TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is an in-person, three-day startup conference at Moscone West in San Francisco, October 13–15. Founders weighing the cost and time should know that the program combines startup-building sessions, investor and founder networking, an expo, and Startup Battlefield 200—but there are no single-day badges or online attendance option. Ticket prices and event details can change, so check the official pages before booking.
When and where is TechCrunch Disrupt 2026?
The conference runs October 13–15, 2026, at Moscone West, 800 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103. The attendee portal describes the event as in-person only, with no online portion. It is conducted in American English, and translation is not provided. Confirm current details on the official event overview and attendee portal before traveling.
What can founders do there?
Disrupt is designed for founders, investors, operators, and innovators. The program includes six stages, roundtables, breakout sessions, an Expo Hall, networking activations, and Startup Battlefield 200. TechCrunch’s 2026 agenda lists more than 200 sessions and 250 tech leaders; these are organizer-published event figures, not independently audited counts. The event overview also claims 10,000+ attendees, 20,000+ connections made, and $32 billion raised by Startup Battlefield alumni. Those are TechCrunch’s claims; the overview does not state the calculation or measurement methods.
Match sessions to a founder’s current problem
The six stages are Disrupt, Builders, AI, Smart Money, Smart Systems, and Real World AI. The Builders Stage focuses on decisions such as fundraising, hiring, product-market fit, and scaling. Other listed subjects include AI systems and enterprise workflows; stablecoins, payments, and financial technology; energy and infrastructure; and robotics and autonomous systems.
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Rather than treating a packed agenda as a checklist, shortlist sessions by the question you need answered and the people you hope to meet. Check each session’s format, access requirements, and time against other priorities. A talk, small-group discussion, and Q&A breakout offer different kinds of access.
Know the session formats
- Roundtables: 30-minute, expert-led small-group conversations. Registration and remaining availability can change; check the current portal.
- Breakouts: 50-minute sessions with Q&A. The portal describes attendance as first-come, first-served, so allow time and verify the latest arrangements.
What Startup Battlefield offers
Startup Battlefield 200 is both a startup exhibition and a competition. TechCrunch says 200 selected early-stage startups exhibit and 20 finalists pitch for a $100,000 prize. The organizer describes the 2026 competition as equity-free. These are event details published by TechCrunch, not independent performance findings.
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Which ticket should a founder consider?
Official materials list attendee, founder, and investor pass categories. The founder and investor options are aimed at their respective audiences, and pass benefits differ. Depending on the pass, listed benefits include stage and breakout access, 1:1 meetings, speaker Q&A, investor-founder networking, and curated investor information. Use the live ticket page to compare eligibility, included access, and current cost before purchasing.
Official price snapshots have shown different amounts, so no single figure can be treated as the current price: one showed attendee/founder/investor passes at $849/$899/$999, while another showed $949/$999/$1,099. The pages also described savings against regular prices. These conflicting snapshots do not establish which price applied at a given moment; check the live ticket page for current pricing and availability.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The attendee portal says there are no single-day or partial-day badges. If you cannot attend all three days, weigh the full pass cost against the sessions and meetings you can realistically use before committing.
How to plan the practical details
Badge pickup and identification
The attendee portal lists badge pickup at Moscone West on these dates and times (Pacific Time):
| Date | Listed hours |
|---|---|
| October 12 | 1:00–5:00 p.m. |
| October 13 | 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| October 14 | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| October 15 | 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
Bring your ticket and a government-issued photo ID. The name on the ID must match the ticket. Verify pickup hours and instructions in the attendee portal before setting your arrival plan.
Use the event app and check side events
TechCrunch says its Events app supports agenda personalization, meeting scheduling, roundtable registration, and exhibitor discovery. The portal also refers to 50+ partner and company side events during Disrupt Week, October 11–15, with listings posted as events are confirmed. Check the live portal for names, registration requirements, and updates rather than assuming a side event is open to all badge holders.
Accessibility, rooms, and travel
The portal says Moscone West is ADA accessible and asks attendees seeking accommodations to contact the event team. It also lists a mother’s room and faith room by request; confirm arrangements directly with the organizer. Attendee hotel discounts are advertised, but availability and full terms are not established by the portal information. Check the current event page before making travel plans.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Disrupt worth the investment for your startup?
For a founder, the practical value depends less on the headline attendee count than on whether the agenda and access benefits fit a concrete objective: improving a fundraising plan, evaluating a market or technology, meeting potential investors, or learning from peers facing a similar operating challenge. Build a short session and meeting plan, then compare it with the pass’s actual access and total trip cost. The published totals are organizer claims, not guarantees that any individual attendee will make a certain number of connections or raise capital.
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