TechCrunch has announced an expanded side events programme for Disrupt 2026, with multiple companies hosting networking mixers, workshops, and social gatherings across San Francisco alongside the main conference (13-15 October at Moscone West). The programme is designed to give founders, investors, operators, and tech professionals opportunities to connect beyond the main expo hall, with the schedule growing weekly as more events are added.

Featured events include a SaaS embedded payments mixer hosted by NMI on 12 October, an evening social by Backblaze and Flamethrower on 14 October, an ecosystem mixer by Peak XV Partners, and a private markets cocktail party by Augment and Mintz. The side events include panels, workshops, networking sessions, and casual social gatherings, with some highlighting specific themes such as AI-powered experiences (robotic bartenders) and early-stage startup competitions, running from 11 October onwards.