Various Parties, Gatherings, and Events
DEF CON Party, Gather, Event Short Table
defcon.org Parties, Meetups, and Events page
+61: the Australian Embassy
Event
Against all odds (and possibly the better judgement of border control), the +61 Australian embassy returns.
If you’re one of the Australians who made it into the US for DEF CON this year, swing by for a bit of hacker summer camp gossip, some socializing, and a live demonstration of what happens when Malört meets Vegemite.
We assume nothing good.
Arcade Party
Event
The Arcade Party is back! Come play your favorite classic arcade games while jamming out to Keith Myers DJing. Your favorite custom built 16 player LED foosball table will be ready for some competitive games. This epic party, free for DEF CON 34 attendees to enjoy and play, is hosted by the Military Cyber Professionals Association (a tech ed charity) and friends.
Links:Website – https://arcadeparty.org
Atlanta Metro Meetup (DC404/DC678/DC770/DC470)
Event
They say Atlanta is the city too busy to hate, but it also has too much traffic for its widespread hacker fam to get together in a single meetup. So instead, we’re meeting up in the desert during DEF CON! The one time of year when intown, northern burbs, south siders, and anyone else connected to DC404’s 30+ year legacy can catch up and share stories. Join us and meet your fellow ATL hackers!
BIC R00T ACCESS 2026
Event
Black culture has always shaped the sound of resistance, innovation, and celebration—and at DEF CON, we’re bringing that history to the dance floor. Blacks In Cyber invites you to a night where cybersecurity meets the soundtrack of Black history. From the soulful roots of jazz and blues that coded messages of freedom, to the revolutionary pulse of hip-hop and electronic beats that powered digital creativity, every track tells a story.
This party celebrates the pioneers who pushed boundaries—musically, technologically, and culturally. Expect a curated journey through decades of sound: classic grooves, Afro-futurist vibes, and modern cyber-inspired mixes that honor the past while hacking the future. Whether you’re a seasoned hacker, a first-time DEF CON attendee, or just here for the vibe, this is your space to connect, celebrate, and move.
Come dance through the timeline. Celebrate culture, community, and code. Blacks In Cyber at DEF CON—where history, rhythm, and innovation collide.
Links:Website – https://blacksincyberconf.com
BlanketFort Con
Event
BlanketFort Con: Come for the chill vibes and diversity, stay for the Blanket Fort Building, Cool Lights, Music, and Kid Friendly \ Safe environment. Now with less Gluten and more onesies!
Links:
Mastodon (@blanketfortcon@bsky.social) – @blanketfortcon@bsky.social
Conference Planners Meetup
Event
Are you a conference planner, manager, technologist, etc.? Feel like chatting about what we do, trading contact info, or just grabbing a few drinks with colleagues? This will be a meetup for those of us involved in conference planning and management. There won’t be any kind of schedule or agenda. Informal conversation is the name of the game.
At least one person from the Hacker Tracker (and ConfMgr) team will be here. You’re welcome to ask questions, leave feedback (good or bad), ask for help with some problem you’re having, etc.
Day of the Dead Hacker Party
Event
Join us as we celebrate the lives, legends, and lasting influence of the hackers who shaped our world. From pioneers of the underground to cultural icons of the digital frontier whose stories still echo through the system.
Dress in Day of the Dead attire or come as a ghost of hacker culture, dead heroes, legendary coders, digital outlaws, and spirits of the machine.
Music by CURZE$ and special guest DJs.
Everyone is welcome to join us and celebrate the dead, the code, and the culture that refuses to die.
DC702 Meetup
Event
Join the local DC702 Group in this year’s official DEF CON Meetup! The meetup will be casual and include typical meetup activities (e.g., socializing, “challenges,” lockpicking, music, etc.) and maybe a few little surprises.
Links:Website – https://dc702.space/stuff/dc34-meetup
DCG New England Meetup
Event
New England’s hackers are spread across six smaller states and rarely in the same room. This is the room. DCG New England pulls the region’s groups and unaffiliated folks together to hang out, meet other hackers in the region, talk shop, show off half-finished projects, and meet the people who keep the local scene ticking.
