Top 25 Upcoming Cybersecurity Conferences and Summits | 2026

Cybersecurity threats are not slowing down, and neither is the industry that fights them. Whether you work in government, finance, healthcare, or tech, these events are where the right conversations happen, the right connections are made, and the latest threats and defenses get unpacked. Here is your guide to the biggest and most relevant cybersecurity conferences, summits, and tradeshows happening across the US in 2026.
‍

25 Upcoming Cybersecurity Summits, Conferences, and Trade Shows in the US

Discover the top 25 cybersecurity conferences, summits, and trade shows happening across the US in 2026, from Black Hat and DEF CON to federal government forums and regional executive summits. Find the right event for your team.

‍

1. RSAC Conference 2026

Date: March 23-26, 2026
‍

Venue: Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
‍

For Whom: CISOs, cybersecurity vendors, policymakers, security practitioners, investors
‍

What is this: One of the largest cybersecurity events in the world, RSAC 2026 drew nearly 44,000 attendees in 2025 under the theme "Power of Community." The conference spans hundreds of sessions covering AI, identity, cryptography, third-party risk, and more. It features keynotes from top industry and government leaders, a massive expo floor, and unmatched networking across the cybersecurity ecosystem.
‍

2. The Official Cybersecurity Summit Series

Date: Multiple

‍
Venue: Multiple, in-person and online, given below
‍

For whom: CISOs, senior IT security executives, risk managers, and cybersecurity solution providers looking for intimate, high-level peer networking close to home.
‍

What is this: Ranked among the "Top 50 Must-Attend Conferences," Official Cybersecurity Summit series runs one-day, invitation-only summits in major US cities throughout the year, hosted inside first-class hotel venues rather than large convention centers. 

‍

Each event is capped at around 300 senior-level executives, keeping the environment intimate and high-signal. Attendees get a full day of sessions, catered meals, and a cocktail reception, plus 6 CPE/CEU credits. In-person events are complemented by focused virtual summits on specific topics like ransomware, cloud security, identity, and more.

‍

Here are some of the notable upcoming 2026 events from the series:

‍

‍

These are just a few highlights from a much longer calendar. For the full schedule of all upcoming summits across the US, visit The Official Cybersecurity Summit Series.

‍

3. IAPP Global Privacy Summit 2026

Date: March 30 - April 2, 2026

‍

Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Marriott Marquis, Washington, D.C.

‍

For Whom: Privacy professionals, legal and compliance officers, AI governance teams, regulators, cybersecurity law practitioners

‍

What is this: The world's largest annual gathering of digital responsibility professionals, IAPP Global Privacy Summit brings together over 15,000 attendees across 70+ sessions on AI governance, data protection, and evolving US state privacy laws. The 2026 edition featured FTC Commissioner Mark Meador previewing enforcement priorities and deep-dive workshops on agentic AI and consent frameworks.

‍

4. AFCEA TechNet Cyber 2026

Date: June 2-4, 2026

‍

Venue: Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

‍

For Whom: Military cyber professionals, federal IT leaders, defense contractors, DevSecOps teams, government agency CIOs

‍

What is this: AFCEA TechNet Cyber is the flagship defense and military cybersecurity conference, connecting government and military leaders with industry through conversations led by US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and DISA. Attendees explore cyber operations, policy, and technology integration across military branches and federal agencies, with a large exhibition floor featuring solutions in AI, cloud, and DevSecOps.

‍

5. Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit 2026

Date: June 1-3, 2026

‍

Venue: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, MD

‍

For Whom: CISOs, security executives, risk managers, enterprise IT leaders

‍

What is this: Gartner's annual Security and Risk Management Summit is designed for security leaders who need to align cybersecurity strategy with business priorities. Expect analyst-led keynotes, one-on-one expert sessions, and tracks covering AI security, cyber resilience, governance, data privacy, and security culture. Roughly 4,500 professionals attended the 2025 edition.

