IRSC26 Venue & Travel
This venue information has been adapted from the Research Software Engineering Conference (RSECon26). We sincerely thank the RSECon organisers for sharing their resources.
7–8 September 2026 | Sheffield, UK & online, co-located with RSECon26
IRSC26 will take place at The Wave, University of Sheffield, located on the University of Sheffield campus just outside the city centre.
Sheffield is well connected to major UK cities by rail and coach. Most attendees will stay in hotels in or near the city centre, within a short walk of the train station or bus interchange.
From London (~2h), Manchester (53m), and Leeds (45m).
The train station is a short walk from the city centre.
If you prefer not to walk to your hotel, a taxi rank is located to the left as you exit the station concourse (from the platforms).
Sheffield is served by two major coach operators, with services arriving at:
Taxi ranks near Sheffield Interchange are located on Pond Hill and Flat Street.
The closest airports to Sheffield are Manchester and Birmingham. Both are accessible to Sheffield via train.
| Airport | Route | Total time |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | Train to Manchester Piccadilly, transfer to Sheffield | ~1h 15m |
| Birmingham | Train from Birmingham International to New Street, transfer to Sheffield | ~1h 30m |
Leeds Bradford airport and East Midlands airport are a similar distance from Sheffield.
London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton airports are all connected to Sheffield by National Express coach services. Alternatively, you can take the train to Sheffield, with a change in central London.
If arriving by car, we recommend you organise parking via your hotel.
Check out Visit Sheffield’s guide to getting to Sheffield for more information.
The conference will take place at The Wave, which is located at the western end of the University of Sheffield’s campus around 30 minutes (uphill) walk from the city centre.
Address:
The Wave
University of Sheffield
2 Whitham Road
Sheffield, S10 2AH
Map
Interactive campus map (with the option to download a static version)
There are several ways to reach The Wave from the city centre, where most hotels are located.
The 51, 52, and 52a bus routes all drop off directly in front of the Wave (view on Google Maps) and run through the centre of the city. All three routes run along West Street, including a stop at the Cathedral, and the 51 also services stops on the south end of the city centre near the bus interchange.
The tram does not run directly to The Wave.
However, the Blue and Yellow lines run from Cathedral to the University of Sheffield stop (towards Middlewood on the Yellow line or Malin Bridge on the Blue). From there, it is approximately a 10-minute uphill walk to the venue.
Trams run every 15 minutes.
A taxi from the city centre takes approximately 10 minutes, depending on traffic. Taxis can be booked through your hotel or via local taxi and rideshare apps.
The postcode for the venue is S10 2AH on the University of Sheffield campus.
Important parking information
Parking near the venue is extremely limited; we encourage people to use the wide range of public transportation options for daily access to the conference. If you do need to drive, there are a number of pay-to-park garages within walking distance of the venue; the nearest option is Q park at Durham Road (which requires a short uphill walk to the Wave).
For more details, see information on visitor parking at the University of Sheffield.
The Wave is fully wheelchair accessible, with:
Limited Blue Badge parking is available at the rear of the building. Please contact info@researchsoft.org in advance to arrange access.
The Wave is fully accessible for wheelchair users and provides step-free access throughout the venue.
Detailed accessibility information can be found on the AccessAble website.
The conference has arranged access to discounted accommodation via our partner Visit Sheffield. These rooms can be booked using the conference booking portal. If you have any issues with your accommodation, please reach out to the contact information listed on the booking portal.
For more information, see Staying in Sheffield on the Visit Sheffield website.
You may require a visa or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. Please check your entry requirements in advance.
You can also check to see when your ETA expires.
Visit Sheffield has information about local attractions, food and drink, and more.