Hotel & Travel

Visiting Louisville

Louisville is more than a conference destination — it's a city worth exploring. Whether you're joining us in person for the first time or returning for another year, we hope you'll take time to experience what makes Louisville a place people keep coming back to.

Getting to Louisville

Louisville is centrally located and easily accessible:

• Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is approximately 25 minutes downtown Louisville, with direct flights from most major U.S. hubs.
• By car, Louisville is within a day's drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population, located at the intersection of I-64, I-65 and I-71.
• Amtrak provides service to Louisville via the Cardinal line.

Accommodations

The 2026 Watson Conference will be held at 21c in downtown Louisville. There are limited rooms at 21c, but there are a number of hotels nearby:

Homewood Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Louisville Downtown

TownePlace Suites Louisville Downtown

If you are looking for a historic, riverfront experience, consider the The Galt House

Museum Row

21c is located in the heart of Museum Row in downtown Louisville, a stone's throw from the Louisville Slugger Museum, Frasier History Museum, Kentucky Science Center and many more attractions as well as a variety of dining options.  

Exploring Louisville

Louisville offers plenty beyond the conference:

• The city is renowned for its bourbon heritage, with multiple distilleries and the Urban Bourbon Trail
• A thriving independent restaurant and arts scene
• Historic landmarks including Churchill Downs, the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Muhammad Ali Center
• The scenic Louisville Waterfront Park along the Ohio River