CaRCC had the opportunity to chat with PEARC26 general chairs: Shafaq Chaudhry, Shava Smallen and Tabitha Samuel (from left to right) to get a sneak peek into what you can expect from this year’s conference.
A Conversation with General Chairs: Shafaq Chaudhry, Shava Smallen and Tabitha Samuel
2026 is here and it’s time to start planning your participation in the 2026 ACM Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing Conference (PEARC26)! This year’s conference takes place July 26-30, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will host leading experts, researchers, and practitioners in the field of research computing and data (RCD).
For those who have never attended PEARC, why would you recommend this conference?
Our research computing and data (RCD) community is made up of so many different voices from different professional and educational backgrounds, bringing together so many rich perspectives and experiences. The PEARC conference series is a celebration of our community and is an annual showcase of our shared strengths, celebrations, wins – both big and small, and yes, even our challenges. PEARC stands for the Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing, and this conference truly emphasizes the Practice and Experience theme.
The conference is a continuously evolving conference, and this year we expect about 1,000 attendees from all disciplines of computing: from system administrators and computational scientists, to data managers and user facilitators and everyone in between. To continue on the successes of PEARC25, we will have a First-time-attendee session on the Sunday, July 26 before the conference to orient newcomers to the conference, give them a walking tour of the convention center, and give them a general idea of what to expect from the conference.
We will also have a robust student program to train the next generation of RCD professionals – no prior experience in RCD necessary! For the first time, PEARC will be hosting a 7-day student program with highlights that include mentorship, resume clinics, interviewing skills development, HPC intros, immersion in the regular conference program, and a tour of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute’s data center.
We have an amazing team of over 50 volunteers from institutions and organizations from all across the country working closely together to ensure PEARC26 is the best PEARC yet!
What kinds of topics will PEARC26 cover?
Our coverage of Research Computing and Data (RCD) professional topics is truly comprehensive, and this year we expect a fantastic mix of hands-on, practice-driven content.
Our program will explore everything from performance engineering on modern multicore and GPU systems to HPC software operations and workflow reproducibility across national cyberinfrastructure. AI will be a major highlight, spanning scalable deep learning, agentic systems for AI workflows, and AI-enabled user support. We’re also branching into emerging areas like quantum computing and advanced networking. True to our theme, “Resilient Roots + Empowered Communities,” you’ll find a strong emphasis on community and workforce development, including mentorship networks, leadership programs, and broadening participation initiatives. We are also particularly excited to debut a special track on Research Software Engineering! This track will highlight the robust software practices and innovative tools that define sustainable career paths and drive reproducible, highly impactful research.
What’s new or different this year that you’re most excited about?
The First Time Attendee event was such a resounding success last year that we had to bring it back! So we kick things off on the evening of Sunday, July 26 with the First Time Attendee Orientation and reception. We are also planning an offsite social and networking event at the Mill City Museum. Built within the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, this fun, interactive history museum invites everyone to ride the Flour Tower elevator, experience hands-on fun in the Water & Baking Labs, and enjoy rooftop views of the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls, and Stone Arch Bridge. And you heard it first here, folks, we will have a karaoke setup at this event – professional DJ included!
PEARC26 also caps 10 years of the PEARC conference series. So be on the lookout for fun, interactive activities throughout the conference that celebrate a decade of PEARC!
Why did the planning committee choose Minneapolis, MN for this year’s conference?
Minneapolis caught our eye for many reasons. We’re fortunate to have wonderful colleagues at the University of Minnesota who gave us a warm introduction to their city and its culture. It is easy to get to Minneapolis from anywhere in the U.S., and a quick metro ride connects the airport directly to downtown once you arrive. The convention center itself is a great space, filled with natural light and has a nice green area out front, perfect for stepping outside to get some fresh air or stretch your legs between sessions. The city is incredibly walkable — indoors via its unique Skyway System connecting dozens of downtown blocks, and outdoors along more than 200 miles of running, walking, and biking paths that wind through the city’s beautiful chain of lakes and along the Mississippi River. July is also an ideal time to visit — the weather is mild and pleasant. And when the day is done, the city has a thriving arts and music scene that gives it real energy and personality. Minneapolis is a city that has shown remarkable resilience and community spirit, and we’re excited to bring our conference there. Watch this video to learn more:
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