Welcome to Bloomington, the Pride of Indiana! This year, Conde Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure both ranked the Bloomington campus of Indiana University among the most beautiful campuses in the nation, with its collegiate gothic limestone architecture and natural features such as the Jordan River, Dunn’s Woods, and the arboretum.

In and around the Indiana Memorial Union, you’ll find bowling on the main level of the building, Whittenberger Auditorium, a 400-seat venue for movies also shown in summer (check IU Union Board Films), and a multitude of gathering spaces for puzzle-solving. Abutting the Union is the Old Crescent which features the oldest buildings on campus and the Rose Well House. The campus is anchored by the Sample Gates. Take a leisurely walk through Dunn’s Woods, a 20-acre area near the old part of the campus. Have a picnic in the arboretum at the corner of Fee Lane and East 10th Street. The Eskenazi Museum of Art is a small gallery on 10th Street.

Bloomington’s west side, just off the campus, is lively, diverse and teeming with international cuisine and activities. Check out 4th Street for your favorite cuisine or try a new one!

We will be updating and adding to this Convention Guide as we get closer to con, so make sure to check back. If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Pre-con Cookout (Picnic): Wednesday, 6:00-8:00PM in the Solarium Patio and Solarium

Meal Times:

Friday

Dinner 6:00-7:30 pm

Saturday

Breakfast 8:30-10:15 am

Lunch Noon-1:45 pm
Dinner 6:00-7:30 pm

Sunday

Breakfast 8:30-10:00 am

Hospitality Suite: Room 117 — 8 pm Wednesday to 9 pm Sunday

Convention Spaces:

Alumni Hall — 8 am Thursday to 1pm Sunday

Solarium — 6 am Wednesday to 6 pm Sunday

Georgian Room — 8 am Thursday to 6 am Sunday

Note: The Solarium Patio is reserved for us during the cookout/picnic and open to the public at other times.

Did I Register?

If you don't remember if you registered, check your email for your receipt. You'll want to search your email for "NPL Con Registration" because the receipt doesn't include the BloomingCon name.

How Do I Register a Guest?

If you are bringing somebody who will not attend the convention, they are a guest. Everybody who will be in any of our convention spaces, including our meeting rooms and the Hospitality Suite, must be registered as either an attendee or a guest, and they will receive a nomtag. This includes spouses, parents, children, assistants, etc. — anyone other than a child who is not mobile on their own. The way to register a guest is to fill out the registration form, and enter CON26-LATEGUEST (after June 22) into the Special Cases field at the bottom, then click Apply. This will change the total cost to $0. Then choose Another Method for the Pay With field, and enter "guest" in the Please note how you will be paying field. You wil have to register each guest separately.

NOTE: If you are registering your guest, make sure you are not signed into the website. If you are, it will create a record with your name and nom, not theirs. Before registering a guest, you should sign out, or use an incognito/private browsing window or a different browser. (If you mess up, let us know and we'll fix it.)

What if My Guest Wants to Attend the Picnic?

Sometimes, guests want to attend the picnic (which is actually a cookout this year) on Wednesday to hang out with attendees they know. We can arrange that! Instead of following the instructions above, they should fill out the registration form and enter CON26-LATEPICNICONLY (after June 22) into the Special Cases field at the bottom, then click Apply. The fee is $30. Check out as usual. As with guests, you will have to register each picnic attendee separately.

What if I Just Want to "Drop-In"?

While it's not possible to "drop-in" for the entire convention, locals and guests of attendees can "drop-in" for a single session Thursday or Friday night without paying and we encourage local puzzlers considering membership to do so. Thursday and Friday night sessions start at 8PM, and we recommend you touch base with a Con Host or an Ambassador when you arrive (look for the white or red ribbons, respectively, below their nomtags). If you like what you see at the session, it may be possible for a local person pay the con fee during con, in order to attend the rest of con (and join the league too). If you are interested, reach out to a con host or email bloomingcon@puzzlers.org.

How Do I See the Puzzles at the Lilly Library?

There's a whole page for that!

How Do I Tell People about my After-hours Game? Or Learn about Others?

