HISTORY
The Rust programming language is built by a thriving global community of open source maintainers, programmers, and enthusiasts working across a vast array of industries and domains. Rustaceans – and their ideas – are making Rust a powerful tool for a changing technological landscape.
Since 2016, Rustaceans have gathered each year at RustConf: the community’s largest annual conference dedicated to discussions and content about the Rust programming language and the open source software ecosystem. Over the years, RustConf has been hosted and organized by an external event management company and passionate community organizers. We are grateful to them for establishing RustConf as an unmissable annual gathering!
2024 HOST
For the first time in 2024, RustConf was hosted by the Rust Foundation in beautiful Montreal, Canada and online. As the nonprofit steward of the Rust programming language and community, the Rust Foundation was honored to use its resources to scale the event.
LOCATION
With its location in Eastern North America, Montreal is accessible to many Rustaceans in the United States, Canada, and across the Atlantic Ocean, though we were pleased to welcome attendees from all over the world. By hosting RustConf 2024 in Montreal, we had the opportunity to host new faces who might have previously been unable to attend events in the West Coast of the U.S.
RustConf 2024 took place at the historic St. James Theatre in the central International District of Montreal — a building filled with interesting details and stories.
The 2025 location has yet to be announced. Tune back in soon for updates!
2024 Travel Info
Visas
Attendees from some countries might require a travel visa to visit Canada. We encourage each attendee to research their specific travel requirements in advance using the Visit Canada portal, as visa application and approval processes can take weeks to months.
If you will require a travel visa from the Canadian government to join us at RustConf, an official letter of invitation from us might strengthen your application and, in some cases, might be a requirement. You can request an official RustConf invitation letter by filling out this form. We will aim to follow up with you in approximately one week or less.
Note: Obtaining an invitation letter from the Rust Foundation will not guarantee visa approval. The Rust Foundation cannot provide advice on visa application processes.
Transit
Nearest International Airport: Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport YUL (website)
Nearest Metro Station: Place d’Armes (website)
Nearest Bus Stop: René-Lévesque / Jeanne-Mance
Parking: While there is no visitor parking at the St. James Theatre, there are several different daily parking garages in the area. The “Stationnement Indigo Montreal M183” lot at 500 Place d’Armes is just 260 meters away — approximately three minutes on foot. 12 hour passes can be obtained for approx. $22, tax included.
YUL Airport to RustConf Travel Times:
- By car: Approx. 40 minutes (— please note that travel times between the airport and city center vary widely depending on traffic patterns. The road to YUL airport from city center is notoriously congested, so you will want to leave yourself plenty of time to catch your return flight. Click here to find car rental companies operating through YUL airport if you prefer to rent a car.
- By hotel shuttle: Approx. 60 minutes. Some hotels might offer a free shuttle service to/from YUL airport. Here is a list of hotels offering shuttle service at YUL.
- By bus+metro: Approx. 40 minutes, depending on service schedule and time. Learn more.
IMPORTANT: Before your departure from Montreal, please ensure that you have reviewed the “YUL Guide” — it contains a number of helpful tips to ensure your journey through the airport is as smooth and fast as possible. YUL recommends that all international travelers embarking on their return journey arrive no less than three hours prior to their departing time due to high wait times. The airport offers an “express” service that speeds up your passage through the security line. Learn more here.
YUL Airport to RustConf Transit Options:
- Rideshare: If you use Uber, you can easily catch a ride from YUL to city center on the arrivals level at door 20 or 28.
- Taxis: You can order a Taxi at YUL to city center at the arrivals level (door 23) where a dispatcher will assist you.
- Public Transit: The 747 line runs between YUL Montréal-Trudeau airport, Lionel-Groulx and Berri-UQAM metro stations and the Gare d’Autocars de Montréal. The fare is $11 for unlimited travel throughout the STM bus and metro network and is valid for 24 consecutive hours. Plan your route here and learn more about payment here. This line is wheelchair accessible.
Hotels
The St. James Theatre is located in the heart of old Montreal. You’ll find a number of hotels to suit your needs, but we recommend you book soon!
There is no hotel room block for RustConf. All visitors are free to select their own hotel/lodging to suit their needs in Montreal. Here is an short list of hotels close to RustConf:
LHotel Montreal: Directly across the street from our venue! $$$
Le Westin Montreal: 220 meters from RustConf. Approx. 2 minute walk. $$$$
Hotel Épik Montreal: 450 meters from RustConf. Approx. 5 minute walk. $$
DoubleTree by Hilton Montreal: 750 meters. Approx. 10 minute walk $$
The Sonder Group also offers a number of more affordable studios in the area. For more information, click here.
Accessibility
Our venue is in the historic district of Montreal — an area developed before the advent of adequate accessibility features. While Montreal has invested heavily in retrofitting buildings, sidewalks, and public walkways, cobblestone streets can still be found in many areas.
To accommodate any RustConf guests requiring wheelchair or scooter access, we are installing a ramp up the entrance stairs to the St. James. Although the St. James does not have an accessible restroom already installed, we have rented an accessible portable restroom which will be located just outside the building.
2024 Schedule Breakdown
You can find the 2024 RustConf schedule here. Below is a basic breakdown of the week’s programming to inform your travels.
Tuesday: Optional workshops from approximately 10am-5pm.
Wednesday-Thursday: Main RustConf days. Opening remarks at approx. 9:30am. Closing keynote at approx. 5:30pm
Friday: Optional UnConference and Rust Global events. Running from approx. 9am until approx. 3pm.
We will also host an evening drinks reception on Wednesday evening. You will be given drink tickets at check-in. Make sure to hold onto them!
Register for RustConf Email Updates
If you would like to receive email updates about RustConf (including memos about the CFP, speaker announcements, registration, and more) please sign up using this form.