Links:Website – https://dcgne.org
Defcon.run
Event
Defcon.run, formerly the DEF CON 4x5K, is a community-driven tradition where hackers gather for morning runs and rucks across Las Vegas. Participants can choose from various routes, from 5Ks to longer distances.
For DEF CON 34, meet at “The Spot” near the North Entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. Activities start at 06:00, Thursday through Sunday; arrive early for safety briefings and community hype.
Whether you are an experienced runner or a newcomer, visit defcon.run to sign up and connect with the community.
Links:Website – https://defcon.run
Digital Nomad Meetup
Event
Join us for the digital nomad meetup for current and aspiring hacker nomads to share stories and, tips and tricks about the lifestyle. Hosted by Alexander Wilczek, who’s been living as a full time digital nomad for 3+ years.
Free Ham Radio License Exams
Event
Free ham radio exams return to DEF CON 34! Partake in this hacker “rite of passage” by getting your license at DEF CON, presented by the Ham Radio Village.
While anyone is able to listen in to amateur/ham radio transmissions, only those who have an amateur radio license are able to fully partake in the “oldest hacker hobby”. With your license, you’ll be authorized by the FCC to transmit up to 1,500W on designated frequencies, build/modify radios & antennas, and even administer your own exams! Additionally, having your ham radio license can improve your resume as it is a well-recognized proof of technical and regulatory knowledge when it comes to all things radio.
About The Exam
In the US there are 3 current levels of amateur radio license – Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. You can progress through the levels by taking a series of multiple-choice exams showing increasing breadth of knowledge. Most folks at DEF CON looking to become a ham take just the technician exam.
The technician exam is a 35 question, multiple choice exam. Questions come from from a public question pool of 400 questions. Because of that, the most popular way folks at DEF CON prepare is by reading through all 400 questions before the exam, and learning hands on once you get licensed. Many study resources exist – most people recommend ham.study.
Signing Up
Who may register for this testing session:
- Anyone with an interest in obtaining a new Amateur Radio license or upgrading their existing licenses.
- You may take multiple elements in a single appointment; we just ask that you have studied and are ready to pass.
Fees
- All license examinations administered by the Laurel VEC are free to all
- After passing, Laurel VEC will submit your application to the FCC. On acceptance you will receive an email from the FCC directly with instructions to pay the $35 application fee.
Questions
If you have any questions leading up to DEF CON, come visit us on the Ham Radio Village Discord server (discord.gg/hrv) and let us know what questions you have. During the conference, come visit the Ham Radio Village to learn all things ham radio, including the studying, testing, and licensing process.
Links:Website – https://hamvillage.org
Mastodon (@HamRadioVillage@defcon.social) – @HamRadioVillage@defcon.social
Registration – https://ham.study/sessions/69aa27ed3f69ba72bdeb3a1c/1
Friends of Bill W
Event
We know DEF CON and Vegas can be a lot. If you’re a friend of Bill W who’s looking for a meeting or just a place to collect yourself, DEF CON 34 has you covered. Join us throughout the conference in the Friends of Bill W Community Space. Meetings will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Front Man’s Fête: An Octopus Game Party
Event
Front Man’s Fête: An Octopus Game Party is a curated respite from the chaos of the city, offering a sophisticated and low-key lounge experience centered on strategy and soul. Instead of high-stakes elimination, we offer the timeless rhythm of old school hip-hop and the analog competition of classic board games. This event is designed for those who seek a chill atmosphere where the vibes are smooth and the conversation is clear. Come for the nostalgia of golden-era beats and stay for a relaxed evening where the only goal is to unwind and outsmart your opponents in a sanctuary of cool.
Links:Website – https://octopusgame.org
Mastodon (@OctopusGame@defcon.social) – @OctopusGame@defcon.social
GOTHCON
Event
Returning for their 9th year, Gothcon invites you to come dance the night away with a line-up of some of the community’s best dark dance music DJ’s from across the US! Dress however you would like in whatever makes you feel comfortable and happy, and all are welcome.
