Image credit: All images provided courtesy of Steve Granados Lopez
Ever wonder what a day at SIGGRAPH is really like?
ACM SIGGRAPH Membership and Communications Committee member Steve Granados Lopez spent the day exploring sessions, connecting with community members, meeting industry legends, and discovering everything from robots and real-time technology to an impressive collection of tote bags. Follow along as he takes us through a typical (or perhaps not-so-typical) day at SIGGRAPH 2026 in Los Angeles.
6:30 am
Steve Granados Lopez (SGL): Good morning SIGGRAPH, my name is Steve Granados Lopez, a member of the ACM SIGGRAPH Membership and Communications Committee, and today I will be walking you through a day in the life at SIGGRAPH!
Today is gonna be like any other day — jam-packed and a lot of walking. So here we go!
After getting ready, I had to stop to get some breakfast. Saw a French bakery named the Paris Baguette! Got myself a chocolate croissant and a garlic sausage pastry. And coffee to start the day off. All I can say is that it was delicious!
7:30 am
SGL: Enjoying the walk, seeing the scenery and how beautiful the convention center looks. It’s so shiny, so elegant!
8 am
SGL: At the conference, one of the responsibilities I have is to help get our booth ready (ACM SIGGRAPH Village Booth — come check us out!). So to everyone reading, hello and good morning from the Membership and Communications Committee!
9 am
SGL: Went to my first session of the day, an Educator’s Forum! It was very interesting to hear from the professors from the University of Southern California on the course they are teaching about not using a game engine instead of using coding.
SGL: Quick shout-out to the Student Volunteers who were stationed at the panel. I had to take a selfie with them! They make sure everything runs smoothly, so hats off to you guys for doing the hard work!
9:30 am
SGL: Anything can happen at SIGGRAPH, but I couldn’t have imagined getting photobombed by a robot!
9:40 am
SGL: On my way to the Exhibition, I had another surprise: Jim Blinn! It was an honor to meet him.
9:50 am
SGL: Ten minutes before the Exhibition opens! Time to relax before things get chaotic.
10-11:30 am
SGL: What can I say, it was very exciting and wild! There’s a booth for everyone: Dell, Autodesk, Wacom, and many more!
SGL: This experience is way more fun with a friend! Say hello to my friend and teammate from the Membership and Communications Committee, Theresa!
SGL: We went and explored what the Exhibition had to offer, fought robots (fake ones), and got totes! #Toteswithtotes
SGL: Definitely recommend it, and for the free totes … I think I might have overdone it.
12:45-1:45 pm
SGL: Afterwards, I went to see a compilation of short films from the Computer Animation Festival Animation Theater. It’s always a blast to see the emotions, hard work, and talent that these films have to showcase. It was amazing!
2-3 pm
SGL: I had a chance to head to the swag swap! Free donations and opportunities to get some new merch! Of course I had to grab some.
SGL: When I was there, there were so many legends who have attended SIGGRAPH throughout the years. Like my good friend Lou Harrison, who is also a SIGGRAPH Pioneer! Take a look at his pin collection — heads up that it’s only a small part of his collection, as he has told me.
SGL: I think I might have gone overboard again…
2-3 pm
SGL: Went to the Experience Hall, there’s always something here that catches my eye … Be it the babies that talk to you or the TV antenna that needs some adjusting.
5:30 pm
SGL: Finally, after this long, packed day, it was time to get in line for the Real-Time Live! event!
6 pm
SGL: I was left speechless by what I saw. Generative AI to create your own assets in minutes, seeing how easy it is to make and adjust hair on the fly, or how far technology has come along with dissecting humans. And even Olaf was there to join the fun! There’s no telling what you’ll see at SIGGRAPH.
7 pm
SGL: Just like that, another day at SIGGRAPH 2026 comes to a close. Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow has in store!
This is what I love most about conferences like these: The people who create, the people you meet, and the people you come to cherish. All of that, gathered in one place. That’s what makes SIGGRAPH so special.
There’s still plenty to discover across SIGGRAPH 2026. Whether you’re interested in technical content, emerging technologies, community events, exhibitions, or networking opportunities, Thursday’s program offers one last chance to make the most of your SIGGRAPH experience.
Be sure to review the full schedule and plan your day before heading to the Los Angeles Convention Center. We look forward to seeing you at the conference as we close out another memorable year of learning, innovation, and connection at SIGGRAPH 2026.