Head on over to the Unofficial Program page for that.

How Do I Communicate with Other Attendees before Con?

If you just want to tell other krewe when you'll be arriving, the Attendance Notes page is a good spot.

Note that the picnic column on that page is not how you register for the picnic, that's just to tell others if you'll be there. The only way to register for the picnic is by registering for it (see above about finding your receipt).

If you want to chat with other krewe online before or during con, our Discord server is the way to go.

If you have an announcement that doesn't fit into any of the other categories, you can email npl-folk.

I Have Other Questions

There is a generic con faq that may answer your questions. If you still can't find what you're looking for, email the hosting committee.

BloomingCon will be held in the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU) Complex, along with the nearby Lilly Library.

The IMU Complex includes the Biddle Hotel and all our convention spaces. It's a great venue, with all of our facilities, including the Hospitality Suite, on the same floor. There are multiple lounges and other spaces to get away to near our spaces, and a number of restaurants one floor down, a brew pub, a bowling alley, and much more (see below). If you haven't gotten around to it yet, don't forget to reserve your hotel room (deadline is June 22).

Flying to Con

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is located seven miles west of Indianapolis and 54 miles north of Bloomington on 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive Indianapolis, Indiana (https://www.ind.com/)  IND has a single terminal. 

Go Express Airport Shuttle

Go Express Travel has a great bus service which will take you right to BloomingCon! The bus drops you off and picks you up right next to the entrance to the hotel.

We have negotiated a significant discount on the airport shuttle bus, normally $38 each way. The discount is $11 per ride, in addition to the online discount of $5, lowering the rate to $22. You must book online by July 1 with Go Express Travel. puzzlers.org/con2026/airport

(UPDATE July 3: It appears the discount code is still valid. We encourage to reserve your seats both way as soon as possible.)

Click Book Now and then choose the Bloomington Airport Shuttle. Enter your travel date (make sure you don’t set it May or June by mistake). Select Indianapolis International Airport (IND) for Traveling From and I.U. Memorial Union for Traveling To. On the next page, where it asks for a “Number of Bags”, note that this is for additional bags beyond the allowed bags of 1 full size bag and 1 carry-on per passenger. Finally, on the Checkout page, enter the promotional code Puzzle2026 to get the discount. You need to make two reservations, one each way. Your credit card will be charged at the time you make your reservations.

Bus schedule

From the Airport

Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday: every hour from 7:40 am to 10:40 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday: every two hours from 8:40am to 10:40 pm

To the Airport

Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday: every hour from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday: every two hours from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm

For your return trip on Sunday or Monday, note that their bus time scheduler is conservative, and won’t show you buses that will get you to the airport later than 2 hours before your scheduled flight time.

At the Indianapolis Airport, the shuttle picks up at the Ground Transportation Center located directly across from baggage claim area on the lower level of the main terminal in Zone 1 (see diagram)

At the hotel, the bus stop is in the circle drive, steps from the entrance to the Biddle hotel.

Taxis, Lyft, and Uber

We know that some people will want to take a taxi, Lyft, or Uber instead of taking the shuttle bus. We recommend against it.

The most important thing to know is that Indianapolis and Bloomington are separate cities with 55 miles of mostly country in between. Lyft and Uber cost is $150-ish one way (estimates vary from $100-200). On the way to Con, you can’t make a reservation in advance because of potential flight delays, and there are likely to be limited drivers waiting at the airport willing to make the round trip to Bloomington, coming back empty. Returning home, you will really need to make an advance reservation to ensure that you have a driver and vehicle. The worst possibility is that your return driver doesn't show up, you have to take the shuttle anyway, and you get to the airport late.

Driving

If you rent a car at the airport (it’s about 55 miles), or you’re driving through Indianapolis, there are two routes from Indianapolis to Bloomington, so take traffic conditions into consideration.

The “old” route is I-70W to IND-67 to I-69S.

The “new” (usually better) route is I-70E to I-465E to I-69S.

If you are driving from elsewhere or points unknown, your favorite Maps app is your friend. If you want any advice, don’t hesitate to reach out.

