Below are some answers to frequently asked questions, plus information about hotel accommodations and travel.
We’ll host this year’s Independent News Sustainability Summit from September 9-11, 2026, at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside at 1355 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA.
We’ve reserved a block of rooms at the Wyndham at discounted rates of $199 per night for a Standard room, $219 per night for a Skyline View room, and $239 per night for a Bay View room. Use our booking link to ensure you receive our discounted rate. If you encounter any issues or have questions about your stay, please contact Cinthya Quintana directly at CQuintana@wyndhamsandiego.com, and be sure to mention the LION Summit! This room block will be available until we sell out or August 11.
Please email summit@lionpublishers.com if you have any other questions that have not been addressed; we’ll continue to update this page as we get closer to the event!
Venue and transportation
We’ll host the 2026 Independent News Sustainability Summit from September 9-11, 2026, at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside, 1355 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA.
The LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner will be held on the evening of September 9, 2026, at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside, 1355 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA.
The Wyndham San Diego Bayside offers a shuttle to and from San Diego International Airport. This shuttle runs daily, every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (stopping at midnight). Please follow the signs towards the courtesy shuttle pickup area at the airport. Look for a white van with blue lettering that says "Wyndham San Diego Bayside." Reservations are not required.
Uber and Lyft services are also available in the city.
Yes! Discounted self-parking rates: $50/night or $12/hour for daily parking (after five hours, $50/day)
Yes! We’ve reserved a block of rooms at the Wyndham at discounted rates of $199 per night for a Standard room, $219 per night for a Skyline View room, and $239 per night for a Bay View room. Book your room using this link to ensure you receive a discounted LION rate. This room block will be available until we sell out or August 11, 2026.
Registration
You can attend just the Summit, just the LION Awards, or both! If you want to attend both, you must purchase a Summit ticket and a LION Awards ticket.
No, your Summit ticket only provides access to the Summit sessions. You must purchase an additional $150 ticket to attend the LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner.
Early-bird tickets: Early-bird pricing is available to LION members for the first 120 registrants or until April 30. To help ensure an equitable process, each LION member may purchase up to two early-bird Summit tickets. Early-bird tickets are nonrefundable. If you plan to send a group larger than two and register during our early-bird promotion, you can select two early-bird tickets along with any additional regular tickets you may need (these are available at the same time).
- Summit Ticket: Early-Bird (LIONs-Only, All Sizes): $200
Regular, sliding-scale tickets: This year, regular Summit tickets are available to LION members and non-members on a sliding scale based on your org size (last year’s annual revenue). Students receive a discounted rate, and if you’re an individual, contractor, or consultant, you’ll receive the same rate as Micro/Small orgs.
- Summit Ticket: Micro/Small Org (Revenue less than $500k): $375
- Summit Ticket: Medium/Large Org (Revenue more than $500k): $500
- Summit Ticket: Individual/Freelancer/Consultant: $375
- Summit Ticket: Student: $175
Regular tickets are eligible for our refund policy. If you’re unsure you’ll be able to attend the event, we recommend buying a regular Summit ticket (instead of an early-bird ticket, if you're a LION member), since it’s covered by our refund policy.
If you’re a sponsor, speaker, volunteer, LION Awards finalist or judge, or special guest of the 2026 Summit and/or LION Awards, contact Hayley Milloy at summit@lionpublishers.com for specific registration instructions.
If you attended either of our earlier Summits (2022 in Austin and 2024 in Chicago), you may recall that we didn’t limit the number of early-bird tickets available; we simply set a deadline for when you needed to purchase them. For our 2025 St. Louis event, we offered a limited early-bird option, capping it at 100 tickets and opening it to both LION members and non-members. We sold out of those early-bird tickets within several weeks, which is one reason we increased the number from 100 to 120 for 2026.
Also new this year, we’ve made our early-bird Summit tickets available only to LION members to ensure as many members as possible can attend and take advantage of the discount. While we wish we could open this opportunity to everyone, this allows us to prioritize our members while staying within budget.
As an organization that champions sustainability and the implementation of scalable, sustainable practices, we’re dedicated to producing an incredible event that covers costs while making it as accessible and affordable as possible for our attendees. We hope that the regular, sliding-scale Summit ticket allows organizations to pay what they can afford, based on last year’s revenue.
