Venue

The conference will be held at the Le Méridien in Nice, France. The beachfront hotel is located on Promenade des Anglais with easy access to Old Town—located about 6 km from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.

Hotel Reservations

Book your room at the conference hotel using the link below to secure the CUG 2026 group rate of €275 per night, breakfast included. Please note the only available nights are the nights of 04/23/2026 through 04/30/2026. Check in time is 3:00PM, earlier arrivals are not guaranteed. If you require an earlier arrival, please consider booking a room for the night before. Book early—availability in the room block is limited and ends when sold out or on March 27, whichever comes first.

Le Meridien Hotel – CUG Group Rate

Badge and Registration Material Pick-up

Badges and registration materials will be available for pick-up at the CUG registration desk during conference hours and at the Sunday welcome reception.

Sunday:  3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, CUG Registration Desk
Sunday:  5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, Welcome Reception
Monday:  8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, CUG Registration Desk
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m, CUG Registration Desk

Visit the CUG Office for registration needs after 10:30 am on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

All attendees must wear your CUG issued registration badge during CUG Conference activities.

Smoking Policy

There is no smoking or vaping allowed inside the Conference venue.

Special Assistance

Any requests for special assistance during the conference should be noted on the “Special Requirements” area of the registration form.

Traveling to Nice, France – Visa Information

If you have any questions regarding visas, please reach out to the CUG Board at board@cug.org.

Traveling to Nice, France – Transportation

The closest airport to the conference hotel is Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE).

What are my transportation options for getting to the event?

• Tram from the airport (NCE) → hotel:
  Take Tram L2 (Airport ↔ Port Lympia) from Terminal 1 or 2 to Jean-Médecin (~20–25 min), then either walk ~12–15 min down to the Promenade to the hotel or transfer to Tram L1 and take one stop to Masséna and walk ~6–7 min.

• Taxi / Uber (fastest point-to-point):
  15–25 min to Le Méridien

• Train to Nice-Ville (if you’re arriving by rail):
  From Nice-Ville station it’s a 20 min walk to the hotel, or hop Tram L1 and ride two stops to Masséna, then walk ~6–7 min.

• Local buses:
  Plenty run along the Promenade, but the tram is simpler and typically quicker for airport/city transfers.

Tips: Trams run every ~5–8 minutes; buy tickets at platform machines (validate before boarding).

Conference Program Overview and Social Events

The conference program will be available prior to the start of the conference. The guidebook, delegate book, and conference proceedings will be available prior to the start of the conference.

Sunday, April 26 (full day)

• XTreme SIG meeting (XTreme members only, registration required)
• PEAD SIG (afternoon, registration required)
• Welcome Reception 5:30pm – 6:30pm
  
  • All attendees and their guests are invited to attend the welcome reception within the Conference Venue.

Monday, April 27 (full day)

• Tutorials & BoFs

Tuesday, April 28 (full day)

• Conference Keynote, Plenary Sessions, and Technical Paper Presentations
• HPE Networking Event

Wednesday, April 29 (full day)

• Plenary Sessions, best paper presentation, 1 on 100 with HPE leadership, and technical program presentations
• CUG Night out at Chateau de Cremat, 442 Chem. de Crémat, 06200 NiceAll registered CUG attendees are invited to join us for the CUG Night Out, an unforgettable evening at the breathtaking Château de Crémat. Your guests are welcome to attend with a paid CUG Night Out ticket and share in this special experience. Perched above Nice, the château boasts stunning panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape. Its rich history and distinct character captivate visitors in search of genuine local charm. Since Roman times, Château de Crémat has been a wine-growing site located in an idyllic setting between the sea and the mountains. It was owned by atypical and visionary figures who transformed it into an architectural gem. Coaches will depart outside Le Meridien Hotel at 17:15 to arrive at the Chateau for a drink’s reception before seating for dinner at approximately 18:45. Our first bus will return to the hotel at approximately 20:30 with shuttles then running until approximately 22:30. 
  • Menu & Bar This event will feature water, soda, beer and wine. We will be serving passed Hors D’Oeuvres and a during the welcome reception between 17:45 – 18:45. Once seated for dinner, the main menu will include a vegetarian starter followed by your choice of lamb, cod or ravioli entree. Your selection would have been pre-selected at the time of CUG registration.

Thursday, April 30 (full day)

• Reveal of CUG 2027
• Panel
• Technical program presentations, and BoF
• Closing session