The circle drive right next to the Biddle entrance is 10-minute parking for you to unload. The parking lot is just off the circle drive to the East. Parking is $6/day with your hotel room.

Walking

BloomingCon is a very walkable con! Most of the places listed in this guide are within 1 mile of the IMU Complex and many are even closer than that. If you can walk half a mile, you shouldn't need a car in town.

Buses

Bloomington has a great public bus system. For much of the town, there is no need to have a car. Fares are $1. There is a mobile app (click on How Do I Get Set Up?), or you can pay cash (exact change).

Taxis, Lyft, and Uber

They're all available in town, which is said to be "well covered" by all three types of services, including two taxi companies.

BestRide Taxi 812-650-6482

Red Tire Taxi 812-250-8887

Pharmacies

The Market in the IMU Complex has a number of over-the-counter medications and healthcare products available. For late-night emergencies (that sudden headache), there is a healthcare vending machine on the lower level, available 24 hours.

CVS has several full-service pharmacies nearby. The closest is 121 E Kirkwood Ave (0.7 miles, 10 minute walk), open 8-10 everyday. They also have a 24-hour pharmacy at 2701 E 3rd St (2.3 miles, 10 minute drive).

Urgent Care / Emergency Room / Hospital

The closest hospital is on campus, 2.5 miles away, and is open 24 hours. 2651 E Discovery Pkwy.

ATMs

The closest ATMs are:

• Circle K, 527 E 3rd St (Allpoint Network)

• IU Credit  Union, 300 N Walnut St (CO-OP Network)

Some online sources will tell you there is an ATM in the Biddle Lobby; there is not.

There are so many dining options —  in theIMU Complex, on campus, and nearby in town — that we've created an entire page just for restaurants.

The IMU Complex has pretty liberal policies with regard to outside food, but there are a few limitations:

• During mealtimes, the only outside food that is allowed is from IMU restaurants and stores (exception: food required for special dietary needs).

• Outside of meal times, snacks and drinks from Hospitality and elsewhere can also be brought into our three main meeting rooms (Alumni Hall, Solarium, Georgian), in addition to food from IMU restaurants and stores, but other "real food" cannot be brought into those spaces.

• You can bring any food into common areas in the IMU, such as the lounges. This includes food you have delivered or that you pick up outside the IMU, as well as all food listed above.

Also note that water bottles are allowed at all times, and there are filling stations in several locations where you can refill water bottles. We encourage you to bring a refillable water bottle.

NOTE: We are anticipating there will be 220 con attendees. If you want every attendee to be able to get a copy, we recommend making 225 or more copies.

Mr. Copy

We have secured a 10% NPL discount from Mr. Copy, which already has the best prices in town and offers free delivery to the Biddle at 5:30 pm each weekday. They specialize in bulk printing and do not make single copies or have self-service copying.

Sample discount pricing (plus 7% sales tax):
B&W 225 copies single-sided $40.50
B&W 225 copies double-sided $81.00
Color 225 copies single-sided $112.50
Color 225 copies double-sided $225.00
Small orders are $.25 per side with a $10 minimum

Here's how to order and get the discount. Email a PDF to orders@copysales.com with how many copies you want and any special instructions (b&w/color, single/double sided, stapling, folding, colored paper), mention that it is for the NPL conference, and request delivery to The Biddle (if you need help creating a PDF, Qoz and nmHz have volunteered to help). Mr. Copy will send you an online invoice that you pay on your phone or computer. All orders for each day will get delivered together but will be individually wrapped with your name.

In addition to white paper and cardstock, they have ivory, white, pastel blue, and hot pink. Corner stapling is available for multi-page sets. They can also do 11x17 folded and saddle stapled as a booklet. If you want a quote for your order or a special request, ask for one in your email.

Order by Monday, July 6th for Tuesday delivery at 5:30pm.
Order by Tuesday, July 7th for Wednesday delivery at 5:30pm.

If you have a paper original and need to drop it off in person (discount doesn't apply), they are at 501 E 10th St (7 blocks away, 11 minute walk) and their hours are 9 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday, closed weekends. You can also pick up an order, but they prefer to deliver all our orders together.