Links:Website – https://gothcon.com
Hacker Book Club Discussion
Event
Community is essential and so is continual learning. Reading books and discussing books can greatly impact an individual’s access and sense of community and knowledge. This Hacker Book Club book discussion will be an accessible group aiming to build community and share out learnings, all in a quieter setting. Come join us and discuss what you’ve been reading. We also run a year round Discord to discuss books throughout the year, hackerbookclub.com. This Hacker Book Club is not locked to a region and is for those who love books and escaping to the cyperpunk, scifi worlds that inspire DEF CON and modern literature.
Links:hackerbookclub.com – https://hackerbookclub.com
Hacker Karaoke
Event
Two great things that go great together! Join the fun as your fellow hackers make their way through songs from every era and style. Everyone has a voice and this is your opportunity to show it off! Everyone is encourage to participate in a DEF CON tradition from all folks and skill levels.
Ham In A Day Class
Event
The HRV Ham In A Day class returns again for its fourth year, taught again by Dan Romencheck, KB6NU, author of the No-Nonsense Study Guides for the amateur radio license exams.
Always been interested in getting your ham license but never had the time to study? Now’s your chance! The Ham Radio Village is offering a one-day class where you can learn all the required knowledge to pass the exam.
Topics include: – Electrical Principles – Electronic principles and components – Radio and electromagnetic wave properties – Antennas and Feedlines – Amateur Radio Signals – Safety – Station Setup and Operation -Operating Procedures – Rules and Regulations
The class will run from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. A lunch break will be provided.
Best of all, this class is completely free, thanks to a grant from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications.
Last year, we sold out of capacity and had to turn folks away. We highly recommend placing a deposit to reserve your seat. The deposit will be refunded upon attendance of the class. Register by following the attached link.
Links:Mastodon (@HamRadioVillage@defcon.social) – @HamRadioVillage@defcon.social
Registration – https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ham-in-a-day-class-at-def-con–34
Website – https://hamvillage.org
Illuminati Party
Event
It’s time to get under the hood and rewrite the rules of engagement. If we want a future where explorers aren’t outlaws, we have to start by taking over the room—so join us for the Illuminati Party, where our crew gathers to set the parameters for the night. Come share your passion, plot the future, and help us amplify the community.
Links:Website – https://illuminatiparty.org
Kayos Klub
Event
The Kayos Klub will be a night of music and magic for all ages. To celebrate the life of a lost loved one, we are going all out on a party that will make even the most socially awkward computer nerd want to dance <3.
Links:Website – https://digitalgangster.com
Lawyers Meet
Event
If you’re a lawyer (recently unfrozen or otherwise), a judge or a law student please make a note to join Jeff McNamara for a friendly get-together, drinks, and conversation.
Movie Night
Event
Operator, Please Hold – DCG Social
Event
Operator, Please Hold is the official DEF CON Groups party at DEF CON 34 – a social for hackers, DCG organizers, and community builders from around the world.
This is where DEF CON Groups converge off the mailing lists and out of Discord. Expect familiar faces, new connections, and conversations that jump from local meetups to global chaos in about five minutes. No talks. No agenda. Just hackers who actually show up for their communities, in one room, at the same time.
Whether you run a group, help keep one alive, or are looking to plug into your local hacker scene, this is your stop. Come say hi, compare notes, and meet the humans behind the handles.
Operator, please hold. Your people are on the line.
Party Line
Event
You’ve been placed on hold — but for once, you don’t mind the music.
Party Line is Call Center Village’s telephony-themed party open to all attendees at DEF CON 34.
A full-size telephone booth, retro telephones, dial-pad light shows, and lo-fi hold music grooves mixed with telephony-flavored party tracks.
If you’ve ever listened to Opus No. 1 on repeat, then this is your extension. No IVR to navigate Just pick up and dial in.
Don’t let the phones go unanswered. Join us at Party Line.
Between calls, swing by our unofficial DEF CON TCG trading table — donate your extras, hunt down the ones you’re missing, or make a deal for your favorites.
Make sure to bring your Call Center Village flight-tags (100 Trying or 200 OK) earned from the Escalation Desk CTF to claim free drinks!
Links:Website – https://callcentervillage.com/events/partyline34
Mastodon (@callcentervillage@defcon.socal) – @callcentervillage@defcon.socal
Queercon Mixer
Event
Come meet the largest social network of LGBTQIA+ and allied hackers at Queercon! Our mixers are designed for you to meet, network, and engage with like-minded people to a backdrop of music, dance, and refreshments.
