Why base yourself at Union Square
Union Square puts you in the middle of meetings, dining, and transit connections. Tilden Hotel sits a short walk from both Powell Street transit links and the Moscone campus—convenient when your day runs from first session to client dinner. Tilden’s site notes the Moscone Convention Center is roughly a 15-minute walk, making it easy to move between sessions, lunch breaks, and evening events without a rideshare queue.
Tech & innovation: the Moscone run of 2025
Game Developers Conference (GDC) — March 9–13, 2026
The global game-dev community returns to San Francisco with five days of talks, tutorials, and an expo that moves ideas from prototype to player. If you’re meeting investors or recruiting, plan coffee meetups in SoMa between sessions. Dates and venue: Moscone Center, March 17–21, 2025.
RSA Conference — March 23–March 26, 2026
Security teams and CISOs pack Moscone for RSAC’s keynotes, labs, and sprawling expo—plus a full ecosystem of after-hours mixers. Expect packed hotels and heavy evening networking. Dates and venue: Moscone Center, April 28–May 1, 2025.
Workday Rising — September 15–18, 2025
Finance and HR leaders compare notes on AI-assisted planning, analytics, and change management. If you’re hosting a team offsite, book meeting space early and keep dinner plans walkable from Union Square. Dates and venue: Moscone Center, Sept 15–18, 2025.
Dreamforce — October 14–16, 2025
Salesforce’s three-day takeover means big keynotes, product deep dives, and citywide evening events. Badge or not, many partner sessions and meetups cluster near SoMa and Union Square, so staying nearby pays off. Dates and venue: Moscone Center, Oct 14–16, 2025.
PyTorch Conference — October 21–23, 2025
AI practitioners, researchers, and builders converge on Moscone West for two days of technical content, preceded by co-located summits and a startup showcase. If you’re combining RSAC/Dreamforce follow-ups with AI week, pad your stay and stack meetings. Dates and venue: Moscone West, Oct 22–23, with co-located events on Oct 21.
Microsoft Ignite — November 18–21, 2025
Microsoft’s flagship conference returns with keynotes, hands-on labs, and the Hub—expect long days and full schedules. Book early; it’s a late-year spike for rooms. Dates and venue: Moscone Center, Nov 18–21, 2025 (pre-day Nov 17).
Healthcare & science headliners
J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference — January 12–15, 2026
Biotech’s most watched week brings dealmaking and investor meetings centered at the Westin St. Francis and around Union Square—ideal for walking between sessions, cafes, and private briefings.
SPIE Photonics West — January 20–22, 2026
Optics and photonics take over all three Moscone halls with BiOS, conferences, and the Photonics West exhibition—one of the year’s earliest large conventions.
Can’t-miss citywide events to plan around
San Francisco Pride — June 27–28, 2026
One of the world’s largest Pride celebrations fills Market Street and Civic Center with the parade on Sunday—arrive early and use transit.
San Francisco Marathon — July 26, 2026
Race weekend brings road closures across the Embarcadero and Golden Gate Bridge routes—great city energy, but add buffer time for airport transfers.
Outside Lands — August 7–9, 2026
Golden Gate Park draws ~75,000 guests a day for the city’s marquee music festival; expect busy dining and transit.
Fleet Week — October 10–12, 2025
Blue Angels flyovers, ship tours, and waterfront crowds highlight this fall tradition—book dinners along the Embarcadero well in advance.
Planning tips for a smoother stay
- Walkable strategy: With Moscone and SoMa restaurants within range, build a “between-sessions” shortlist (Yerba Buena Gardens, Metreon food options, and specialty coffee along 3rd/4th streets). Keep meetings clustered by block to avoid crosstown traffic.
- Transit basics: Powell Street BART/Muni Metro keeps you connected to SFO, OAK, and neighborhoods; cable cars and rapid buses cover short hops when you’re badge-to-banquet.
- Peak demand weeks: RSAC, Dreamforce, Ignite, and Pride weekend are citywide compression periods—book rooms early and secure dinner reservations before arrival.
- Meeting overflow: Many conferences run satellite events in nearby hotels; staying in Union Square shortens those back-and-forths.
Sample three-day playbooks (mix & match)
Playbook A: Conference + quick culture
- Morning: Walk to Moscone for keynotes; grab coffee in SoMa between sessions.
- Afternoon: Block two hours for the expo or poster sessions; schedule your most important meeting within a two-block radius.
- Evening: Return to Union Square for dinner, then catch a short ride to the Embarcadero for a night stroll. If it’s Fleet Week or Pride, budget transit and crowds accordingly.
Playbook B: Investor week (JPM style)
- Morning: Meetings around Union Square and hotel lobbies near the Westin St. Francis.
- Afternoon: Shift to Moscone-area briefings if your team is cross-scheduling with other events.
- Evening: Keep dinners walkable to reduce transit time and maximize face-time.
Playbook C: Extend the week
- Thursday/Friday: Wrap sessions; move your final meetings to cafés near Union Square for a softer landing.
- Weekend add-on: If your dates line up with Outside Lands or the SF Marathon, plan early morning starts or transit-first moves to beat traffic.
2025-26 at a glance (dates & quick notes)
- J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference: Jan 12–15, Westin St. Francis & area meetups.
- SPIE Photonics West: Jan 20–22, Moscone (North/South/West).
- GDC: Mar 9–13, Moscone.
- RSA Conference: March 23–March 26, Moscone.
- San Francisco Pride: Jun 27–28, parade & Civic Center celebration.
- San Francisco Marathon: Jul 26, citywide routes/closures.
- Outside Lands: Aug 7–9, Golden Gate Park.
- ASTC Annual Conference: Sept 5–8, primarily Moscone West + partner museums.
- Workday Rising: Sept 15–18, Moscone.
- Dreamforce: Oct 14–16, Moscone.
- PyTorch Conference: Oct 21–23, Moscone West (Oct 22–23 main program; Oct 21 co-located).
- Fleet Week Air Show: Oct 10–12, waterfront & Marina Green.
- Microsoft Ignite: Nov 18–21, Moscone.
Dates, venues, and schedules are subject to change—always check official sites before traveling.
Make Tilden your easy button
Conference days run long. A Union Square base means quick walks, an easy commute to Moscone, and endless dining within a few blocks. When you’re ready to plan, lock in your stay early for the biggest weeks (RSAC, Dreamforce, Ignite) and build your agenda around a few signature San Francisco experiences while you’re here.