably. Speaker registration is usually complimentary.
California sales tax in Long Beach is ~10.25%. It's added at checkout, not included in shelf prices. Restaurants also add tax to the pre-tip total, so budget accordingly.
Mid-May in Long Beach averages 15–22°C (60–72°F). Expect sunshine with a classic "May gray" morning marine layer that burns off by noon. Evenings by the water are cool — layers are a must.
Business casual for the talk, casual layers the rest of the week. A light jacket or hoodie for conference-room AC and cool evening walks along the waterfront. Comfortable walking shoes — convention floors plus Long Beach's walkable downtown add up.
The SoCal sun is strong even in May. Pack sunglasses, SPF, and a light hat if you plan to spend time at the Aquarium, Shoreline Village, or the Queen Mary. Reapply sunscreen at midday.
Day backpack for swag and laptop, refillable water bottle (convention centre has fountains), HDMI + USB-C adapters for presenting, portable charger. Bring a second phone charger for the hotel so the good one lives in your bag.
Direct YVR to LAX takes about 3 hours with many daily options (Air Canada, WestJet, Alaska, American). Long Beach Airport (LGB) is closer to the venue but has very limited direct service from YVR. US Customs pre-clearance at YVR means you clear in Vancouver.
It's ~30 km from LAX to Long Beach. Uber/Lyft runs $45–60 one-way (45–75 min depending on traffic). The FlyAway bus to Union Station + Metro A Line is cheaper (~$20 total) but slower. A shared SuperShuttle / Karmel shuttle is in between.
The free Passport shuttle loops around downtown Long Beach and the convention centre. The Metro A Line (Blue) connects downtown Long Beach to LA — handy if you want to sightsee beyond Long Beach. Use Apple Pay / Google Pay to tap on.
Downtown Long Beach is very walkable and flat — the convention centre, Pine Avenue dining, Shoreline Village, and the Aquarium are all within a 15-minute walk. Belmont Shore (2nd Street) is a short rideshare or Metro ride east.
Mariatta speaks Saturday May 16. Speaker check-in is usually the day before — find the speaker lounge on Friday. AV tests are offered in the room before sessions. Bring HDMI + USB-C adapters. Back up slides to laptop + USB + cloud.
PyCon is Thu tutorials, Fri–Sun main conference, Mon–Tue sprints. Keynotes are mornings; talks fill the day. Hallway track is as valuable as the talks. PyLadies auction (Fri or Sat evening) is the social highlight. Lunch is usually provided on main-conference days.
Long Beach is very solo-friendly. Pine Avenue has casual to upscale options walkable from the venue. Belmont Shore (2nd Street) is a food-packed strip a short rideshare away. Bar seating is welcoming at most upscale spots — L'Opera and Roe Seafood especially.
Same plugs as Canada (Type A/B, 120V) — no adapter needed. Conference Wi-Fi will be provided. Canadian carriers typically offer US day-passes ($8–14/day); an eSIM (Airalo, Ubigi) can be cheaper for 5+ days.
Downtown Long Beach is safe during the day and evenings around the convention centre. Standard city awareness elsewhere. US healthcare is expensive — travel medical insurance is essential. Pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) are common for minor needs.
Aquarium of the Pacific is walkable from the venue and top-notch. The Queen Mary is a Long Beach icon worth visiting. Naples Island has picturesque canals (gondola rides if you're feeling fancy). Belmont Shore's 2nd Street is the go-to for dining + shopping.