Complete the questionnaire.
Once you click “Submit,” you can download the pass.
Save the pass to your files. If you lose the pass, you can redo the questionnaire at any time before or during the conference.
The pass is only valid from May 11 to May 15.
Planning Your Trip
We’re excited to welcome attendees from across North America to Minneapolis. NACTO encourages attendees to shop locally and use our collective purchasing power to help local businesses that have been affected by events in recent months in the city.
What to Do in the Twin Cities
Photo credit: Minneapolis Department of Public Works
Events
Art-a-Whirl
The largest open artist studio tour in the country, Art-A-Whirl happens annually throughout Northeast Minneapolis the third weekend of May. This free, massively popular hallmark of spring kicks off on Friday, May 15, at 5 pm, and runs through Sunday, May 17.
Other Entertainment
Check out this list from our Conference Welcoming Committee, including sports, music, and more.
Local Favorites
Many local businesses—especially immigrant-owned businesses—have suffered economically in recent months in Minneapolis. We encourage all attendees to support local businesses when in town.
Explore the map below to check out local favorites, including restaurants, outdoor activities, and museums and cultural destinations. (Click here to open the map in a new webpage and here to see the list in a spreadsheet.)
Self-Guided Memorial Tour
The streets of Minneapolis hold stories that have sparked national and international movements for justice and reform. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during Operation Metro Surge in early 2026 deeply impacted the Minneapolis community.
For Designing Cities attendees who wish to engage more deeply with these events, we invite you to participate in a self-guided visit to local memorials. The tour offers a space to visit the sites where pivotal events unfolded, reflect on their long-ranging effects, and pay respects to the communities that are impacted.
Biking Routes
Biking Memorial Tour Route - All Three Sites (Google Map): This route begins and ends at the conference hotel and will take about 1 hour to bike.
Biking from the conference hotel to George Floyd Square (Google Map): This route is about a 20-minute one-way trip.
Biking from the conference hotel to Renee Good Memorial Site (Google Map): This route is about a 15-minute one-way trip.
Biking from the conference hotel to Alex Pretti Memorial Site (Google Map): This route is about a 10-minute one-way trip.
Transit Routes
Memorial Tour Route (Google Map): This route begins and ends at the conference hotel. Completing the tour on transit will take up to 3 hours and includes walks to/from the stops.
Transit from the conference hotel to George Floyd Square (Google Map): This route is about a 35-minute one-way transit trip.
Transit from the conference hotel to Renee Good Memorial Site (Google Map): This route is about a 35-minute one-way transit trip.
Transit from the conference hotel to Alex Pretti Memorial Site (Google Map): This route is about a 20-minute one-way transit trip.
Getting Around Minneapolis
Transit
Use Metro Transit’s trip planner to plan your routes through the Minneapolis region!
Discount Code
Metro Transit is offering conference attendees a free five-day transit pass, available from Monday, May 11, to Friday, May 15.
To activate the pass:
Car Share
The Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer an electric vehicle (EV) carshare called Evie.
Discount Code
Conference participants can redeem a $25 drive credit during the conference using code NACTO26.
To redeem the credit, you need to download the app and sign up for an account. This process may take up to three business days, so make sure to complete the process with enough time before you arrive in Minnesota. Learn more about the app here.
Bike Parking
Bike parking will be available for conference attendees on the corner of 2nd Avenue South and South 10th Street. Please bring your own lock.
Bike and Scooter Share
Lime and Spin both operate bike share and scooter share systems in Minneapolis. Download both apps if you're registered for a WalkShop taking place on a bike or scooter.
Discount Code
Lime is offering free rides between Monday, May 11, and Saturday, May 16, to all Designing Cities attendees. A unique promo code and redemption instructions will be sent to your registered email. You can also find full instructions here. Please note: You can only add the unique code to your Lime account starting May 11.
Spin is offering $10 in ride credit throughout the week. Attendees can use the code NACTO2026.
E-bike and Scooter Parking
Please be aware that regulations in Minneapolis require scooters and e-bikes to be locked to a public bike rack, on-street corral, or municipal signpost (except bus stop and stop signs) when parked and not in use. Rented scooters and e-bikes are outfitted with cable locks.
About Our Venue
The conference is taking place at the Hilton Minneapolis at 1001 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN.
Hotel Block
Hilton Minneapolis is offering rooms in our hotel block at a pre-negotiated rate of $249/night before taxes. Book your room by April 10, 2026.
Please contact the hotel directly with any questions or issues with reserving a room. Click here to book a room in our hotel block.
About our Venue and Hotel
We recognize that as participants plan their trips, there may be uncertainty about traveling to Minneapolis and where to stay. We are aware of concerns and calls to boycott Hilton hotels. We hope this information is helpful in making your decision on where to stay.
NACTO secures our event venue and hotel room block well in advance of our conference to ensure adequate, centrally located space for the gathering. NACTO signed the binding contract for the Hilton in June 2025.
All unsold rooms in our block directly affect NACTO’s finances. NACTO—not the Hilton—assumes all costs for any unused rooms or venue cancellations.
The Hilton Minneapolis is staffed by workers represented by Unite Here! Local 17, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Most workers represented by Unite Here! Local 17 are immigrants and/or people of color. See a full list of hotels represented by the union.