TechCrunch seeks hosts for Disrupt 2026 Side Events
TechCrunch has opened applications for organisations and community builders seeking to host Side Events around TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Applications close at midnight PT on September 4. The programme will run across the Bay Area from October 10 to 16, while the main Disrupt conference is scheduled for October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.
TechCrunch expects more than 10,000 innovators, founders, investors and industry leaders at the main event. Approved Side Events will be promoted to Disrupt attendees and TechCrunch audiences through the official Side Events calendar and the organiser’s marketing channels.
Hosts can set the format
The programme is intended for in-person gatherings with a Bay Area venue. TechCrunch says hosts can design formats that suit their communities, including industry roundtables, venture-capital office hours, deep-dive workshops, small dinners and informal networking happy hours.
Events must be open both to Disrupt attendees and to the wider public. TechCrunch says it prioritises events that offer meaningful value for founders, investors and the startup community. It also recommends evening events during October 13–15, when post-conference activity may create an opportunity for focused conversations.
What applicants need to prepare
Applicants should have selected a venue and prepared an event title and description before submitting. They are also asked to review the Side Events Host Guide and Side Event Host Terms and Conditions. There is no cost to apply or take part in the programme.
The application asks hosts to explain their vision, goals and logistical needs. For organisations already planning a Disrupt presence, the deadline follows a ticket offer detailed in TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket offer for teams considering how to participate, while the Side Events programme provides a separate route to convene a specific audience.
Practical implication for hosts
Teams that want to apply should finalise venue availability, event positioning and public-access arrangements before the September 4 deadline. A clear format and a defined audience can help turn the Side Event application into a workable plan for meeting founders, investors and partners during the Bay Area gathering.