TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13–15, but some of the best conversations aren’t exclusive to the stage or held within workshops or the halls. They spread into happy hours, rooftop mixers, breakfast meetups, and pitch nights across the city throughout the week of October 10-16. Many of those events come through the official Disrupt Side Events. One of the best parts of the program is that it’s a wide-open opportunity. If you have a good idea for a theme and a place to host, you’re well on your way toward applying to host one. Here’s how it works: You put together the concept — from a founder mixer, an after-hours panel, a themed party, a morning run, whatever fits your goal — and the TechCrunch team helps put it in front of the attendees already in town for Disrupt. There’s no cost to apply, no licensing, just the best ideas rising to the top and adding to the community’s experience in October. Start your application right here! There are a few things you should know up front about how our Side Event program works: Last year’s lineup ranged from VIP penthouse mixers with major cloud players to founder pitch nights, community meetups, running clubs, and late-night AI debates. There were dozens of different formats and vibes, all pulling from the same pool of more than 10,000 founders, investors, and community members enjoying the Bay Area. If you have a community, a product story, or just a great excuse for a party, this is the easiest way to put your name next to Disrupt without buying a table or a sponsorship package. That said, those options are available too. You get a ton of additional benefits by getting an exhibit table for the Expo Hall, and you can learn more about sponsorship options here. Appy to host a Side Event here by September 4! And if you have any additional questions, contact side.events@techcrunch.com. And regardless of whether you’re hosting, we’re excited to see you at Disrupt 2026.