‍

6. America's Credit Unions Cybersecurity Conference 2026

Date: June 2026 (exact date TBC)

‍

Venue: Downright Austin Hotel, Austin, TX (also available virtually)

‍

For Whom: Credit union IT leaders, compliance officers, risk managers, fintech security teams, NASCUS members

‍

What is this: This annual event is tailored specifically for credit union cybersecurity professionals, covering regulatory frameworks like ACET and FFIEC, layered defense strategies, third-party risk, and fraud management. A mock cyber tabletop exercise is a standout feature, giving attendees hands-on exposure to real incident response scenarios.

‍

7. Black Hat USA 2026

Date: August 1-6, 2026

‍

Venue: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

‍

For Whom: Security researchers, penetration testers, CISOs, security engineers, ethical hackers, cybersecurity vendors

‍

What is this: Black Hat USA is the premier technical cybersecurity conference in the world. The six-day program includes four days of intensive hands-on trainings, followed by a Summit Day and a two-day main conference with 100+ peer-reviewed briefings, the Arsenal open-source tool showcase, and a large Business Hall with hundreds of vendors. It is where major vulnerabilities are first disclosed and where the industry sets the agenda for the year ahead.

‍

8. CISO Forum Summer Summit and Golf Classic 2026

Date: August 11-12, 2026

‍

Venue: Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, CA

‍

For Whom: CISOs, senior security executives, security vendors seeking C-suite access

‍

What is this: The CISO Forum Summer Summit is an intimate executive-level gathering combining strategic sessions with high-value peer networking in a resort setting. Designed for security leaders, the format encourages candid conversations about emerging threats, leadership challenges, and technology strategy in a way that large conferences rarely allow.

‍

9. DEF CON 2026

Date: August 6-9, 2026

‍

Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

‍

For Whom: Ethical and security researchers, hackers, government cybersecurity officials, academics, students

‍

What is this: DEF CON is the world's largest hacker convention, running annually right after Black Hat as part of the "Hacker Summer Camp" week in Las Vegas. The event features talks, workshops, capture-the-flag competitions, lockpicking villages, an AI Village, IoT Village, and more. Past speakers have included former CISA directors and DARPA cybersecurity researchers. Entry is around $540-$580.

‍

10. BSides Las Vegas 2026

Date: August 2026 (overlapping with Black Hat and DEF CON)

‍

Venue: Las Vegas, NV

‍

For Whom: Security practitioners, researchers, students, community-minded cybersecurity professionals

‍

What is this: BSides Las Vegas is a community-driven, peer-reviewed cybersecurity conference running alongside Hacker Summer Camp. It is more accessible and affordable than Black Hat or DEF CON, with a focus on collaborative learning and practitioner-led presentations. For those new to the field, BSides is widely considered one of the best entry points into the cybersecurity conference community.

‍

11. SecurityWeek Cloud Security Summit 2026

Date: July 15, 2026 (Virtual)

‍

Venue: Online

‍

For Whom: Cloud architects, security engineers, DevSecOps teams, enterprise security leaders

‍

What is this: SecurityWeek's annual Cloud Security Summit focuses on exposed attack surfaces and weaknesses in public cloud infrastructure. Delivered virtually, the event features high-quality discussions and presentations on topics including cloud security posture, multi-cloud governance, and threat-resilient infrastructure, with attendees able to interact with speakers and sponsors in a fully branded virtual environment.

‍

12. SecurityWeek Threat Detection and Incident Response Summit 2026

Date: May 20, 2026 (Virtual)

‍

Venue: Online

‍

For Whom: Incident responders, SOC analysts, threat hunters, security operations leaders

‍

What is this: SecurityWeek's TDIR Summit brings together security practitioners to share real-world breach stories and discuss the murky world of high-end cyberattacks. The Call for Presentations is open, making it one of the more community-contributed virtual events on the calendar. It is particularly valuable for teams looking to benchmark their detection and response capabilities against peers.

