DEF CON 2026

One of the world's longest-running hacker conventions, featuring talks, contests, and a vibrant community of security professionals.

DEF CON 34

DEF CON 34 runs 6–9 August 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall.

It does not work like other conferences

DEF CON has no advance registration and no attendee list. Admission is cash at the door, a deliberate practice that dates to the event's origins and exists so that attending leaves no paper trail.

There are no comped press badges in the usual sense and no exhibitor-style lead capture. If you are planning a trip on the assumption that you can register online in advance, you cannot.

Villages are the real structure

The headline talk track is only part of DEF CON. The event is organised around villages — semi-autonomous areas each run by a community around one subject, with their own talks, hands-on labs and contests.

Village subjects have historically included car hacking, aerospace, voting machines, lockpicking, biohacking, social engineering, ICS and physical security. Choosing which villages to spend time in matters more to the outcome of the trip than picking talks.

Contests run the full length

Capture the Flag is the best known, but the contest schedule is broad and many run continuously across all four days rather than in slots.

It sits in a crowded Las Vegas security week

DEF CON falls in the same August week as other security events in Las Vegas, and the overlap is heavily attended by the same people. Hotel availability across the city tightens sharply that week — book well ahead of the dates rather than close to them.

6–9 August 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall.

Cash at the door — no advance registration, no attendee list.

Villages — community-run areas each covering one security subject, with their own talks and hands-on labs.

Contests run continuously, including Capture the Flag, rather than in fixed slots.

Part of the wider Las Vegas security week — plan accommodation early.