San Francisco will host one of the biggest events in the startup calendar this fall. The gathering runs from October 13 to 15, 2026, at Moscone West. Founders, investors, and technologists will fill the halls for three days of talks, pitches, and networking. This guide breaks down everything attendees need to know, from ticket prices to the schedule, speaker lineup, and the famous pitch competition.
What the Event Is About
This yearly gathering has run for more than a decade. It brings founders at every stage together with venture capitalists, engineers, and product leaders. The event covers artificial intelligence, fintech, climate technology, robotics, and consumer apps. Attendees do not just listen to talks. They also meet investors, discover new tools, and explore partnerships on the expo floor.
More than 10,000 people are expected to attend this year. The lineup includes over 200 sessions across six stages, led by more than 250 speakers. Additionally, the expo hall will host over 300 exhibiting startups, giving visitors a hands-on look at emerging products before they hit the mainstream market.
Dates and Location
The three-day program takes place from Tuesday, October 13, through Thursday, October 15. The venue is Moscone West, a well-known convention center in downtown San Francisco. The location is easy to reach by public transit, and several hotels sit within walking distance.
Beyond the main event, side gatherings stretch from October 11 through 17. These smaller meetups, breakfasts, and cocktail hours happen across the Bay Area. They give attendees more chances to connect outside the official schedule.
Ticket Types and Pricing
Ticket prices usually rise as the event date approaches, so early registration tends to save money. While exact prices shift throughout the year due to promotional windows, the general ticket tiers remain consistent. The table below outlines the typical options available to attendees.
| Ticket Type | Best For | What It Includes |
| General Admission | Founders, job seekers, early-stage builders | Access to all stages, expo hall, and networking tools |
| Investor Pass | Venture capitalists and angel investors | Curated meetings, investor lounge, and pitch competition viewing |
| Expo Only | Casual attendees and students | Access to the expo hall and select sessions |
| Media Pass | Journalists and content creators | Press area access and interview scheduling (subject to approval) |
Group discounts are often available for teams that register together. Founders should also watch for limited-time promotions, since organizers have offered savings of several hundred dollars during early registration windows this year.
Who Is Speaking
The speaker roster spans company founders, chief executives, and top investors. This year, attendees can expect to hear from leaders shaping the next phase of software, hardware, and financial technology. Confirmed names include Amjad Masad, the chief executive of Replit, who will discuss the future of programming and how ideas turn into working software faster than ever before.
Other notable figures on past and current stages include Mary Barra, chief executive of General Motors, and Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and chief executive of Automattic. Venture capital voices such as Roelof Botha of Sequoia Capital and Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures typically join panels on funding trends and market shifts. Entrepreneur Garrett Langley, founder of Flock Safety, is also scheduled to speak about public safety technology and building a mission-driven company.
Because the full agenda updates regularly, attendees should check the official event page closer to October for the finalized speaker list and session times.
The Six Stages and What They Cover
Organizers have grouped this year’s programming into six themed stages. Each one targets a different part of the startup journey. Here is a breakdown of what each stage focuses on.
| Stage Name | Core Topics |
| Main Stage | Marquee keynotes, fireside chats with top founders and investors |
| Builders Stage | Fundraising, hiring, product-market fit, and scaling operations |
| Industry AI Stage | AI in robotics, energy, climate tech, and scientific discovery |
| Smart Money Stage | Stablecoins, embedded finance, and payment infrastructure |
| Pitch Competition Stage | Live pitches from the selected 200-company cohort |
| Growth Stage | Go-to-market strategy, revenue, and expansion tactics |
This structure helps attendees plan their days around specific interests rather than wandering between unrelated topics. Therefore, founders looking for fundraising advice can spend a full day on the Builders Stage, while investors interested in AI can head straight to the Industry AI sessions.
A Sample Schedule Across the Three Days
While the detailed agenda includes hundreds of sessions, the general daily rhythm looks similar each year. Mornings open with keynotes on the main stage. Midday hours fill with breakout sessions across the six stages. Afternoons shift toward workshops, roundtables, and expo hall demos. Evenings often close with networking receptions or side events across the city.