Links:Website – https://queercon.org
SecKC the WHOLE WIDE WORLD
Event
Following the legendary chaos of SecKC the World and SecKC the World Again, the Kansas City crew returns to DEF CON to settle the digital frontier. This year, we aren’t just hosting a party, this isn’t just another loud room with a DJ; it’s gonna be a killer getogether for the hacker family. We’re merging the independent spirit of the DEF CON with the radical community of the Midwest.
Links:Website – https://seckc.org
Mastodon (@sec_kc@bird.makeup) – @sec_kc@bird.makeup
Slopcon
Event
In an era where “innovation” is just a polite word for scraping the bottom of the LLM barrel, we invite you to embrace the inevitable heat death of original thought at Slopcon. Why bother with pesky human intellect when we can automate the entire conference lifecycle, from hallucinated CFP submissions to slide decks that make absolutely no sense? It’s a high-stakes experiment in synthetic absurdity where the only thing more artificial than the intelligence is the confidence of the “meatbag” presenters tasked with delivering this digital dross. Join us for a celebratory descent into the uncanny valley, where we’ll crown the sloppiest generative disasters and toast to the fact that, for now, at least the audience is still real.
So, if you’re actually itching to subject the world to more of this or just have a masochistic need for further details, head over to slopcon.org and fulfill your destiny.
Links:Website – https://slopcon.org
Mastodon (@slopcon@bsky.social) – @slopcon@bsky.social
Social Engineering Community Village Party
Event
Join the Social Engineering Community for a night of connecting with fellow hackers, social engineers, researchers, and curious DEF CON attendees who share an interest in the human side of hacking. Whether you spent the weekend watching vishing calls, cheering on AI bots, competing, volunteering, or just discovering the craft for the first time, this meetup is a chance to relax, swap stories, and meet the people behind the voices, research, and chaos from the village. The exact theme will be announced soon, but the goal is simple: bring the community together, make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and celebrate another year of social engineering at DEF CON. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a longtime member of the community or just curious about what social engineering is all about.
Links:Website – https://www.se.community/
The Unofficial DEF CON Shoot
Event
The Unofficial DEF CON Shoot is a public event that happens just prior to the DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is an opportunity to see and shoot some of the guns belonging to your friends while taking pride in showing and firing your own steel, as well, in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. We choose a spot, then we rent tables, canopies, and bring all the necessary safety equipment and amenities. All you need to bring yourself and (optionally) your firearms. New shooters and veterans both attend regularly. You can attend with your firearms, of course, but folk without guns of their own in Vegas may have the opportunity to try gear from others in attendance.
Links:Website – https://dcshoot.org
Toxic BBQ
Event
Join the humans of Vegas at the unofficial opener of DEF CON. This Thursday Meat-Up is in the shade of Sunset Park, a quick ride from the LVCC. We stock the larder with burgers, dogs, and fixin’s. We rely on you for everything else: sides, drinks, volunteering, and donations.
With over 50 sq ft of heat, we have plenty of room on the grill for your personal creations. Contribute food and drinks, staff the grill, join supply runs, or donate to help cover cost. Everything left goes to the EFF. Be a part of what makes this cookout something to remember year after year. The only question is: What are you bringing to Toxic BBQ?
Check out toxicbbq.org , find a flyer at an Info Booth, and watch for #ToxicBBQ on the socials for the latest news.
Links:Website – https://toxicbbq.org
VETCON 2026 PARTY
Event
DEF CON is renowned for bringing together some of the brightest minds in technology and security. By participating in VETCON, you have the chance to highlight the critical role veterans play in this landscape and explore how technology can support and enhance their lives.
Links:Website – https://vetconactual.com
Women, gender non-conforming and non-binary meetup with The Diana Initiative
Event
We’d love to get all the gender non conforming, non-binary and women together to hang out and make friends! DEF CON is better with friends. Stop in for a bit, or the whole time.
Links:Website – https://dianainitiative.org
Mastodon (@DianaInitiative@defcon.social) – @DianaInitiative@defcon.social