‍

13. Billington CyberSecurity Summit 2026 (17th Annual)

Date: September 8-10, 2026

‍

Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

‍

For Whom: Federal government cybersecurity leaders, military officials, private sector security executives, policy experts

‍

What is this: The Billington CyberSecurity Summit is the premier gathering for government cybersecurity leaders, convening over 3,000 attendees and 300+ speakers across 50+ sessions and nine content tracks. Topics span AI, Zero Trust, supply chain security, workforce development, and more. Past speakers have included the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the acting Federal CISO. The exhibit hall hosts 150+ vendors across three days.

‍

14. Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit 2026

Date: September 3-6, 2026

‍

Venue: Washington, D.C.

‍

For Whom: State and local government IT and security officials, tribal government representatives, federal cybersecurity liaisons

‍

What is this: The Billington State and Local Summit brings together top federal, state, local, and tribal government officials to share best practices and strengthen cyber defenses at the sub-federal level. The 2025 edition attracted 950+ attendees from 42 states. The GovRAMP Symposium serves as the opening program, exploring how framework harmonization supports secure AI adoption across government.

‍

15. Florida Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit 2026

Date: September 17, 2026

‍

‍Venue: Florida (exact venue TBC)

‍

For Whom: State and local government officials, public sector IT security leaders, risk managers, critical infrastructure operators

‍

What is this: The Florida Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit is specifically designed for government defenders at the state and local level. Expert-led sessions, peer exchange, and real-world case studies give attendees practical strategies for strengthening cyber resilience and protecting critical infrastructure in Florida and beyond.

‍

16. LabsCon 2026

Date: September 16-19, 2026

‍

Venue: Scottsdale, AZ

‍

For Whom: Elite threat researchers, malware analysts, security engineers, incident responders (invite-only)

‍

What is this: LabsCon is SentinelOne's annual invite-only cybersecurity research conference, bringing together a small, highly curated group of practitioners pushing the boundaries of cyber defense. It is where cutting-edge threat intelligence and novel attack research is shared in a candid, expert-to-expert format. If you get an invitation, you go.

‍

17. NYC Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit 2026

Date: Late September 2026 (exact date TBC)

‍

Venue: New York Marriott Marquis, New York City, NY

‍

For Whom: State and local government IT security leaders, risk managers, public officials, urban infrastructure security teams

‍

What is this: The NYC Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit brings together government defenders from the New York metro region and beyond to tackle the cyber threats facing state and local government. Sessions focus on practical strategies for strengthening resilience, protecting critical urban infrastructure, and navigating the evolving threat landscape facing public institutions.

‍

18. SecurityWeek Zero Trust and Identity Strategies Summit 2026

Date: October 14, 2026 (Virtual)

‍

Venue: Online

‍

For Whom: Identity and access management professionals, Zero Trust architects, enterprise security teams, security engineers

‍

What is this: SecurityWeek's Zero Trust and Identity Summit is laser-focused on helping organizations level up their identity and Zero Trust security strategies. The virtual format delivers deep-dive content on digital identity management, access governance, and the practical steps organizations need to take to move from Zero Trust frameworks on paper to Zero Trust in practice.

‍

19. InfoSecWorld 2026

Date: October 12-14, 2026

‍

Venue: Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Orlando, FL

‍

For Whom: CISOs, security professionals across healthcare, government, finance, retail, manufacturing, and utilities

‍

What is this: Now in its 32nd year, InfoSecWorld draws around 2,500 attendees across sessions covering governance, risk, compliance, AI security, software supply chain security, and cybersecurity leadership. Pre- and post-conference workshops on ransomware, threat testing, and supply chain are available. The multi-sector audience makes it a strong venue for cross-industry networking.

‍

20. EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2026

Date: October 24-28, 2026

‍

Venue: Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, Aurora, CO

‍

For Whom: Higher education IT leaders, university CISOs, campus security teams, edtech professionals, academic administrators

‍

What is this: EDUCAUSE is the annual gathering for higher education technology and cybersecurity professionals. The conference covers everything from cybersecurity in higher ed to AI in the classroom and campus infrastructure modernization. For those who sell to or work in university IT environments, it is the most important event on the calendar.

