TechCrunch opens Disrupt 2026 Side Event applications

TechCrunch is opening applications for organizers who want to run official Side Events during Disrupt 2026, offering a way to reach attendees without buying the $12,500 Expo Hall table covered in our earlier report on the exhibit program.

The main conference runs at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13–15, while Side Events can take place across the city from October 10–16. Applications are free and do not require a licensing fee. The deadline is September 4.

What hosts get — and what they handle

Organizers choose the format and theme. TechCrunch lists founder mixers, after-hours panels, cocktail parties, workshops, networking brunches, morning runs and pitch nights as possible examples.

Hosts are responsible for the practical work, including:

• Finding and managing the venue
• Covering the budget
• Handling registration
• Promoting the event to some extent

TechCrunch will promote approved events through its Side Events page, conference agenda, app, attendee emails and site coverage. Hosts also receive a discount code for Disrupt passes to distribute through their networks.

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The program is designed to operate under the Disrupt banner, but the event itself remains the host’s responsibility. That makes it materially cheaper to enter than an exhibit package, while shifting venue, staffing and execution costs to the organizer.

A distribution channel for Disrupt week

TechCrunch said the 2025 program included VIP penthouse mixers with major cloud companies, founder pitch nights, community meetups, running clubs and late-night AI debates. Those events drew from a pool of more than 10,000 founders, investors and community members in the Bay Area, according to the company.

The reporting does not specify how many Side Events will be approved in 2026, whether organizers must meet attendance or content requirements, or what promotion each event will receive beyond the listed channels. TechCrunch directs applicants with questions to side.events@techcrunch.com.

For founders and communities already planning a San Francisco gathering, the offer is straightforward: Side Events provide official branding and access to Disrupt’s audience without the fixed price of an Expo Hall table. The trade-off is equally clear—the organizer supplies the concept, money and logistics, so this is a distribution opportunity rather than a turnkey event package.