Other Options

If you only need a copy or two of something, Biddle hotel front desk staff can help you. If you need a small amount of self-service copying, the Herman B Wells Library is a 15 minute walk, and you can get guest access to their copiers (see info on visitor services). 8 am-8 pm Monday to Thursday, 8am-5 pm Friday, noon-5 pm Saturday.

If you need more flexible self-service options, or you need copying outside of Mr. Copy's hours, there is a FedEx Office at 318 S College Mall Rd, 2.2 miles (9 minute drive), 8 am-7 pm weekdays, 9 am-6 pm Saturday.

In addition to convention spaces, the lounges, and the restaurants, the IMU also has a bookstore and a convenience store. 

The IMU has a bowling alley on the Main level (one floor down) with12 bowling lanes, 9 pool tables, snooker, air hockey and 4 Killerspin table tennis tables. Open Thursday - Sunday, 5 - 10 pm. 

The Indiana University Book Store is down the hall on our convention floor. Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm; Saturday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm; Sunday, closed.

Eskenazi Art Museum

(mostly free)
Open Tuesday-Sunday noon- 5 pm 

Rania Matar: Where Do I Go? (FREE) Photographer Rania Matar confronts the legacy of the Lebanese Civil War and Lebanon’s ongoing crises through intimate portraits of women taken throughout the country’s picturesque landscapes and crumbling architecture. Matar collaborates with the young women of Lebanon to collectively commemorate the present and reimagine the future of a country defined by half a century of conflict and catastrophe.

The Art of the Party in Ancient Greece and Rome The Art of the Party in Ancient Greece and Rome highlights the work of fifteen first-year undergraduates.

Textiles that Travel: Nomadic Living in Africa Examining the role of textiles—blankets, tents, and clothing—among nomadic cultures. It explores how cloth acts as a portable medium to foster such uses for people pursuing itinerant lifestyles.

Fashioned by Women: Indonesian Clothing Dyed and handwoven attire made since the nineteenth century across multiple cultures in the Indonesian archipelago. It explores the significant contributions of women artists to create these stunning garments and recognizes their artistry as fashionable dress.

Migration and Memory: Three Immigrant Artists During America’s 250th anniversary, we celebrate how immigrants have shaped American art and culture. Featuring the work of Marc Klionsky, Gunther Aron, and Hannelore Baron, Jewish artists who fled the Nazi and Soviet regimes for the United States.

Kinsey Institute

The Kinsey Institute on Sex, Gender, and Reproduction is located in Lindley Hall behind the IMU, visits by appointment, Monday - Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Beebe Gallery and reading room

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Admission free
416 N Indiana Avenue (5 minute walk)

Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 5:30 pm; Saturday noon - 5:30; closed Sunday and Monday

City on the River is the culmination of several years of close partnership and collaboration with the Angel Mounds Exhibition Advisory Council, which includes members of living Indigenous descendant communities ancestrally connected to the site and for whom the site still holds significance. The exhibition tells the story of the People who lived at the Angel Mounds site through material culture from the site, an immersive virtual reality experience, connections to the stories of contemporary culture-bearers, and art from Indigenous descendant communities.

Shipwrecks: Living Museums is an immersive archaeological exhibition developed in partnership with the IU Center for Underwater Science. Shipwrecks from Indiana’s Lake Michigan and the Caribbean are presented, revealing global commerce, technology and cultural exchange through a maritime lens. Indiana shipwrecks Muskegon and JD Marshall highlight Indiana’s maritime landscape from the 19th century to the present. Caribbean shipwreck sites, the Punta Espada Shipwreck and the Nuestra Señora de Begoña, highlight 16th-18th century international trade and smuggling practices.

Whispers from the Divide Arthur Liou’s video installation seeks to encapsulate the tangible and intangible barriers between the US-Mexico border. Through a series of pilgrimages to key locations along the border, Liou records a first-person journey and offers an immersive experience that transcends mere observation. The bilingual Spanish and English exhibition features an interactive space where guests and community members can share their personal experiences of the US-Mexico border.

