3 Days to Disrupt 2026: 300+ Startups, 250+ Speakers, One Stage
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 kicks off in three days at Moscone West in San Francisco, running October 13 through 15. The event pulls together over 300 startups, 10,000 tech leaders, and 250+ speakers spread across 200+ sessions and six stages. For anyone tracking early-stage innovation before it hits the mainstream, this is the room where founders, investors, and media collide. The clock is also running on pass savings — up to $100 off, plus 50% off a second pass of the same type — which disappear when doors open at 8 a.m. PT on October 13.
What's Actually Happening at Disrupt 2026
Disrupt 2026 runs October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. The Expo Hall will host over 300 startups spanning different stages and sectors, giving attendees direct access to founders and their products. Content runs across 200+ sessions led by 250+ tech leaders on six stages, plus roundtables and breakouts covering AI, product, GTM, fundraising, finance, infrastructure, and scaling. The format is deliberately open — attendees can ask questions, spark connections, and catch industry announcements before they reach the mainstream. With 10,000 tech leaders expected, the density of founders, investors, and operators in one venue is the real draw.
Startup Battlefield 200: The Prize and the Pipeline
Startup Battlefield 200 places a handpicked group of early-stage startups in front of investors, media, potential customers, and the wider tech ecosystem. Twenty finalists advance to the Disrupt Stage to compete for a $100,000 prize and the Disrupt Cup. For more than a decade, discovering ambitious early-stage companies has been central to Disrupt's identity. That matters beyond the competition itself: the startups in this cohort often set the tone for what investors and operators pay attention to over the following year. Even attendees who skip the competition can use the Expo Hall to find a startup, product, investment opportunity, or idea they weren't expecting.
The Money Angle: Passes, Layoffs, and Group Rates
Pass savings of up to $100 are available until doors open on October 13 at 8 a.m. PT. A second pass of the same ticket type is 50% off, and groups of four or more unlock additional savings. For anyone recently affected by a layoff, an Expo+ Pass is available for $75 — a deliberate nod to the current tech job market and a way to keep access to opportunities open. If you're weighing whether to go, the practical calculus is simple: the discount window closes when the event starts, and the group and second-pass offers are the levers that make bringing a colleague or co-founder cheaper.
Key Takeaways
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.
- 300+ startups, 10,000 tech leaders, 250+ speakers, and 200+ sessions across six stages.
- Startup Battlefield 200 finalists compete for a $100,000 prize and the Disrupt Cup.
- Pass savings up to $100, 50% off a second pass, and group discounts end when doors open at 8 a.m. PT on October 13.
- Laid-off tech workers can get an Expo+ Pass for $75.
Source: TechCrunch • 🇺🇸 San Francisco
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