TechCrunch Closes Disrupt 2026 Side Event Applications

TechCrunch has announced that the absolute final deadline to apply for hosting an official side event at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is tonight, September 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Organizers emphasize that this is a hard deadline with no further extensions. Approved side events will be integrated into the official conference ecosystem, allowing hosts to position their brands directly in front of founders, investors, and key decision-makers.

Hosting an official side event provides significant promotional reach. Approved events will be featured across TechCrunch's official channels, including the dedicated Side Events page, the main Disrupt agenda, the mobile app, newsletters, articles, and social media networks. Additionally, hosts are granted the ability to offer their own communities a 25 percent discount on Disrupt tickets, helping integrate these smaller gatherings into the broader conference experience.

The upcoming conference features a heavy focus on artificial intelligence, addressing the core question of how to build sustainably in the AI era. Major industry players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Replit are scheduled to take over six specialized industry stages. For practitioners, hosting a side event offers a unique venue to foster deeper, more focused conversations that are often difficult to hold on a crowded main exhibition floor.

For those who choose not to host an event, general registration remains open. However, regular ticket pricing is scheduled to end on September 25, after which prices will rise. Attendees can still utilize the week to network, source new clients, meet potential venture partners, and explore the latest developments in the technology sector.