Celebrating its 10th year, Blavity’s annual AfroTech Conference will once again be in Houston, promising new levels of career insight, community building, and culture.
As always, Travel Noire has you covered with everything you need to know about flying in for the world’s largest Black tech conference. Last year, over 40,000 young professionals and industry changemakers gathered in Houston for a multi-day series of face-to-face networking with recruiters, like-minded innovators, and future-forward businesses.
This year’s 10th-anniversary event, taking place November 2 – 6 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, will expand on the conference’s mission. If you didn’t know, the AfroTech Conference is a space where “people of all backgrounds come together to celebrate Black excellence, share knowledge, spark innovation, and build meaningful connections.” Moreover, attendees have access to the conference’s culturally nuanced career conversations, as well as celebrations.
Those attending for the first time should first know that Houston has two main airports. Which one you fly into and out of can definitely impact your travel, so be mindful when selecting your flights.
Should You Fly Into George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for AfroTech?
This year’s festivities at the George R. Brown Convention Center are just under 20 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The benefit of flying in there is that it’s a larger flight hub and it offers more nonstop, direct options. It’s also a major hub for United Airlines, if that’s your preferred carrier.
If you don’t want to rideshare, public transportation includes the METRO Downtown Direct 500 bus that runs every 30 minutes. The bus ride can be caught at IAH’s Terminal E and goes into the city’s downtown area. Travelers could also take the Bush IAH 102 bus, which can be caught at Terminal C, but may be a longer ride depending on where it is downtown that they’re going. Either ride will be around an hour.
It’s generally more expensive to taxi or rideshare into the city center from George Bush Intercontinental. You can expect to pay under $50 for your ride, not including tip.
Should You Fly Into William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) For AfroTech?
The AfroTech Conference will be around 10 miles from Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The spot is a huge Southwest Airlines hub — so you can snag a direct or connected flight if flying with the carrier. While it’s closer to downtown, it’s smaller than IAH. That means some flyers will have limited flight options to HOU.
A bus ride from the closer airport into downtown Houston is around 45 minutes. Travelers at HOU can also hop onto the METRO Downtown Direct 500’s route. Taxis or rideshares are about $40 or less, not including tip.
What Else Should Attending Visitors Know?
Remember to consider your Houston accommodation and its proximity to both the airport you’ll be flying into and the conference itself. The 2026 AfroTech Conference has once again partnered with the hotel room block management platform Resiada, its official housing vendor for the event, to offer the best rates in Houston. Booking through Resiada for AfroTech offers travelers a dedicated support team and a book-now, pay-later option.
Some of the bookable hotels for the conference include the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Medical Center Hotel & Suites, Hotel ICON, and the InterContinental Houston by IHG. All three are within a 20-minute car ride to the conference’s location. Nightly rates for the 19 hotels currently available through Resiada for AfroTech are $349.00 or less per night.
Taxis, rideshares, public transportation, and car rental services are options for getting around, regardless of where you fly in.
What’s Going Down At This Year’s AfroTech?
As noted, attendees can expect to network, build community, learn, and attend events in collaboration with the conference’s industry-leading partners. In line with the magnitude of the conference’s 10th anniversary, there will be 300 speakers and 11 stages. In addition to business executives from BET, Delta Air Lines, Amazon Web Services, and more, there will be high-profile names across the entertainment industry, healthcare, and politics. The full lineup and schedule are yet to be announced.
Outside the conference, Houston is a multicultural city and dining destination that’s filled with speakeasies, brunch spots, and Black-owned restaurants. If you’re a history buff, you may enjoy taking yourself on a tour of the city’s Black landmarks. And if you’re into shopping, you’ll definitely want to visit The Galleria, Montrose Collective, and River Oaks.
Tickets for this year’s AfroTech Conference are available now. In addition to general and all-access offerings, there are also specific ticket options for students, executives, those interested in the intersection of medicine and tech, and those seeking AI training.
