TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is set to transform Moscone West into the hub of the tech world from October 13-15, but the excitement begins before the main Expo Hall opens. The conference’s side event program is expanding rapidly, offering founders, investors, operators, and tech enthusiasts a diverse array of panels, workshops, parties, and networking opportunities throughout San Francisco.
Among the highlighted events hosted by TechCrunch partners is “Serve, Swipe, & Settle,” taking place on October 12 at SPIN San Francisco. This mixer, hosted by NMI, targets SaaS leaders looking to monetize embedded payments. Attendees can network over ping-pong, food, and drinks while discussing revenue strategies and brand control.
On October 14, Backblaze and Flamethrower will host “The Afterburn,” a techCrunch Disrupt Edition evening mixer. Designed as a respite from the intense pitching and demoing of the main conference, this event offers cocktails and appetizers for unwinding and connecting without structured presentations.
Other notable gatherings include PeakXV Partners’ Ecosystem Mixer on October 14, which invites founders, operators, and investors to connect over drinks without pitch requirements. That same evening, Augment and Mintz will co-host “Liquid Assets,” a private markets cocktail party focused on fostering conversations across the venture and technology ecosystems.
The full chronological schedule reveals a dense lineup starting Sunday, October 11. Events include an interactive happy hour with AI-created drinks by robotic bartender AI Barmen, an EPIC SF Demo Night featuring early-stage startups pitching competitive moats to venture investors, and an international reception at the European Startup Embassy.
Monday, October 12 features “The Future of Work Social Mixer,” showcasing startups in worktech, robotics, and agentic AI, as well as “Open to Work: The Game Show,” a unique networking event where job seekers compete onstage with their résumés. Tuesday, October 13 brings several invite-only gatherings, including VIP drinks for AI founders and accredited investors, a Harvard Griffin GSAS alumni mixer, and a connection event for South Asian founders and investors.
Security-focused networking is available at “Attacks Never Arrive: Happy Hour” on Tuesday, addressing social engineering, deepfakes, and prompt injection risks. The evening also includes a meetup for content creators discussing founder-led media strategies and a bridge meetup with startups from the Shinhan Square Bridge Global program.
Wednesday, October 14 is packed with events, including an invitation-only evening with the Israel Economic Mission to the West Coast, a superfood happy hour featuring Love Soul AI’s hologram technology, and a deep dive into physical AI and spatial intelligence at the “Physical AI After Hours” event. Additional options include a hardtech after-party with a live DJ, a discussion on token economics and inference costs, and an intimate conversation on evaluating talent in an AI-first world.
The final day, Thursday, October 15, concludes with a rooftop happy hour for SaaS and AI founders hosted by NachoThursday, a Korea Emerging Tech Showcase featuring rapid-fire pitches, and a curated rooftop party by Fynex and Orion VC for AI-focused founders and infrastructure investors.
TechCrunch emphasizes that side event RSVPs do not grant access to the main Disrupt conference, which requires a separate pass. Events are independently operated by their respective hosts, and age requirements vary, with most events being 18+ or 21+ depending on the venue. The schedule continues to grow, with new events being added weekly leading up to the conference.
As a SaaS founder, the NMI mixer on embedded payments is right up my alley. Definitely checking out the ping-pong networking session.
The Open to Work game show sounds entertaining, but also slightly awkward. Hope it doesn’t feel too exploitative for the job seekers.
Wait, the side events are separate from the main Disrupt pass? That seems like a weird way to make people buy two tickets.
Love that they added the robotic bartender AI event. Finally, a tech conference with actual flair beyond just standard cocktails!