Day one typically emphasizes big-picture keynotes and major product announcements. Day two leans into the pitch competition, along with deep dives on AI and fintech. And day three wraps up with growth-focused sessions, final pitch rounds, and closing remarks. Attendees who plan their route in advance using the event app tend to get more value from the packed schedule.
Startup Battlefield: The Main Event for Founders
Startup Battlefield is the signature pitch competition and one of the biggest draws of the entire event. It has run for more than fifteen years and has helped launch companies such as Dropbox, Trello, Cloudflare, and Discord long before they became household names.
Here is how the competition works. Organizers select 200 standout early-stage companies, mostly pre-Series A, from thousands of global applications. This group is known as the Battlefield 200. Every company in this cohort gets a fully funded demo booth in the expo hall, giving them direct access to investors, press, and potential partners throughout the three days.
From that group of 200, twenty finalists are chosen to pitch live on stage. Each founder gets six minutes to present and demo their product in front of tier-one venture capitalists. A dedicated article covering the pitch is published as the founder presents, adding instant media exposure. Of those twenty, five advance to the final round on the last day. A new panel of judges evaluates the finalists, and the winning company receives 100,000 dollars in equity-free funding along with a trophy for the win.
Even companies that do not reach the final round gain lasting benefits. They join an alumni network, which offers ongoing media opportunities, future speaking invitations, and discounted access to later events. As a result, simply making the 200 is considered a meaningful achievement on its own, one that founders often list on their websites and pitch decks for years afterward.
This year’s cohort spans categories including artificial intelligence, climate technology, health, fintech, robotics, and consumer products. The competition is presented by Google for Startups and SAP as premier sponsors.
The Expo Hall and Networking Opportunities
Beyond the stages, the expo hall serves as a hub for discovery. Visitors can walk through booths from hundreds of startups, test new products, and speak directly with founding teams. This setting works well for spotting trends before they gain wider attention.
Networking extends beyond the show floor too. Organizers provide matchmaking tools that help attendees schedule targeted meetings in advance. Last year, more than 20,000 curated meetings took place on-site, and organizers plan to refine these tools further this year. Side events happening around the Bay Area, including breakfasts and evening meetups, add even more informal opportunities to connect.
For investors, a dedicated lounge and curated meeting system make it easier to review the pitch competition cohort and schedule one-on-one conversations. For job seekers, several sessions and booths focus on hiring and career moves within the startup ecosystem.
Tips for First-Time Attendees
Anyone attending for the first time should plan ahead rather than arriving without a strategy. A few practical tips can make the experience smoother.
- Register early to lock in lower ticket pricing before rates increase closer to the event.
- Download the event app ahead of time to browse the agenda and bookmark sessions.
- Set meeting goals in advance using the networking tools, rather than relying only on chance encounters.
- Wear comfortable shoes, since the venue spans a large space and attendees walk often between stages.
- Follow up with new contacts within a few days after the event, while conversations are still fresh.
These small steps help attendees get more out of a packed schedule and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the venue.
Conclusion
This October, San Francisco will once again become the center of the startup world for three packed days. Attendees can expect a strong lineup of speakers, six themed stages covering everything from AI to fintech, and the always-anticipated pitch competition, where 200 promising companies compete for a 100,000 dollar prize and major industry exposure. Whether someone is a first-time founder, a seasoned investor, or simply curious about where technology is headed next, TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 offers something practical to take away. Early registration, a clear schedule plan, and a bit of networking preparation will help any attendee make the most of the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does the event take place?
It runs from October 13 through October 15, 2026, at Moscone West in San Francisco.
How much do tickets cost?
Pricing varies by ticket tier and tends to rise closer to the event date. General admission, investor passes, expo-only passes, and media passes are typically available, with early registration offering the best rates.
What is Startup Battlefield?
It is a pitch competition where 200 selected early-stage startups exhibit their products, and twenty finalists pitch live on stage for a chance to win 100,000 dollars in equity-free funding.
Who are the featured speakers this year?
The lineup includes founders, chief executives, and investors such as Amjad Masad of Replit, along with other leaders across AI, fintech, and venture capital. The full list updates as the date approaches.
Is the event only for startup founders?
No. Investors, job seekers, students, journalists, and technology enthusiasts also attend to network, discover new products, and follow emerging industry trends.
