Lockfest 2026 At-Con Information - The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers

Venue Information

Lockfest 2026 will take place entirely within the Washington Ballroom of the Doubletree by Hilton Washington DC (Crystal City). This room is on the Lobby floor (L on the elevator), diagonal from the hotel check-in desk, up the escalators from the Lower Lobby (LL on the elevator) valet/bellhop area.

Parking fee is normally $51/day on this property. Lockfest attendees will be charged a reduced $29/day when either:

1) Parking is attached to a guest room, booked in the Lockfest room block (this also grants in/out privileges)

2) Parking is paid for with a voucher ticket, available at the Registration table.

Items can be rolled in through the lobby, though it is asked that you avoid rolling heavy things across any carpeted areas of the lobby itself. No priceless/valuable/irreplaceable/etc items should be left unattended (especially overnight) in the Washington ballroom, as it cannot be fully secured.

Photography Policy

Lockfest requires all participants to be respectful of the privacy of others. Badge ribbons indicating “no photos please” will be provided for any and all participants who would rather not have their face shown in any photos or videos. Taking photos including the partial or full face of anyone displaying one of these ribbons is strictly forbidden, and is grounds for requiring deletion of photos. Repeated violations is grounds for removal with no refund.

Surreptitious recording devices (including but not limited to Meta glasses) are strictly forbidden. Use or wearing of surreptitious recording devices at Lockfest is grounds for removal with no refund.

TOOOL may have an official photographer roaming the space, this photographer will respect the “no photos please” ribbons.

Schedule

Thursday evening
7:00pm – 10:00pm | Pre-registration

Saturday
09:00am | -space open-
10:00am | Introduction to Locksmithing – Andrew B & Zane Conrad
01:00pm | TOOOL US Open Lockpicking Championship
>Qualifying, Semi-finals, and Finals – TOOOL
05:00pm | The Knox Box: A Less Brief History – M. ÓReilly
^Note that there is an error in the con-book, the correct time is 05:00pm.
07:00pm | Remove ALL The Cores! – Joshua Higgins
^Note that there is an error in the con-book, the correct time is 07:00pm.
11:45pm | -space closed-

Sunday
09:00am | -space open-
10:00am | One Lock, Six Missions – Pat Watson
12:30pm | Closing ceremony – TOOOL
01:00pm | -space closed-

Neighborhood

There are many options for sustaining life and finding amusement in and around the DoubleTree hotel.

Within the DoubleTree itself, there are a few options:
Cafe Restaurant – A breakfast-only spot, offering a selection of food made-to-order from 7:00am until 10:30am, right next to the Washington Ballroom.
The Lobby Bar – A bar offering some basic American fare (burgers, steak, salmon, etc) within the hotel lobby itself, open from 4:30pm until 11:00pm.
Skydome Restaurant – A revolving rooftop restaurant, offering upscale tapas, entrees, and craft cocktails from 5:00pm until 10pm, closed on Mondays.
Made Market – A small coffee shop, offering espresso etc, light meals and convenience items from 6:00am until 11:00pm.
In-room dining – For attendees staying in the hotel, room service is an option between 6:00am and 10:00am, and 11:00am to 11:00pm.

For those who desire a different value or diversity of food, here is a non-comprehensive list of options:

Whole Foods Market and Deli – one block away, about a 4 minute walk
A small upscale (mostly) organic grocery store, offering some packaged food and beverage options, with some indoor and outdoor seating.
Whole Foods is owned and operated by Amazon, open from 7:00am until 10:00pm.

Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters – one block away, about a 5 minute walk
A local specialty coffee roaster serving espresso, hot, and cold brews, as well as a small selection of pastries and food.
Commonwealth Joe is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.

South Block – Two blocks away, about a 5 minute walk
A craft smoothie shop offering acai bowls, loaded toasts, and some light grab-and-go options.
South Block is open from 8:00am until 8:00pm.

Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
A large shopping mall with over 150 units spanning two city blocks, this facility can deliver miles of indoor-walking fun!
Fashion Centre itself is open from 10am until 9pm on Monday through Saturday, open 11:00am until 6:00pm on Sunday.
Hours vary by individual stores within.