Each year, we evolve our ticketing strategy based on what we’ve learned, and we’re always open to feedback. For questions or concerns about changes to our ticket structure, please contact summit@lionpublishers.com. We’re happy to hear from you.
The early-bird Summit tickets are reserved for staff members of active LION member organizations. You should see your news business listed on this page if you are an active LION member. If you don’t see your news business listed, please contact membership@lionpublishers.com.
If a LION member organization has no full-time staff, up to two board members may purchase an early-bird Summit ticket. If it has only one full-time staff member, one board member may purchase an early-bird Summit ticket. Board committees (outside the BOD) and advisory boards do not qualify for this exception. We appreciate your understanding, as we have a limited number of these tickets available!
If a LION member purchases an early-bird Summit ticket and a LION Awards ticket, we estimate the total cost per person to be ~$1,630, excluding fees/applicable taxes.
- Summit ticket: $200
- Awards Ceremony & Dinner ticket: $150
- Travel: Estimated $500 maximum for a round-trip flight
- Lodging: Estimated $600, excluding taxes, for three nights at the Wyndham (traveling Tuesday, leaving Friday afternoon) at the $199/night rate
- Meals: $180 (about $30/meal for a total of three breakfasts, two dinners, and misc. snacks)
We are offering a limited number of complimentary Summit tickets to confirmed speakers, as well as one complimentary LION Awards ticket to each finalist organization.
Additionally, we plan to provide travel stipends to a limited number of LION members to help offset travel costs (including lodging and/or flights). We will provide more details on that soon.
We will offer full refunds up to 30 days before the event start date for regular Summit and LION Awards tickets (please note that early-bird tickets are nonrefundable unless you purchase one and later become a speaker).
If you request a refund because your ability to attend has changed, we will refund the ticket cost; we will not refund the original service/processing fee. If you request a refund because we are providing a complimentary ticket (e.g., for speakers or sponsors), we will refund the full cost of the ticket plus the service/processing fee. The refund cut-off date is Monday, August 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. Please also note that tickets are nontransferable.
No, Summit and LION Awards tickets are nontransferable.
Yes, we will give complimentary Summit tickets to confirmed session speakers. If you purchase a ticket and later commit to being a speaker, we will refund your ticket, even if you purchased an early-bird ticket.
Yes, we will provide complimentary LION Awards tickets to LION Awards finalists. One complimentary ticket will be given per organization, even if an organization is nominated for multiple awards.
Absolutely! Even if you can’t attend in person, we encourage you to participate in the 2026 LION Sustainability Awards. And if you win a LION Award (or several!), our hosts can read a statement on your behalf (collected in advance from all LION Awards finalists).
Yes, of course! There is no age minimum, and anyone with a ticket is welcome to attend.
When you register for the Summit and/or LION Awards, you will have the opportunity to indicate whether you would like to access, and be included in, our attendee list that is shared with fellow attendees. If you opt in, you can view the complete attendee list, browse attendee profiles, and network with others. Your email and cell phone number will remain hidden from other attendees in the app. Additionally, LION will never share its members’ or attendees’ personal contact information with vendors or any other third party.
Programming
- Leaders of independent news publications. We define a leader as CEO/executive director, founder, publisher, editor, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, or equivalent.
- Anyone who works for an independent news publication. Attendees have told us that sending team members who work on the business side has been a valuable experience for them.
- Supporters of independent news publications. This includes vendors, coaches, and consultants who serve publishers, individual donors, news funders, local news enthusiasts, and those who work for other journalism-support organizations.
- Educators, students, and soon-to-be news entrepreneurs. This event is a great opportunity to connect with local news leaders and others who care deeply about the future of independent journalism.
Yes! Your Summit ticket includes three catered hot lunches, along with coffee, hot tea, and soft drinks throughout the day. You'll also get a drink ticket for our LION Awards Social Hour, scheduled right before the LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner. Your LION Awards ticket includes a three-course plated meal.
*You do not need a LION Awards ticket to attend the LION Awards Social Hour.
