Must-attend Cybersecurity Events and Conferences of 2026 – Part 1
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As cybersecurity threats intensify across enterprises in 2026, leading conferences like FutureCon emerge as critical platforms for IT leaders and CISOs. These hybrid events foster collaboration among practitioners, risk managers, and decision-makers, delivering actionable insights into evolving threats, vulnerabilities, and defense strategies.
Such gatherings drive real-world advancements in threat intelligence, operational resilience, and cross-sector partnerships, equipping teams to navigate complex risks effectively.
The following are some of the top conferences security professionals should consider attending in 2026.
January
1. FutureCon Cybersecurity Conference | Dallas, TX
Event Overview:
The FutureCon Cybersecurity Conference in Dallas is a one-day hybrid professional event tailored for cybersecurity practitioners, risk leaders, and local IT communities. Attendees gain insights into evolving threats, emerging defense techniques, and industry best practice frameworks.
Key Highlights:
- Date & Location: January 22, 2026, Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel, Texas (hybrid format).
- Professional Education: Offers up to 10 Continuing Professional Education credits (CPEs).
- Keynote Speaker: André Mendes, Chief Information & Artificial Intelligence Officer, Tarrant County, TX.
- Format: Executive-level sessions, panels, networking, and solution showcases.
2. SANS Cyber Threat Intelligence Summit & Training 2026 (Alexandria, Virginia, USA & Virtual)
Event Overview:
The SANS Cyber Threat Intelligence Summit is the flagship annual gathering dedicated to the discipline of CTI (Cyber Threat Intelligence). It combines summit presentations with immersive training courses, equipping professionals with the latest approaches to threat analysis, adversary tracking, and defense strategy.
Key Highlights:
- Summit: January 26–27, 2026.
- Training: January 28–February 2, 2026.
- Format: In-person at Hilton Arlington Rosslyn the Key, Virginia, plus virtual participation.
- Focus: Real-world CTI case studies, methodologies, tools, and advanced operational training.
3. Official Cybersecurity Summit | Tampa, Florida, USA
Event Overview:
The Official Cybersecurity Summit – Tampa is a one-day, executive-level summit designed specifically for CISOs and senior security leaders. The summit focuses on strengthening organizational resilience, reducing cyber risk, and aligning security initiatives with broader business objectives.
Key Highlights:
- Date & Location: January 30, 2026, Tampa, Florida, United States
- Audience: CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, senior IT and security decision-makers
- Core Focus Areas:
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- Cyber resilience and risk reduction strategies.
- AI-driven zero-day detection and SOC automation.
- Executive-level security leadership and governance.
- Aligning cybersecurity programs with business outcomes.
- Format: Executive keynotes, strategic panel discussions, curated peer networking, and solution showcases
- Keynote Speakers: Brandon Carden, Principal Solutions Engineer, Sophos; James Gress, AI Director, Accenture; Chris Johnson, Senior Director of Cybersecurity Compliance Programs, GTIA; Palanivel Manoharan; Lead CyberSecurity Architect, Humana Inc; Christian McLaughlin, Senior Security Engineer, ChenMed; Mark Simos, Lead Cybersecurity Architect, Microsoft and more.
February
1. CS4CA ANZ Summit (Perth, Australia)
Event Overview:
The Cyber Security for Critical Assets (CS4CA) ANZ Summit 2026 brings together senior cybersecurity leaders across Australia and New Zealand to focus on defending critical infrastructure and operational technology environments. Over two days, delegates share strategies, benchmark practices, and collaborate on securing vital sectors such as energy, utilities, mining, transport, and healthcare.
Key Highlights:
- Date & Location: February 10–11, 2026, Perth, Western Australia.
- Audience: CISOs, Heads of Cyber/IT Security, OT/ICS security leads, risk managers, and engineering professionals.
- Focus Areas: Resilience for critical infrastructure, OT security challenges, cross-sector collaboration, and actionable case studies.
- Keynote Speakers: Colin Renouf, CISO at Healius Limited; Tony Jarvis, VP Field CISO at Darktrace; Duné Sookloll, CISO at Horizon Power; Volker Rath, Field CISO for Australia and New Zealand at Cloudflare and more.
2. Virtual Cybersecurity Summit: Implications of AI (Virtual)
Event Overview:
Hosted by ISMG, the Virtual Cybersecurity Summit: Implications of AI is a high-impact online event that explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity, from threat detection and SOC transformation to governance and risk strategy. The summit dives into both opportunities and emerging risks when AI intersects with enterprise security.
