Key facts
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature a program of side events in San Francisco from October 11-14.
- Events include mixers, workshops, parties, and networking opportunities for founders, investors, and tech enthusiasts.
- Featured events include a SaaS mixer focused on embedded payments, a general tech community mixer, a private markets cocktail party, and an AI-themed happy hour.
- Specific events will cover topics such as AI-created drinks, startup demo nights, international startup communities, the future of work, AI security, content creation, and token economics.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is set to feature a comprehensive program of side events running concurrently with the main conference in San Francisco. These events, scheduled from October 11 to October 14, aim to foster connections and discussions among founders, investors, operators, researchers, and technology enthusiasts.
Several key partners are hosting featured events. NMI will host a mixer for SaaS leaders focused on embedded payments on October 12. Backblaze and Flamethrower are organizing 'The Afterburn,' a mixer for the tech community on October 14. PeakXV Partners will host an Ecosystem Mixer for founders, operators, and investors on the same evening. Augment and Mintz are co-hosting a private markets cocktail party, also on October 14, emphasizing conversation over programming.
The broader side event schedule includes a variety of themed gatherings. On October 11, attendees can experience AI-created drinks, a startup demo night at EPIC SF, and an International Reception at the European Startup Embassy. October 12 features a mixer on the Future of Work with demos of worktech, robotics, and agentic AI, alongside a job-hunt-themed game show called 'Open to Work.'
Events on October 13 include an invite-only VIP gathering for AI Founders & Accredited Investors, a Harvard Griffin GSAS Alumni Networking Mixer, a South Asian Investor Founder Connect, a happy hour focused on AI security challenges ('Attacks Never Arrive'), a Content Creators Meetup, and a Shinhan Square Bridge Meetup showcasing 10 startups. October 14's schedule continues with an event by the Israel Economic Mission, a Love Soul AI interactive hologram happy hour, a focus on physical AI and robotics, a Hardtech After Party, discussions on 'Token Economics,' a conversation on evaluating talent in an AI-first world, and SignalFire's annual Arthaus After-Party.