# black-hat

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/conferences/black-hat/
Last updated: 2026-10-31
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

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## What this conference is for

Black Hat USA is the largest vendor-neutral offensive-security research conference in North America, drawing more than 23,000 verified attendees to Las Vegas in August 2026, as reported by trade publication TSNN, for a program built around original vulnerability research, red-team methodology, and hands-on training rather than product pitches. It runs alongside DEF CON the same week and functions as the year's biggest venue for disclosing new attack techniques, including the ones that target [authentication](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/authentication/), [passkeys](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/authentication/passkeys-101/), and [non-human identity](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/fundamentals/what-is-non-human-identity/).

## Who should attend

Security researchers and red teamers who want deep technical briefings, and identity and security leaders tracking which attack techniques are moving from research to real-world exploitation. The Business Hall also concentrates a year's worth of identity and access management product launches into two days.

## What we cover

Black Hat's program spans the entire security stack, most of it outside identity. Our coverage is narrow and deliberate: the briefings, research disclosures, and vendor launches that are specifically about authentication, identity infrastructure, machine and non-human identity, and access control. See our [Black Hat USA 2026 recap](https://startwithidentity.com/blog/black-hat-usa-2026-recap/) for what stood out this year.

## Coverage

This is independent community coverage of identity-relevant themes, not an official summary of the conference. Always confirm specific research and product claims with the original researchers, vendors, or the [official site](https://blackhat.com).