Tech leaders, community builders, VCs, and founders—this one’s for you. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is locking in its schedule from October 13–15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, and there’s a special opportunity to stretch your presence beyond the main stages. From October 10–16, you can host a Side Event promoted alongside #Disrupt26—but you’ll need to move fast. Applications close Friday, September 4, at midnight PT.
Why Side Events Matter
Side Events give hosts the power to directly engage with Disrupt’s community. Whether you’re sparking deep conversation, launching a new product, hosting a workshop, or simply building authentic connections, these events put your brand “front and center” among founders, investors, industry experts, and startup enthusiasts. Accepted events receive promotion through the official Side Events calendar and the larger Disrupt marketing profile, ensuring visibility both on-site and online.
What You Can Do & How to Apply
There’s wide latitude in how you design your Side Event. Past formats include roundtables, VC office hours, hands-on workshops, dinners, happy hours—anything that aligns with your vision, brings energy, and is open to both Disrupt attendees and the general public. Evening events during the core Disrupt days (October 13–15) are especially encouraged, when post-conference momentum helps attendance.
To apply, you’ll need:
- A venue in the Bay Area (events are in-person only).
- A title, description, and plan for your Side Event space.
- Familiarity with the official Host Guide and Terms & Conditions.
There’s no fee to apply or participate—just a desire to bring value. Hosts are chosen based on the relevance and impact of their event, especially toward the startup ecosystem.
The deadline to apply is September 4 at midnight PT. If approved, your event will gain support, exposure, and connection to Disrupt’s full audience as part of the broader week-long programming.
Image: Disrupt Side Events Calendar—Highlights from venues, community meetups, workshops, happy hours, and more.
Side Events are the secret sauce to amplification at conferences. They allow businesses and communities to craft unique voices and narratives, control context (venue, vibe, audience), and extend energy beyond the main stage. As the startup world becomes ever more saturated with virtual outreach and overstretched attention, events that deliver personal connection—or curated content—stand out. If you’re thinking of hosting, align deeply with your audience, make it accessible, and build something that joins the dots between value and visibility. With the application window closing soon, now’s the moment to shape part of what Disrupt 2026 will be remembered for.
