Overview
About this event
Black Hat USA is the cybersecurity industry's most established conference. Jeff Moss founded it in 1997. Informa Tech now organises it. It draws 15,000 to 20,000 professionals from over 100 countries.
The 2026 edition marks the event's 29th anniversary. It runs six days at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The programme spans Trainings, Summits, Briefings, Arsenal and the Business Hall.
Summit Day falls on August 4. Six separate Summits run that day. One of them is The AI Summit, a dedicated one-day track on AI in cybersecurity. It sits inside the broader Black Hat USA programme, not as a separate event.
Black Hat also announced a leadership change for 2026. Suzy Pallett becomes President effective September 1. Steve Wylie steps down after 11 years leading the brand.
What Usually Happens at Black Hat USA?
Trainings run first, from August 1 to 4. These are hands-on courses taught by practitioners. Topics span exploit development, red teaming and cloud security.
Summit Day follows on August 4. Six focused Summits run in parallel, covering healthcare, finance, AI and CISO-level strategy. Briefings then run August 5 and 6. These are 50-minute research talks on new vulnerabilities and attacker techniques. Arsenal and the Business Hall run alongside Briefings.
When Is Black Hat USA 2026 Taking Place?
Black Hat USA 2026 runs August 1 to 6, 2026. The venue is Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas. Trainings run Aug 1-4. Summit Day is Aug 4. Briefings run Aug 5-6. The official site is blackhat.com/us-26 and registration is at blackhat.com/us-26/registration.html.
Black Hat USA 2026: Latest Updates
5 topicsKeynotes, the Summit lineup and the Briefings programme are all confirmed. Everything below is sourced directly from blackhat.com and official Black Hat press releases.
Keynote Lineup Confirmed, Including White House Cyber Director
The Opening Session is a fireside chat with Sean Cairncross, White House National Cyber Director. A panel follows with Nick Andersen (Acting Director, CISA), Brett Leatherman (FBI Cyber Division), and Katherine Sutton (Department of War). The lineup was confirmed in the July 16, 2026 keynote announcement.
Additional Keynotes: Microsoft and Arizona State University
David Weston of Microsoft's Agentic Security team will examine how AI is forcing defenders toward proactive strategies. Yan Shoshitaishvili of Arizona State University will explore the science behind vulnerability research.
Over 100 Briefings and 80-Plus Arsenal Demos Confirmed
The 2026 programme features over 100 peer-reviewed Briefings and over 100 Trainings. It also includes 120-plus Sponsored Sessions and 80-plus Arsenal tool demos. New forums include the Cyber War Forum and Black Hat(HER). The scope was set out in the June 2, 2026 content lineup announcement, with the full Briefings page online.
Six Summits Confirmed for August 4
Summit Day includes the Healthcare Summit, CISO Summit, The AI Summit, Financial Threat Summit, Innovators and Investors Summit, and the Omdia Analyst Summit. The Healthcare Summit is new, launched with HIMSS. The lineup was detailed in the June 16, 2026 Summit announcement, with the Summit sessions schedule online.
New Black Hat President Announced
Suzy Pallett becomes Black Hat's new President on September 1, 2026. Steve Wylie steps down after 11 years leading the brand.
The AI Summit at Black Hat USA 2026
5 topicsThe AI Summit is one of six Summits running on August 4. It is a full day dedicated to AI in cybersecurity. It is part of The AI Summit Series, a global AI event franchise founded in 2016. Full details are on the AI Summit official page.
2026 is the AI Summit's third consecutive year at Black Hat. It debuted in 2024 and returned in 2025. This makes it one of Black Hat's most established Summit tracks.
When and Where The AI Summit Takes Place
The AI Summit runs Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The location is Mandalay Bay, Oceanside A and D, Level 2.
What The AI Summit Covers
The day opens with keynotes and panels on a headliner stage. It then splits into Strategic and Technical workshop tracks. Sessions cover AI-powered defence, securing AI systems, and AI-enabled attacks.
