Where to stay for SPIE Photonics West 2027 in San Francisco

SPIE Photonics West is the largest annual gathering of the global optics and photonics community, held each winter at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The 2027 edition spans six days of conferences, courses, and exhibitions covering biomedical optics, industrial lasers, optoelectronic components, quantum technologies, AR/VR/MR, and embedded vision. More than 1,500 companies exhibit across two dedicated trade floors: the BiOS Expo (30–31 January) focused on biomedical optics and biophotonics, and the Photonics West Exhibition (2–4 February) covering lasers, optics, imaging, and materials. Attendees come from research institutions, OEM manufacturers, startups, and system integrators looking for the latest components, tools, and partnerships. The program includes 100+ conferences, 60+ technical courses, 30+ plenary speakers, and co-located industry events such as the SPIE Global Business Forum and the Prism Awards. With 24,000 participants expected, it is the single most important week of the year for anyone working in photonics. Given the scale of the event and San Francisco's tight winter hotel market, booking accommodation near Moscone Center several months in advance is strongly recommended.