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The Tandem Meetings returns to Salt Lake City in 2026 for four full days of presentations and discussions about the latest developments in the basic and translational science of transplantation, cellular therapy and gene therapy.
This year’s host city provides several opportunities for accompanying family members and attendees.
Here are five types of attractions to keep in mind when planning your exploration of Salt Lake City.
Ski resorts
February is in the middle of peak powder season (deep, powdery snow with frequent snowfalls) for the approximately one dozen downhill skiing and snowboarding resorts along the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake City. Several other popular resorts, such as Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and Sundance Mountain, are within a one-hour drive of Salt Lake City. The city’s official tourism bureau has more details at Visit Salt Lake.
Olympic thrills
Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and will host the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sign up for a guided tour of the facilities or even race down the Olympic bobsledding track with a professional pilot at Utah Olympic Park.
Family spaces
Younger family members accompanying attendees will find plenty of amusements, including the Clark Planetarium, the Discover Gateway Children’s Museum, Hogle Zoo, which has several indoor biomes, and the Natural History Museum of Utah, where there are interactive educational stations and dinosaur bones galore.
Great dining
For eclectic, Japanese-influenced dishes, try the 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist Post Office Place a few blocks from the Salt Palace Convention Center. The city’s dining scene also includes satisfying options served up by 2025 James Beard Award “Best Chef” semifinalists at Oquirrh, Table X and Urban Hill. For a signature Utah dish, order a pastrami burger — a towering, meat-packed cross between a cheeseburger and a traditional deli pastrami sandwich. The Crown Burgers chain is one of the most popular locations for a pastrami burger, but hometown original locations in Salt Lake City include Lucky 13 and others.
Big-league games
Salt Lake City offers plenty of professional spectator-sport excitement. Cheer on the Utah Mammoth NHL hockey team against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Enjoy a basketball game as the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G league) host the San Diego Clippers on Feb. 4, and the Westchester Knicks on Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7. For a taste of the American West, you can watch the Professional Bull Riders’ 2026 Unleash the Beast tour on Feb. 6-7. If you remain in town until Monday, Feb. 9, you can catch the World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters on their global tour celebrating 100 years of athleticism and entertainment.
Photographs for this article were provided courtesy Visit Salt Lake (4), Utah Olympic Park, and Utah Mammoth.