The AI Summit Advisory Board
Five experts sit on the 2026 Advisory Board. Vijay Bolina was formerly CISO at Google DeepMind. Nathan Hamiel leads Black Hat's own AI and ML review track. Will Pearce is CEO of Dreadnode. Victoria Westerhoff leads Microsoft's AI Red Team Operations.
| Advisory Board Member | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Vijay Bolina | CISO (stealth frontier AI lab) | Formerly Google DeepMind |
| Bogdan Grigorescu | Senior Technical Lead, Engineering and Platforms | Direct Line Group |
| Nathan Hamiel | Senior Director of Research; AI Track Lead | Kudelski Security / Black Hat Review Board |
| Will Pearce | CEO and Co-founder | Dreadnode |
| Victoria Westerhoff | Principal Director, AI Safety and Security Red Teaming | Microsoft |
The AI Summit Pricing and Sponsors
An AI Summit pass costs $2,099. It includes lunch, a cocktail reception, and three-day Business Hall access. TrendAI, Trend Micro's AI security unit, is the Title Sponsor. Diamond Sponsors include Crogl, Cyera and Flint AI. Passes can be compared on the pass comparison page.
Confirmed Executive Panels
Panels across all six Summits feature executives from Anthropic, CVS Health, TD Bank, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Specific AI Summit panel assignments will be announced closer to the event.
Main Topics at Black Hat USA 2026
4 topicsThe 2026 programme spans offensive security research, AI in cyber defence and attack, and national-level cybersecurity policy. AI runs as a theme across nearly every track.
Vulnerability Research and Exploit Development
Briefings continue Black Hat's core focus on new vulnerability disclosures. Yan Shoshitaishvili's keynote reflects this tradition, exploring the science behind decades of exploit research.
AI in Offensive and Defensive Security
AI runs through both the main Briefings and The AI Summit. David Weston's keynote covers AI-powered vulnerability discovery. The AI Summit goes deeper into securing AI systems themselves.
National Cyber Policy and Government Response
The Opening Session features the White House National Cyber Director. A panel follows with CISA, FBI and Department of War leadership, reflecting growing government presence at the event.
Sector-Specific Risk: Healthcare and Finance
The new Healthcare Summit addresses clinical disruption and patient data risk. The Financial Threat Summit covers threats specific to banking and financial infrastructure.
Keynote Speakers
Black Hat USA 2026 confirmed its keynote lineup on July 16, 2026. All names below are sourced directly from the official press release.
| Speaker | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Cairncross | White House National Cyber Director | The White House |
| Nick Andersen | Acting Director | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) |
| Brett Leatherman | Assistant Director, Cyber Division | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) |
| Katherine Sutton | Assistant Secretary of War for Cyber Policy | U.S. Department of War |
| David Weston | Agentic Security | Microsoft |
| Yan Shoshitaishvili | Associate Professor | Arizona State University |
Event Experiences
5 topicsBlack Hat USA 2026 spans six days of programming, from hands-on Trainings to the main Briefings, plus a full day of specialised Summits.
Trainings (August 1-4)
Trainings are multi-day, hands-on courses. They are taught by practitioners across topics like exploit development and red team operations.
Summit Day (August 4)
Six Summits run in parallel on Summit Day. Each is a full day of sector-specific programming for C-suite and specialist audiences.
Briefings (August 5-6)
Briefings are the main conference. Sessions run 50 minutes each, across six to eight parallel tracks. Rooms range from small tracks to a main stage holding several thousand people. See the Briefings page for the full programme.
Arsenal and the Business Hall
Arsenal features over 80 open-source tool demos. The Business Hall runs alongside Briefings, hosting sponsor booths and The AI Zone.
On-Demand Access
Briefings pass holders get on-demand recordings from August 14 to September 14, 2026. A one-year Streamly subscription extends that access through August 2027.
Why Black Hat USA 2026 Matters
4 topicsBlack Hat is where new vulnerability research first goes public. The techniques shown here often define the threat landscape for the following year.
