TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13–15, but some of the best conversations aren’t exclusive to the stage or held within workshops or the halls. They spread into happy hours, rooftop mixers, breakfast meetups, and pitch nights across the city throughout the week of October 10-16.
Many of those events come through the official Disrupt Side Events. One of the best parts of the program is that it’s a wide-open opportunity. If you have a good idea for a theme and a place to host, you’re well on your way toward applying to host one.
Here’s how it works: You put together the concept — from a founder mixer, an after-hours panel, a themed party, a morning run, whatever fits your goal — and the TechCrunch team helps put it in front of the attendees already in town for Disrupt. There’s no cost to apply, no licensing, just the best ideas rising to the top and adding to the community’s experience in October. Start your application right here!
What does hosting a Disrupt Side Event mean?
There are a few things you should know up front about how our Side Event program works:
- Side Events can be hosted throughout the week of October 10-16, and our deadline for applications is September 4.
- You own the format. From a cocktail party to a rigorous workshop to a casual networking brunch, it’s about getting the community into the room.
- You’re responsible for logistics like the venue, budget, registrations, and a degree of promotion. At the end of the day, this is your event, running under the Disrupt banner.
- TechCrunch will spread word about the event through our Side Events page, agenda, app, attendee emails, and site coverage.
- Hosts receive a discount promo code on Disrupt passes to share across their own networks.
For an even more detailed rundown of our Side Events, check out this guide.
What kinds of events were hosted in 2025?
Last year’s lineup ranged from VIP penthouse mixers with major cloud players to founder pitch nights, community meetups, running clubs, and late-night AI debates. There were dozens of different formats and vibes, all pulling from the same pool of more than 10,000 founders, investors, and community members enjoying the Bay Area.
If you have a community, a product story, or just a great excuse for a party, this is the easiest way to put your name next to Disrupt without buying a table or a sponsorship package.
That said, those options are available too. You get a ton of additional benefits by getting an exhibit table for the Expo Hall, and you can learn more about sponsorship options here.
Appy to host a Side Event here by September 4! And if you have any additional questions, contact side.events@techcrunch.com. And regardless of whether you’re hosting, we’re excited to see you at Disrupt 2026.
And if you’re still on the fence for Disrupt itself, you can save up to $400 on your ticket by following this link. This special discount ends at 11:59 p.m. PT Friday, August 7.
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