From 27 to 29 October 2026, the cybersecurity industry will gather at the it-sa Expo&Congress at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. With around 430 sessions across six open forums, Europe’s leading trade fair for IT security is expanding its programme for knowledge transfer and professional exchange. Numerous product-neutral “it-sa insights”, AI-powered translations of forum contributions and the hybrid “it-sa@home” format complement the range of information on offer, providing trade visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to keep up to date with the latest developments in cybersecurity.
The cyber security sector is undergoing constant change. New methods of attack, technological innovations and regulatory requirements call for up-to-date specialist knowledge and ongoing exchange within the community.
With around 430 sessions, it-sa Expo&Congress 2026 offers one of the most comprehensive forum programmes at the event. The six open forums in the exhibition halls give visitors direct access to specialist presentations, case studies and discussions, allowing them to experience the latest cybersecurity topics first-hand. The forums are spread across the halls of the exhibition centre, providing easy access to the latest content right at the heart of the exhibition.
“Cybersecurity is no longer a niche topic confined to individual IT departments. Companies and organisations must continually assess and contextualise technological developments, new threat scenarios and regulatory requirements. With this year’s record high of around 430 forum contributions, we are creating a platform at it-sa where expert knowledge, practical experience and diverse perspectives come together. Our aim is to provide trade visitors with concrete ideas and guidance for their security strategy,” says Thimo Holst, Head of Brand Strategy at it-sa.
Focus on current challenges and future issues
The supporting programme addresses numerous topics that are currently shaping the cybersecurity sector. These include the secure use of artificial intelligence, the protection of digital identities, modern approaches to attack detection and cyber defence, and strategies for greater resilience in the face of growing threats. Furthermore, the presentations and panel discussions will address regulatory requirements, new technological developments and current challenges facing businesses, public authorities and operators of critical infrastructure.
Presentations, case studies and panel discussions offer participants the opportunity to contextualise current developments, exchange experiences and take away concrete ideas for their own organisations. Topics such as identity management, security operations, threat detection, awareness and modern attack scenarios are featured in the programme, as are innovative approaches to digital security.
Numerous it-sa insights provide independent perspectives
The programme is complemented by numerous product-neutral it-sa insights. The presentations and panel discussions address technological, strategic and societal developments and create space for discussions that go beyond specific product solutions. In doing so, they expand the range of information on offer with additional insights and independent analyses.
A prime example of this is the panel discussion “AI Doesn't Take Sides: How It's Rewriting Attack and Defense at Once”, presented by Women4Cyber Germany on 28 October in Forum D. The discussion will examine how artificial intelligence is transforming both the methods used by attackers and the capabilities of modern cyber defence, thereby highlighting the relevance of current future-oriented topics for the industry.
Cyber Incident Simulation: a particular highlight of the programme
One of the programme’s highlights is the special keynote session “Cyber Incident Simulation” on 29 October 2026. In this interactive session, participants take on the role of senior management during an ongoing cyber attack and, under time pressure, make decisions that influence the further course of the scenario. The speaker is Prof. Dr Marco Gercke, Director of the Cybercrime Research Institute. The simulation provides a practical insight into the technical, organisational and strategic decisions that must be made in an emergency and the consequences these can have for organisations. The session will take place as an “it-sa insight” in Forum D.
A glimpse into tomorrow’s innovations
The two Startups@it-sa areas in Hall 6 and Hall 8 offer a unique insight into the future of cyber security. There, young companies will present innovative solutions to current and future challenges in digital security. The start-up areas thus complement the conference programme by offering new perspectives and giving trade visitors the opportunity to engage with innovative technologies, business models and developments in the cyber security sector at an early stage.
A particular highlight for the start-up community is the presentation of the ATHENE Start-up Award UP26@it-sa on 28 October in Forum F. This will mark the ninth time that the best cyber security start-up in the DACH region has been honoured there. The five nominated companies will present their solutions to an audience of industry professionals and the judging panel before this year’s winner is announced.
Available on-site and online
The open forums provide easy access to the latest specialist topics whilst visiting the trade fair. In addition, the hybrid format it-sa@home extends the event’s reach by offering digital access to selected programme items. This allows interested parties to follow the content online and benefit from selected offerings at the event.
Digital support for trade fair preparation
To help prepare for their visit, the digital exhibition guide is available to interested parties even before the event begins. The Digital Guide brings together, amongst other things, the interactive hall plan, the supporting programme, the exhibitor directory, new product launches and further information to help visitors plan their visit individually. In addition, the it-sa 365 platform allows visitors to save details of relevant presentations, exhibitors and appointments.
This means that visitors can benefit from comprehensive planning and information resources even before the event begins, and can tailor their visit to the trade fair specifically to their individual interests and priorities.
To attend the it-sa Expo&Congress, the voucher code itsa26PR can be redeemed in the TicketShop for a multi-day ticket. Registration is required.