Conference Description
- Annual Minnesota-based hacker and cybersecurity conference
- Focus on hands-on learning, AI security, privacy, and hacker culture
- Features technical talks, workshops, live demos, and Capture the Flag competitions
- Designed for security professionals, researchers, and technology experts
- Emphasizes community engagement, collaboration, and practical skills
SecretCon is Minnesota’s premier hacker and cybersecurity conference, returning for its fourth year on June 4-5, 2026, in St. Paul. The event gathers over 700 attendees for two days of immersive learning, technical exploration, and community-driven engagement. SecretCon is recognized for its commitment to advancing cybersecurity knowledge, fostering collaboration, and celebrating the spirit of hacker culture.
Event Overview
SecretCon stands out as a multi-track, in-person conference dedicated to practical security, privacy, and emerging technologies. The agenda includes keynotes, technical presentations, hands-on workshops, and live demonstrations. Attendees participate in Capture the Flag competitions and interactive sessions designed to build real-world skills and encourage experimentation.
The event is tailored for a diverse audience, including cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers, penetration testers, IT practitioners, developers, engineers, and executives. Industries represented span technology, healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and finance, ensuring a broad exchange of ideas and expertise.
Core Topics and Themes
SecretCon’s content covers a wide range of subjects critical to modern cybersecurity. Main topics include application security, artificial intelligence security, privacy, hardware hacking, cloud security, incident response, threat intelligence, encryption, forensics, malware, IoT, social engineering, risk management, healthcare IT, automotive security, and biohacking.
Both offensive and defensive security are explored through red team and blue team sessions. The conference also highlights the latest trends in AI governance, privacy-preserving technologies, and hacker culture, providing attendees with actionable insights and strategies.
Community and Professional Development
SecretCon is designed to foster a strong sense of community among participants. Networking opportunities, career-focused sessions, and sponsor engagement support professional growth and collaboration. The event’s interactive format encourages knowledge sharing and the development of practical skills that address current cybersecurity challenges.
With its emphasis on hands-on learning, bold ideas, and cutting-edge security, SecretCon continues to serve as a vital hub for those passionate about advancing cybersecurity and building a resilient digital future.