Overview
About this event
DEF CON began in June 1993. Jeff Moss, known as The Dark Tangent, founded it. It has run annually in Las Vegas for over three decades.
DEF CON brings together security researchers, hackers, journalists, lawyers and government employees. Attendees share one interest: anything that can be hacked. The conference covers software, hardware, conference badges and more.
DEF CON runs alongside Black Hat USA each August. Together they form what the community calls Hacker Summer Camp. DEF CON 34 follows directly after Black Hat USA 2026.
DEF CON is organised around Villages, Contests, Workshops and Demo Labs. Content comes through an open call for papers, not a marketed keynote roster. Full event details are on the official DEF CON site.
What Usually Happens at DEF CON?
Four days combine talks, hands-on workshops, contests and villages. Villages are specialised areas covering topics like car hacking, lockpicking and social engineering. The Capture the Flag contest is the conference's most iconic event.
Every year introduces a new badge design. Some years feature electronic, hackable badges. DEF CON also runs live music through DEF CON Music, alongside parties, meetups and community events.
When Is DEF CON 34 Taking Place?
DEF CON 34 runs August 6 to 9, 2026. The venue is the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. Tickets are available at us.shop.defcon.org.
DEF CON 34: Latest Updates
5 topicsWorkshops, lodging and the badge design are all confirmed. Everything below is sourced directly from the DEF CON 34 news page.
2026 Is an Electronic Badge Year: SAO Edition
DEF CON 34 features an electronic badge. A hardware hacking legend designed it. Organisers describe it as a full inspectable platform, not just a badge.
Workshop Registration Opened July 14
Workshop registration went live at noon PDT on July 14, 2026. Spots were first come, first served. The full course lineup is on the DEF CON 34 workshops page.
Several Hotel Room Blocks Sold Out
Room blocks at Fontainebleau, Sahara, and Wynn and Encore are sold out. Discounted blocks remain at Circus Circus, Embassy Suites, SpringHill Suites and Renaissance. Full lodging details are on the DEF CON 34 venue page.
Music Lineup Confirmed
DEF CON Music announced its confirmed artist lineup for DEF CON 34. Full details are published on the official DEF CON Music site.
Future DEF CON Dates Confirmed
DEF CON Middle East runs November 11 to 12, 2026, with training November 8 to 10. DEF CON 35 is confirmed for August 5 to 8, 2027.
Main Content Areas at DEF CON 34
5 topicsDEF CON's content spans Villages, Contests, Workshops, Demo Labs and Capture the Flag. Talks are selected through an open call for papers process.
Villages
Villages are specialised, hands-on content areas. Past editions have run over 20 villages, covering topics from AI and car hacking to lockpicking and voting machines. Full Village details are on the DEF CON 34 villages page.
Capture the Flag
DEF CON CTF is the conference's most prestigious hacking contest. Top teams compete over multiple days for the title of world's best CTF team.
Contests
DEF CON runs dozens of contests each year. These range from technical hacking challenges to more playful hacker culture competitions.
Workshops and Demo Labs
Workshops offer hands-on, instructor-led technical training. Demo Labs let researchers showcase new tools directly to attendees in an informal setting.
Training
DEF CON Training runs separately from the main conference. Courses are available both in Las Vegas and at DEF CON's international editions.
Villages and Content Areas
DEF CON's content is organised around specialised Villages rather than a marketed speaker roster. Talks and Village programming are published on the official schedule ahead of the event.
| Content Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Villages | Specialised hands-on areas: AI, Car Hacking, Lockpicking, Social Engineering, and more |
| Capture the Flag | The conference's premier hacking competition, run over multiple days |
| Contests | Dozens of technical and hacker-culture competitions running throughout the event |
| Workshops | Instructor-led, hands-on technical training sessions |
| Demo Labs | Live showcases of new tools directly from their creators |
| Communities | Groups organised around shared identity or interest within the hacker community |
| Parties, Meetups and Events | Informal networking and social events throughout the conference |
| Entertainment | Live music and DEF CON Music programming |
Full schedule and Village details are at the DEF CON 34 homepage.