For Security Researchers and Practitioners
Peer-reviewed Briefings give researchers first access to new vulnerability disclosures and attacker techniques, ahead of wider public disclosure.
For CISOs and Security Leaders
The CISO Summit and government keynotes give security leaders direct insight into national policy and enterprise risk trends shaping the year ahead.
For AI and Security Teams
The AI Summit and AI-focused Briefings give AI and security teams a concentrated view of both AI-powered defence and AI-enabled attacks.
For Vendors and Startups
The Business Hall and AI Zone give vendors direct access to over 20,000 attending cybersecurity professionals.
Agenda
Times shown in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-7). Full schedule is at blackhat.com/us-26, with the Summit sessions schedule online.
| Date | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 1 to Tuesday, August 4 | Black Hat USA Trainings, hands-on courses | Mandalay Bay Convention Center |
| Tuesday, August 4 | Summit Day: The AI Summit and five other Summits | Mandalay Bay, Oceanside A + D |
| Wednesday, August 5 | Opening Keynotes; Briefings Day 1; Arsenal; Business Hall | Mandalay Bay Convention Center |
| Thursday, August 6 | Additional Keynotes; Briefings Day 2; Arsenal; Business Hall | Mandalay Bay Convention Center |
Registration and Access
Multiple pass types are available, covering Briefings, Trainings and Summits separately or combined. Exact current pricing is confirmed on the official pass comparison page. Register at blackhat.com/us-26/registration.html.
| Pass Type | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The AI Summit Pass | AI Summit access, lunch, cocktail reception, 3-day Business Hall access | USD 2,099 |
| Briefings Pass | Keynotes, Briefings, Arsenal, Business Hall | See pass comparison |
| Briefings + Training | Briefings pass plus Training course access | See pass comparison |
| Briefings + Summit | Briefings pass plus access to one Summit | See pass comparison |
| Streamly One-Year Add-On | On-demand Briefings access through August 2027 | Add by August 6, 2026 |
Want updates on Black Hat USA 2026?
Get our recap, key takeaways and analysis delivered to your inbox the moment the keynote ends.
Venue
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
The AI Summit meets in Oceanside A and D, Level 2. Mandalay Bay is a major Las Vegas Strip resort. It has hosted Black Hat USA for many years.
Date & Time
Aug 1–6
Starts 8:00 AM PDT
Location
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, USA
Format
In-person
On location only
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA
Speakers6
Engineers shipping the work, not theorizing about it
Every speaker is hands-on with a system in production. No theory tracks, no vendor pitches.
Recap: 2025 & 2024
The biggest announcements from the last 2 Black Hat USA editions.
Black Hat USA 2025 Recap
Black Hat USA and The AI Summit have both run for several years, and the last two editions show fast growth in both attendance and AI-focused programming. Black Hat USA 2025 ran August 2 to 7 at Mandalay Bay.
It drew 20,000 verified in-person attendees. The AI Summit ran its second annual edition on August 5. See the official 2025 highlights blog, the 2025 press release, and The AI Summit at Black Hat USA 2025.
Main announcements included:
- Five keynotes ran across the event. Speakers included Mikko Hypponen of WithSecure and Nicole Perlroth of Silver Buckshot Ventures.
- Ron Deibert, Jennifer Granick and Chris Inglis also delivered keynote presentations on surveillance, civil liberties and national cyber policy.
- The AI Summit's second year featured keynotes, panels and Strategic and Technical workshop tracks. Confirmed partners included Promptfoo, Snyk and Akamai.
- Summit Day 2025 also featured the inaugural Financial Services Summit. The 11th annual CISO Summit and 5th annual Omdia Analyst Summit also ran.
- The Business Hall hosted over 425 solution providers. More than 100 Briefings and 120-plus Sponsored Sessions ran across the event.
- Independent coverage noted lighter in-person attendance than 2024. AI was still described as the dominant theme across the show floor.
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