We’ll share a more complete schedule in the coming months, but for now, here’s a sense of how we’re structuring the event (subject to change):
- Wednesday, September 9
- Registration will open at 8 a.m.
- Opening Keynote will begin at 12 p.m.
- Summit programming will run until about 4:30 p.m.
- LION Awards Social Hour will begin at 5:30 p.m.
- LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner will run from about 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Thursday, September 10
- Registration will open at 8 a.m.
- Summit programming will run between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- After-hours programming TBD, but likely from 5-10 p.m.
- Friday, September 11
- Registration will open at 8 a.m.
- Summit programming will run between 9 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
During registration, you will be asked to create a Whova account. The app will go live about a month before the event, and we'll notify all attendees about downloading and using it then. In the meantime, you can check out this helpful Whova user guide, and please get in touch with Hayley Milloy, LION's marketing manager, at summit@lionpublishers.com with any and all questions about using this platform!
Yes! Pitches are now open until April 10, and we look forward to hearing from our community about what session topics and speakers they’re most interested in.
We will not livestream or record sessions; however, we will provide a written summary of the overarching event. If members tell us that a session was particularly beneficial, we will consider creating a News Entrepreneur Academy course that will be available to all LION members.
We encourage you to bring a laptop, iPad, notebook, or other device to take notes. As we develop our agenda, attendees will be notified in advance if a session requires any preparation.
Yes, currently, all LION-organized conference events will take place at the conference hotel. As we update our schedule, we may have additional off-site events.
We suggest business casual attire for the Summit and cocktail attire for the LION Awards. That being said, your comfort is the biggest priority, so please dress in whatever makes you feel best!
Accessibility and safety
Wheelchair accessibility, closed captioning and sign language interpretation in the main ballroom, assistive listening systems upon request, and large print programs available
LION strives to host inclusive and accessible events that allow all individuals, including those with disabilities, to fully engage. When you purchase a ticket to the Summit and/or LION Awards, you will see a question regarding accommodations. If you need to elaborate on that request or have questions about accommodations or physical access, please contact Hayley Milloy, LION’s marketing manager, at hayleymilloy@lionpublishers.com.
During registration, you will also be asked about any dietary preferences or restrictions, including if you'd like a Kosher or Halal meal. All requests must be received by August 11 to ensure accommodation.
The hotel’s main entrance is fully accessible, complete with wheelchair ramps, large doorways, and easy access to elevators.
Our venue is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and elevators for easy navigation. Accessible parking spaces and restrooms are available. Accessible seating will be designated in the main ballroom space. The hotel entrance is ramp accessible, and the main walkways are paved/firm. Accessible, gender-neutral restrooms are available on-site. An accessible map is included in Whova, the event app used for the 2026 Summit and LION Awards.
We offer assistive listening devices and sign language interpretation upon request. All requests should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible.
We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies. Please use the registration form to inform us of your needs in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements. LION will label served food items with basic dietary information (e.g., vegan, vegetarian, nut-free, etc.) during lunch service.
We provide a dedicated quiet space for attendees who need a break or require a sensory-friendly environment.
If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, please contact Hayley Milloy, LION’s marketing manager, at hayleymilloy@lionpublishers.com.
When you purchase a ticket to the Summit and/or LION Awards, you will see a couple of questions regarding dietary preferences and restrictions. When you check in for the Summit and/or LION Awards on-site, you will receive specific instructions on food safety during the event.
Our COVID-19 Policy is informed by guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for San Diego, CA. If CDC recommendations change before or during our event, LION will inform registrants of that change.
We encourage attendees to wear masks if they feel comfortable doing so. The Summit and LION Awards will be a mask-friendly environment, and negative comments or behavior toward attendees wearing masks will not be tolerated. We also encourage attendees to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. However, proof of vaccination will not be required to attend the event.
We encourage attendees to self-test for COVID-19 before traveling to the Summit. If attendees have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms that prevent them from traveling safely to the event, we ask that they stay home and not attend. LION will refund the ticket cost if they cannot attend due to COVID-19.
In the event of an emergency, we will email you directly at the address you provided during registration. We will also send notifications through Whova, our event app, which we encourage all attendees to download after it's launched.