Your Survival Guide to RSAC 2026, San Francisco, USA: Where You and the World Talk Security

What are your defenses missing? If there’s one thing attackers fear most, it’s when the good guys get together. RSAC 2026 is happening March 23-26, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.  

Whether you’re a seasoned expert or security enthusiast, this is your time to build life-long networks that lead to better defenses and stronger careers. 

In this article, you’ll find: 

• Answers to your top questions about the 2026 RSAC Conference 

• This year’s hottest topics and a theme that unites you with the sharpest minds in cybersecurity 

• The most popular networking events to see and be seen by industry leaders 

• (Actually) fun hands-on learning you can tap to supercharge your practical skills 

• The Marvel superhero set to close out RSAC 2026 – and his surprising link to cybersecurity 

• A special announcement from LastPass

#1 Answers to your top questions about the RSAC 2026 Conference 

What is RSAC 2026, and why should I attend? 

The RSA Conference or RSAC is where “the world talks security.” RSA is both a public-key cryptographic algorithm and the initials of its creators’ surnames: Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman. 

RSAC attracts more than 40,000 attendees annually (RSAC 2025 drew 44,000 from around the world) and is a fantastic opportunity to elevate your skills, expand your network, and engage with the brightest minds in cybersecurity. 

When is RSAC™ 2026 or what are the 2026 RSAC conference dates? 

RSAC™ 2026 will take place from March 23-26, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. 

How do I register for RSAC™ 2026? 

To register, you must have an RSAC account. 

RSAC 2025 saw the introduction of a new login system, which required all attendees to create a new account. If you attended last year and created the new account, just sign in to register for RSAC 2026. 

If you need to update your password, don’t worry. You can make this task quick and painless with the LastPass generator.  

How much does RSAC™ 2026 cost? 

An all-access pass for RSAC 2026 is $2,695 (standard rate). However, the price rises to $2,995 from March 21, 2026, onwards. 

RSAC 2026 ALL ACCESS standard & onsite rates

Are there any special rates or discounts for RSAC 2026? 

Yes, RSAC 2026 offers special rates for LoyaltyPlus attendees, government employees, students/faculty, and groups. * 

*All discounted rates expire Feb 20, 2026* 

RSAC 2026 ALL ACCESS discount rates

RSAC 2026 EXPO PLUS rates

RSAC 2026 EXPO rates

What’s the difference between Expo Plus and Expo? 

The difference between Expo Plus and Expo lies in the level of access. 

The Expo pass grants access to: 

• Sessions within one track 

• Main stage keynotes (Tuesday & Wednesday) 

• Early-Stage Expo featuring Next Stage (Wednesday & Thursday) 

• Expo & sponsor briefings 

• Welcome reception 

• Expo Pub Crawl 

• United Airlines discount 

• Complimentary RSAC membership 

If you upgrade to Expo Plus, you’ll get access to everything in Expo and: 

• Sessions across five tracks 

• Villages Hands-On Activities & Cyber Starter Lounge

• Partner seminars 

• Main Stage closing celebration Thursday 

• YBCA keynotes

• CyBEER Ops Networking Reception 

• Innovation Sandbox (live session where Top 10 finalists take the stage) 

• Launch Pad (live session where 3 finalists give “Shark-Tank" style pitches) 

• Early-Stage Expo featuring Next Stage (all days) 

• Attendance report for CE credit eligibility 

• Cybrew Café 

Essentially, Expo Plus offers a more comprehensive experience than Expo. 

Can I attend RSAC™ 2026 for free? 

It’s possible to attend for free under these conditions: 

• As a member of the media. Qualified members can register for a complimentary Press Pass, Analyst Pass, or Content Creator Pass (new). Check here to see if you qualify for a complimentary pass. 

• As a college student or 2025 graduate on RSAC College Day (Thursday, Mar 26, 2025). You’ll receive a free one-day pass to access dozens of sessions & keynotes plus two (2) tailored experiences just for you. Looking for the popular resume review & networking session? See the schedule here, so you don’t miss anything.  

To qualify, you must either (1) register using an .edu email address (2) provide a copy of your class schedule with valid student ID or proof of 2025 graduation. 

• As an Expo-only attendant using special invitation codes from RSAC 2026 sponsors like Google Cloud, SecurityScorecard, Cyberhaven, Nucleus Security, or AppGate. Tip: Use the provided codes to get free Expo access. 

Are there any RSAC 2026 hotel discounts? 

Yes, RSAC has partnered with onPeak to offer RSAC hotel discounts. Check out the official RSAC 2026 hotels and rates here. Booking through onPeak will get you the best selection and discounts. 

Note: You can only make RSAC Conference hotel reservations after completing your registration for RSAC 2026. 

What do I need to badge in or enter RSAC 2026? 

All RSAC 2026 attendees must wear and display their badges prominently at all times. A government issued photo ID is required to get an RSAC 2026 badge. 

Remember: Keep track of your badge at all times. If you lose your badge, you’ll have to purchase a new one for $50. Whatever you do, don’t use someone else’s. Per RSAC rules: If you do so, both you and the attendee who lent you their badge will be removed from the premises, without refunds.  

Will I get RSA Conference CPE (Continuing Professional Education) units for attending? 

Yes. If you’re a member of ISC2, CompTIA, or ISACA, be sure to list your member identification number during registration to receive credits. 

#2 This year’s hottest topics and a theme that unites you with the sharpest minds in cybersecurity 

Each year, RSAC chooses a special theme to highlight its significance to cybersecurity. For 2026, the theme is “Power of Community.” 

Previous themes have drawn inspiration from notable figures like Edgar Allen Poe and Haruki Murakami. But for 2026, it’s an African proverb that inspires: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." 