Event Experiences
4 topicsDEF CON 34 spans four days at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The programme mixes technical talks, hands-on villages, contests and informal community events.
The Badge
Every DEF CON year has its own badge design. DEF CON 34 features an electronic SAO Edition badge, built as a full inspectable hardware platform.
Main Stage and Creator Stage
Talks run across a Main Stage and Creator Stage. Past editions have published hundreds of recorded talks to the DEF CON YouTube channel after the event.
DEF CON Music
DEF CON Music runs live performances throughout the conference. Artists for DEF CON 34 are confirmed on the official DEF CON Music website.
Parties and Meetups
Informal parties, meetups and community events run throughout the conference. These are a core part of the DEF CON social experience.
Why DEF CON 34 Matters
4 topicsDEF CON is the world's largest and most iconic hacker conference. It shapes how the security community thinks about offensive and defensive research each year.
For Security Researchers
DEF CON's open call for papers gives researchers a platform for original work. Talks often surface vulnerabilities before they reach mainstream security coverage.
For Hardware and Hacking Enthusiasts
Villages covering car hacking, hardware hacking and lockpicking give hands-on hackers a place to test skills directly, not just watch talks.
For CTF Competitors
DEF CON CTF is widely seen as the world championship of Capture the Flag. Top teams treat qualifying for it as a major achievement.
For Security Leaders and Executives
DEF CON's research often previews the threats defenders will face in the year ahead. Many security leaders attend directly after Black Hat USA.
Agenda
Times shown in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-7). Full schedule is published at the official DEF CON site closer to the event.
| Date | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, August 6 | DEF CON 34 opens; Villages, talks, workshops and contests begin | Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall |
| Friday, August 7 | Full day of talks, Villages, contests and Capture the Flag | Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall |
| Saturday, August 8 | Full day of talks, Villages, contests and Capture the Flag | Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall |
| Sunday, August 9 | Final talks; contest results; Capture the Flag finals; closing ceremonies | Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall |
Registration and Access
DEF CON tickets are sold directly through the official shop. Cash is also accepted on-site at the door, subject to availability.
| Access Type | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Full four-day conference access | See us.shop.defcon.org for current pricing |
| Training | Separate hands-on courses | training.defcon.org |
| Workshops | Hands-on technical sessions | Registration opened July 14, first come first served |
Want updates on DEF CON 34?
Get our recap, key takeaways and analysis delivered to your inbox the moment the keynote ends.
Venue
Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall
DEF CON 34 runs at LVCC West Hall. Workshops and training may run at separate nearby venues. Hotel room blocks are available at multiple properties near the Strip.
Date & Time
Aug 6–9
Starts 8:00 AM PDT
Location
Las Vegas
Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall, USA
Format
In-person
On location only
Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall
Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
Recap: 2025 & 2024
The biggest announcements from the last 2 DEF CON 34 editions.
DEF CON 33 (2025) Recap
DEF CON has run in Las Vegas for over three decades. The last two editions show how the conference keeps evolving under pressure. DEF CON 33 ran August 7 to 10, 2025, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The theme was Access Everywhere. General admission cost $500. Hundreds of DEF CON 33 videos were released on the official YouTube channel, covering Main Stage and Creator Stage talks. Full details are in the DEF CON 33 official archive.
Main announcements included:
- Over 20 villages ran again this year, including AI, Blue Team, Car Hacking and Maritime Hacking Village, which featured a fishing boat and drone boat.
- Car Hacking Village featured a Rivian van and truck, continuing the tradition of hacking every new vehicle introduced at the conference.
- Blue Team Village marked its 8th year, sponsored by DeepTempo, drawing record collaboration among defenders.
- AI dominated conference discussions. One talk showed remote code execution triggered simply by loading a supposedly safe ML model format.
- James Kettle presented his HTTP request smuggling research for the fourth year running, concluding HTTP/1.1 remains fundamentally broken.
- Password manager vulnerabilities were disclosed. Dashlane, NordPass, Keeper, ProtonPass and RoboForm had already shipped fixes by the time of reporting.
More events
Want the full AI & tech events calendar?
Conferences, summits, workshops, and live demos.Curated by Relve.
Filter by month, mode, and category.