Key Highlights:
- Date & Format: February 24, 2026, Virtual summit.
- Core Topics:
- AI-driven zero-day detection and SOC automation.
- Governance models and responsible AI deployment.
- Securing AI in critical infrastructure.
- Economic and operational frameworks for AI readiness.
- Target Audience: Security leaders, AI governance professionals, operations teams, and enterprise risk practitioners.
- Faculty: Troy Leach, Chief Strategy Officer, Cloud Security Alliance; Chase Cunningham, Doctor of Zero Trust and ISMG Global Content Contributor; John Kindervag, Creator of Zero Trust, Senior Vice President, Cybersecurity Strategy, ON2IT Group; and many more.
3. Apres-Cyber Slopes Summit (Park City, Utah, USA)
Event Overview:
The Apres-Cyber Slopes Summit blends expert exchanges with networking in a relaxed mountain setting at Park City, Utah. Designed for security leaders including CISOs and CTOs. This multi-day summit features advanced technical sessions, interactive labs, and informal discussions centered around modern cybersecurity challenges.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: February 25–27, 2026, Park City, Utah, USA.
- Program Features: AI and red team labs, offensive and defensive security workshops, peer roundtables, and outdoor networking experiences.
- Audience: CISOs, CTOs, senior security architects, threat researchers, and advanced practitioners seeking both strategic dialogue and hands-on problem solving.
Format: A mix of structured learning sessions and informal, community-centric engagements. - Featured Speakers: John Gillis, Adobe, Senior Automation Engineer, AI Agent Engineer; Kurtis Shelton, Principal AI Research Engineer at NetSPI and others.
March
1.WiCyS 2026 (Women in Cybersecurity Conference)
Event Overview:
The Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) 2026 Conference is a leading global forum focused on recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity. The event brings together professionals across academia, government, and industry to address skills gaps, career development, and inclusive security leadership.
Key Highlights:
- Dates: March 11–13, 2026
- Audience: Cybersecurity professionals, students, hiring managers, CISOs, and diversity advocates
- Core Focus Areas:
- Career advancement and leadership development
- Technical upskilling and research presentations
- Workforce development and mentorship
- Program Format: Keynotes, technical tracks, career fairs, workshops, and community networking
2. RSA Conference (RSAC 2026) | San Francisco, California
Event Overview:
RSA Conference 2026 (RSAC) is one of the world’s largest and most influential cybersecurity events, bringing together tens of thousands of security professionals from across the globe. Guided by the theme “The Power of Community,” RSAC 2026 emphasizes collaboration, shared intelligence, and collective defense in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: March 23–26, 2026, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Scale: Global participation from CISOs, security engineers, policymakers, researchers, and vendors
- Agenda Focus:
- Cloud and application security
- AI and machine learning in cybersecurity
- Zero Trust, identity, and risk management
- Policy, compliance, and emerging threats
- Expo Hall: One of the largest cybersecurity exhibitions worldwide, showcasing cutting-edge tools and platforms
- Keynote Speakers: Tomer Agayev, Staff Security Researcher at Cato Networks; Shohel Ahmed, Product Manager, Ericsson; Noora Ahmed-Moshe, Vice President, Strategy and Operations at Hoxhunt; Dave Aitel, Member of Technical Staff at OpenAI and others.
April
1. Innovate Cybersecurity Summit | Marco Island, Florida, USA
Event Overview:
The Innovate Cybersecurity Summit is a focused, leadership-driven event designed for cybersecurity decision-makers and practitioners seeking practical insights into today’s evolving threat landscape. Hosted in Marco Island, Florida, the summit emphasizes peer-led discussions, real-world security challenges, and emerging technologies shaping enterprise security programs.