‍

21. Aspen Cyber Summit 2026

Date: November 18, 2026

‍

Venue: Washington, D.C.

‍

For Whom: Government officials, policymakers, academics, senior private sector security leaders, think tank researchers

‍

What is this: The Aspen Cyber Summit convenes global leaders from government, academia, and the private sector to debate the future of cybersecurity regulation and governance. Known for its policy-driven discussions, it tackles questions around nation-state threats, AI governance, and the long-term direction of national cyber strategy. It is more boardroom than conference floor.

‍

22. GovRAMP Cyber Summit 2026

Date: November 15-17, 2026

‍

Venue: San Antonio, TX

‍

For Whom: Public sector IT leaders, state and local government agency officials, compliance teams, cloud security vendors, FedRAMP/GovRAMP practitioners

‍

What is this: The GovRAMP Cyber Summit brings together government and industry leaders to tackle the rising complexity of cybersecurity compliance in the public sector. Sessions focus on aligning frameworks like FedRAMP, GovRAMP, and CJIS to reduce redundancy, promote reciprocity, and achieve scalable security outcomes. It is a practical, working-level conference for professionals navigating government cloud compliance.

‍

23. Billington Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Summit 2026

Date: November 17-18, 2026

‍

Venue: San Antonio, TX

‍

For Whom: Federal and state government cybersecurity leaders, critical infrastructure operators, energy, communications, transportation, and water sector security teams

‍

What is this: The Billington Critical Infrastructure Summit brings together an unprecedented coalition of government cybersecurity leaders alongside operators from the nation's four essential lifeline sectors. It focuses on the unique vulnerabilities and coordination challenges facing infrastructure that the country depends on daily, making it one of the most mission-critical gatherings of the year.

‍

24. SecurityWeek Cyber AI and Automation Summit 2026

Date: December 8, 2026 (Virtual)

‍

Venue: Online

‍

For Whom: Security operations leaders, AI practitioners in cybersecurity, SOC teams, enterprise security architects

‍

What is this: SecurityWeek's Cyber AI and Automation Summit closes out the year with a focused look at the revolutionary role of AI, machine learning, and automation in cybersecurity. As AI-powered threats grow more sophisticated, this summit examines both the offensive and defensive implications and helps organizations understand how to responsibly integrate automation into their security programs.

25. SANS Government Forum 2026

Date: 2026 (date TBC; typically held virtually)

‍

Venue: Online

‍

For Whom: Federal, state, and local government cybersecurity professionals, public sector IT security teams, agency CISOs

‍

What is this: The SANS Government Forum, now in its sixth year in partnership with Carahsoft, is a must-attend virtual event for public sector cybersecurity professionals. It delivers practical, SANS-quality education tailored to the unique challenges government agencies face, from zero trust implementation to workforce development and emerging threat response.

‍

Selling Cybersecurity to Government? Pursuit.us Can Help

Breaking into government cybersecurity contracts is one of the most valuable and competitive opportunities in the industry. Knowing which conferences to attend is just the first step. The harder part is knowing which agencies are actively buying, what they are spending on, and how to get in front of the right people before a contract is awarded.

‍

That is where Pursuit.us comes in. Pursuit is a GovTech sales intelligence platform built specifically to help cybersecurity firms find and win government business. Here is how it helps:

• Identify active government opportunities before they hit the open market, so you can build relationships and shape requirements early.
• Track agency spending patterns to understand which agencies are investing in cybersecurity tools, managed services, or compliance solutions right now.
• Find the right contacts within federal, state, and local government agencies who are responsible for cybersecurity procurement decisions.
• Monitor competitive intelligence so you know who else is bidding, what contracts are expiring, and where your best chances to win actually are.
• Align your conference strategy with pipeline data, so when you walk into the Billington Summit or AFCEA TechNet Cyber, you already know which agencies to prioritize.

‍

If you are a cybersecurity firm looking to grow your government revenue in 2026, Pursuit gives you the data and the edge to do it efficiently.

‍