The Journey of Women: Yemeni Jewelry and Social Growth Featuring silver jewelry and textiles created for and worn by women from various regions of Yemen, this exhibit showcases the meticulous craftsmanship of skilled silversmiths who passed their techniques down through generations. The exhibition recognizes the social capital of Yemeni women through their material culture and explores how this, in turn, influences their identities and the transition from girlhood to womanhood, all while preserving their cultural heritage.

More exhibits: https://iumaa.iu.edu/exhibits/current-exhibitions/index.html

IU Outdoor Pool 

(22 minute walk; 5 minute drive)
1490 N Fee Ln, Bloomington, IN 47408 

https://outdoorpool.indiana.edu/visit-us/index.html

Day passes $8; twilight passes for 5 pm and later $5
Children under 15 must have parental supervision

Hours:

Monday–Thursday: 

Lap Swim (7 am–9 pm)

Open Swim (1–6 pm)

Deck Lounge (7 am–9 pm)

Friday: 

Lap Swim (7 am–8 pm)

Open Swim (1–6 pm)

Deck Lounge (7 am–8 pm)

Saturday–Sunday: 

Lap Swim (12–6 pm)

Open Swim (1–6 pm)

• Lap swim: designated lap lanes available in 50M pool

• Open swim: five lap lanes, the instructional pool, open area in lap pool, and diving boards all available

• Deck lounge: sunbathe and relax on the pool deck before or after you swim.

Biology Building Greenhouse

Biology Building, 1001 E 3rd St Room 139 (6 minute walk)

Admission free; all ages welcome with supervision

Open Monday – Friday 7:30 am – 3:45 pm

Cox Arboretum

(7 minute walk)

The Cox Arboretum is "an 11-acre oasis of beauty" with a collection of trees and plants from around the world. You can find a pond, a gazebo, walking paths, and the Metz Carillon Tower. 

Bloomington has two locally run and highly-rated escape rooms in the downtown area with exclusively original rooms. They are both about one mile from the Biddle and easily accessible by bus. Note that parking can be difficult in the downtown area.

Get Out Bloomington, 101 W Kirkwood Ave #113, is a "pretty dang awesome" place with three rooms and one outdoor "adventure." 4.6 stars on Yelp, 4.9 stars on Google. They are opening early from 10-12 Wednesday to Friday just for con attendees (these extra times won't be online, so you must call 812-214-1497 to book). They are also open Sunday after noon. Get Out Bloomington is offering con attendees a 10% discount for rooms booked by phone or in-person with your nomtag. Bring your nomtag when you go. Unfortunately, their online registration system doesn't support the discount.

Hoosier Escape House, 933 N Walnut St, brings over ten years of experience to their four original rooms, including their newest "Hoosier Hysteria". 4.8 stars on Yelp, 4.8 stars on Google. They are opening early on the Wednesday to Friday of BloomingCon, starting at 10 am. They are also open Sunday from 1 pm. Hoosier Escape House is offering con attendees a $5 discount per booking. Click Book Now for the room and time you want, then Apply Promo Code or Voucher, then use code BLOOM26 for the discount. 

If you want to venture beyond the campus, here are some activities Bloomington offers that are walkable or require a car.

In Walking Distance

Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Kirkwood Avenue

The Comedy Attic, 123 S. Walnut

Bluebird, live music for adults 21 and over, 216 N.Walnut

Requires a Car

Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Culture Center, 3655 S. Snoddy Rd, Bloomington

Oliver Winery, north of Bloomington about 18 minutes on Ind. 37

Lake Monroe boat rental, rentals@lakemonroeboatrental.com

T.C. Steele Historic Site, noteworthy Hoosier artist, 25 minutes east of Bloomington

Nashville, Indiana, arts village, galleries, and boutiques, 31 miles, follow Ind. 46 east

Stone Creek Ranch for horseback riding, 7587 Rockport Rd, Bloomington, stonecreekranchindiana.com

Other Resources

Request a Bloomington visitor guide visitbloomington.com/visitor-guide

Bloomington’s Most Unique Attractions: visitbloomington.com/blog/stories/post/bloomingtons-most-unique-attractions