Essentially, the proverb celebrates the power of collaborative strength in creating a unified force against shared threats. 

And if you’re still on the fence about attending, the 2026 RSAC Conference agenda is groundbreaking, packed with actionable strategies to harness cutting-edge technologies like Agentic AI to fight emerging threats. 

How many sessions will there be at RSAC 2026? 

There will be 430+ sessions and more than 500 speakers at RSAC 2026, with a strong emphasis on: 

• Nation state hacker threats and security strategies (148 sessions) 

• Intersection of AI and security (92 sessions)  

• Identity and the human element (69 sessions) 

• Network and communications security (42 sessions) 

• Privacy/data protection & third-party risk management (38 sessions) 

Will AI be a major focus at RSAC 2026? 

Yes, RSAC 2026 will have a major focus on AI-assisted defense and the intersection between AI, identity, and governance. 

Here’s why: AI agents have high privileges, and attackers know it. As AI agents increasingly integrate with internal SaaS and critical infrastructure systems, nation state actors are weaponizing the #1 thing that gets them access: identity. 

Big Four-linked groups are already stealing AI agent credentials to: 

• Access and interact with internal SaaS apps and APIs 

• Move laterally across SaaS and cloud environments 

• Read or modify data 

• Exfiltrate information quietly 

So, it’s no surprise that RSAC 2026 is prioritizing the intersection of AI and security amidst heightened nation state threats. 

 

Sessions on this intersection will focus on: 

• Measuring agentic AI risk as geopolitical threats rise 

• The security, governance, and control of agentic AI in mission-critical systems 

• Leveraging identity as the foundation of Zero Trust in cloud-native, AI-enabled environments 

• Navigating defense as AI-assisted coding introduces new attack surfaces 

#3 The most popular networking events to see and be seen by industry leaders 

RSAC 2026 is more than just a conference. It’s also where you can connect with like-minded professionals, industry pioneers, CEOs, and global experts over cocktails and tacos. 

From casual events to exclusive receptions, there’s something for everyone.

More events will be added as RSAC 2026 approaches. To keep up with new additions, please refer to this 2026 RSAC conference parties page.  

#4 (Actually) fun hands-on learning you can tap to supercharge your practical skills 

An outstanding – yet often overlooked – resource at RSAC is the variety of interactive programs available to both beginners and experts. 

Just ONE session in an RSAC Village will dramatically increase your practical skills, which can be critical in enhancing your organization’s security posture. 

RSAC™ Villages

What It Is: An immersive space with several interactive villages, each focused on specific disciplines such as AI, AppSec, cloud security, ICS (industrial control systems), and physical security.

Village hours:

• Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026, 9:30 AM - 3:15 PM PT 

• Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM PT 

• Thursday, Mar 26, 2026, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM PT 

Open to: All Access and Expo Plus pass holders

Why attend: To learn by participating in activities with real-world applications

First-timer LoyaltyPlus Reception

Not ready to spring into action? If this is your first time at RSAC, you’re in for a treat.  

First-time All-Access attendees can enjoy a First-Timer reception and learn the ropes from RSAC veterans over hors d’oeuvres and drinks. 

Date and time: Sunday, Mar 22, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM PDT

Why attend: Enjoy a low-pressure atmosphere, where you can get your questions answered about navigating sessions, exhibits, and after-parties.

#5 The Marvel superhero set to close out RSAC 2026 – and his surprising link to cybersecurity 

If your vote was on Wolverine, pat yourself on the back.  

Yes, Hugh Jackman aka Wolverine will be the closing keynote speaker for RSAC 2026! 

Did you know Jackman played an elite hacker in the 2001 movie Swordfish? 

In the movie, Stanley Jobson (played by Jackman) is a down-and-out hacker on parole for infecting the FBI’s Carnivore surveillance program with a virus. 

Jobson is hired by the enigmatic Gabriel Shear (played by John Travolta), who heads up Black Cell, an ultra-secret counter-terrorist unit. 

Shear wants Jobson to create a “hydra” worm to steal $9.5 billion from a secret government slush fund. The money will allow Shear to fund operations without - you guessed it - government oversight. 

And he offers Jobson a reward he can’t turn down: $10 million, which will give Jobson more than enough money to challenge his ex-wife's restraining order.  

The same order that’s blocking Jobson’s access to his daughter, Holly. 

What follows is a cat-and-mouse game worthy of a hacker thriller, replete with bank heists, C-4 explosives, and a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane depositing a bus full of bank hostages on the roof of a skyscraper.  

Typical Hollywood stuff. 

As for Jobson, he secretly codes a backdoor into the hydra worm to “automatically” transfer back stolen funds sometime in the future (unlikely in real life once behavioral analytics, micro segmentation, and zero trust are factored in on the banking side).  

So, does Jobson’s little ruse “succeed”?  

You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. 

And although the jury is still out on what Jackman will discuss in his closing speech, one thing’s clear: His charisma and high-energy showmanship will end RSAC 2026 on a high note, making it one of the more memorable security conferences you’ll attend this year. 

#6 A special announcement from LastPass (TBD) 

As a global IDaaS (identity-as-a-service) leader, we’re committed to empowering your organization in securing every access point. 

Our goal is to make identity security so effortless and efficient, you have peace of mind to pursue what you do best: growing your business. 

So, YES, we’re going to be at RSAC 2026! And our expert team looks forward to greeting and welcoming you. 

Most importantly, you can look forward to a series of events that’ll give you practical insights for strengthening your defenses. More updates are coming soon, so stay tuned. 

We can't wait to see you at RSAC 2026!