TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is set to take place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13-15, centered on the central challenge of constructing enduring companies within the artificial intelligence landscape. The event’s programming and speaker roster are shaped by community feedback and current market realities, aiming to deliver actionable insights rather than speculative forecasts.
Past attendance has yielded significant returns for participants. Last year, one founder reported a threefold oversubscription rate for their startup following a Battlefield confirmation, along with over 100 inbound investor messages that supported future fundraising efforts. Another founder engaged in nearly 30 consecutive investor meetings after an onstage pitch, with attendees continuing those discussions at their exhibition booth. These outcomes illustrate the event’s core value proposition: generating tangible opportunities through networking in the Expo Hall and Side Events, not just for competition finalists.
The conference features more than 200 expert sessions across six editorially curated stages. Each stage addresses specific founder needs, from tactical startup building and AI deployment to smart money trends and infrastructure innovation. Sessions are designed to provide practical lessons that attendees can implement immediately upon returning to their companies.
Ticket pricing scales up as the event approaches, but TechCrunch is offering two limited-time discounts. Founders can bring a team member for 50% off a second ticket. Additionally, a special $75 Expo+ Pass is available for a limited number of individuals impacted by recent layoffs, allowing them to access networking opportunities and industry conversations.
The lineup includes high-profile speakers such as RJ Scaringe of Rivian, Panos Panay of Amazon, Paolo Ardoino of Tether, and leaders from Bluesky and Cerebras. Topics range from building generational companies and designing consumer products to navigating the AI compute race and rethinking social media platforms.
For the Startup Battlefield competition, 200 startups were selected on August 20 to compete for a $100,000 prize. While applications for the 2026 competition are closed, the program is expanding internationally to markets including Australia and Tokyo. The 2027 application process is expected to mirror this year’s structure.
Attendees are encouraged to utilize the event’s app for investor matchmaking and to review the regularly updated speaker schedule and Side Events list. Planning networking meetings in advance and refining elevator pitches are recommended strategies for maximizing the value of the three-day gathering.
Does anyone know if the Tokyo expansion starts next year or later? I’d love to attend without flying to SF.
I’m skeptical about the networking claims. How many of those threefold returns are just cherry-picked success stories?
Wait, they actually remembered laid-off workers with that $75 pass? That is genuinely kind of impressive.
The AI focus is finally practical instead of buzzword-heavy. Great shift in strategy for this year.