- Dates & Location: April 19–21, 2026 — Marco Island, Florida, USA
- Audience: CISOs, security directors, IT leaders, and cybersecurity practitioners
- Focus Areas:
- Enterprise cybersecurity strategy and risk management
- Cloud and application security
- Identity, data protection, and threat detection
- Format: Executive roundtables, expert-led sessions, solution briefings, and peer networking
2. Black Hat Asia 2026 | Singapore
Event Overview:
Black Hat Asia 2026 is a premier technical cybersecurity conference bringing together security researchers, ethical hackers, and IT professionals for in-depth explorations of offensive and defensive security techniques. The event is renowned for its high-level briefings, hands-on trainings, and research-driven sessions.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: April 21–24, 2026, Singapore
- Audience: Security researchers, penetration testers, security engineers, and senior IT professionals
- Core Focus Areas:
- Advanced threat research and zero-day vulnerabilities
- Offensive security techniques and red team operations
- Defensive strategies, security automation, and threat intelligence
- Format: Keynote presentations, technical briefings, workshops, and hands-on trainings
May
1. 47th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy | San Francisco, CA, USA
Event Overview:
The IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (IEEE S&P) is one of the most respected and long-standing events in computer security. The 47th edition brings together academics, industry experts, and researchers to present groundbreaking work in cybersecurity, privacy, and related fields.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: May 18–21, 2026, San Francisco, California, USA
- Audience: Researchers, professors, graduate students, security engineers, and practitioners
- Core Focus Areas:
- Cryptography, privacy-enhancing technologies, and secure systems
- Threat modeling and vulnerability analysis
- Cutting-edge research in hardware/software security and emerging technologies
- Format: Peer-reviewed paper presentations, keynote talks, workshops, and poster sessions
2. OTsec USA | San Diego, California, USA
Event Overview:
OTsec USA merges insights from CS4CA and ManuSec, focusing on the convergence of IT and OT security. This event addresses security challenges in critical infrastructure, including energy, manufacturing, and industrial control systems.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: May 19–20, 2026, San Diego, California, USA
- Audience: CISOs, OT/ICS security leaders, industrial engineers, and IT/OT risk managers
- Focus Areas:
- Operational technology (OT) and industrial cybersecurity
- Integration of IT/OT security frameworks
- Risk management and incident response for critical infrastructure
- Format: Keynotes, technical workshops, live demonstrations, and peer networking
June
1. NICE Conference & Expo: Strengthening Ecosystems | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Event Overview:
The NICE Conference & Expo is the annual gathering of educators, government leaders, industry professionals, and non-profits focused on building a skilled cybersecurity workforce. The event emphasizes sharing best practices across on sectors and regions to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity talent.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: June 1–3, 2026, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Audience: Educators, workforce developers, CISOs, government officials, and industry leaders
- Core Focus Areas:
- Workforce development and training strategies
- Public-private collaboration for talent pipelines
- Building sustainable cybersecurity ecosystems
- Format: Keynotes, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking with global peers
This conference is ideal for professionals and organizations invested in cultivating the next generation of cybersecurity experts and ensuring a resilient workforce for the future.
2. Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit | National Harbor, Maryland, USA
Event Overview:
Hosted by leading analyst firm Gartner, this summit is designed for security and risk leaders seeking actionable insights into emerging threats, governance strategies, and leadership in cybersecurity. The 2026 agenda emphasizes AI integration, cyber resilience, and aligning security programs with business objectives.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: June 1–3, 2026, National Harbor, Maryland, USA
- Audience: CISOs, security directors, risk managers, and IT executives
- Key Topics:
- AI in Cybersecurity: Secure integration and threat defense
- Cyber Resilience: Strengthening organizational adaptability and continuity
- Cybersecurity Leadership & Governance: Aligning programs with business goals
- Format: Keynotes, analyst sessions, interactive workshops, and executive networking
- Keynote Speakers: Christopher Mixter, VP Analyst at Gartner; Katell Thieleman, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner and other executives.
3. 38th Annual FIRST Conference | Denver, Colorado, USA
Event Overview:
The FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) Annual Conference is a global gathering of cybersecurity professionals from private, public, and academic sectors. The conference fosters cooperation, coordination, and knowledge sharing among CSIRTs to improve global security operations.
Key Highlights:
- Dates & Location: June 14–19, 2026, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Audience: Security teams, incident responders, researchers, and policy makers
- Core Focus Areas:
- CSIRT collaboration and incident response best practices
- Threat intelligence sharing and operational coordination
- Global cybersecurity trends and technical workshops
Conclusion: What’s Next in Part 2
The first half of 2026 highlights how diverse and fast-evolving the cybersecurity ecosystem has become. From hands-on technical deep dives and global policy discussions to workforce development, AI governance, and critical infrastructure protection, these events reflect the priorities shaping security programs worldwide.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Must-attend Cybersecurity Events and Conferences of 2026.
