Overview
About this event
USENIX Security is one of the field's leading academic conferences. It focuses on rigorous, peer-reviewed systems security and privacy research. The USENIX Association, a nonprofit, has run it for decades.
The symposium covers the full range of computing security. Work spans cryptography, network defense, hardware, and machine learning security. Accepted papers appear in the open-access proceedings.
The 2026 event runs across three days in Baltimore. It sits among the most competitive venues in the field. Attendees come from academia, industry, and government worldwide.
What Usually Happens at USENIX Security?
The core of the event is peer-reviewed paper presentations. Authors present accepted research across parallel sessions. Topics move from applied cryptography to malware analysis.
The programme also includes the Enigma Track for 2026. Poster sessions and Birds-of-a-Feather meetups run alongside. The Test of Time Award recognises papers with lasting impact.
When Is USENIX Security 2026 Taking Place?
The symposium runs August 12-14, 2026. The venue is the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, MD. The official site is usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity26 and registration is open at usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity26/registration-information.
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USENIX Security 2026: Latest Updates
4 topicsSeveral details are now confirmed on the official site. These cover leadership, format, pricing, and sponsors. Everything below is sourced from the USENIX Security '26 event pages. Named keynotes will follow when the full programme is published.
Program Co-Chairs Confirmed
Elissa Redmiles of Georgetown University co-chairs the programme. Ben Stock of CISPA Helmholtz Center co-chairs with her. They lead paper selection across two review cycles.
Enigma Track Joins the Symposium
USENIX Security 2026 features an integrated Enigma Track. David Freeman of Meta chairs this track. It connects practical security and privacy work to research.
Registration Fees Published
This is a paid event, not a free one. Standard registration is US$1400 from July 21. The student standard rate is US$775. Full rates and discount codes are on the registration information page.
Sponsor Line-up Announced
Meta is the platinum sponsor for 2026. Amazon, Google, and TikTok are gold sponsors. IBM is a silver sponsor.
Main Topics at USENIX Security 2026
5 topicsThe call for papers sets out the official topic areas. Submissions must relate to systems security or privacy. The list below reflects the confirmed scope.
Systems and Network Security
This covers operating system and distributed system security. It includes cloud security and intrusion detection. Network protocol analysis also falls here.
Software and Hardware Security
Topics include malware analysis, fuzzing, and program analysis. Hardware work covers side channels and embedded systems. Cyber-physical system security is also in scope.
Cryptography, Privacy, and Anonymity
This spans applied cryptography and deployed protocol analysis. It includes blockchains and privacy-preserving computation. Anonymity, surveillance, and censorship research fit here.
Security and Privacy of Machine Learning
The scope covers attacks and defences across the ML lifecycle. Examples include data poisoning, backdoors, and prompt injection. Work must have a clear systems security angle.
Human Aspects of Security
This area covers usable security and privacy. It includes security law, policy, and ethics. Research on abuse, harassment, and disinformation is welcome.
Event Experiences
4 topicsThe symposium mixes formal sessions with community time. Each format serves a different kind of exchange. The sections below outline what to expect.
Technical Paper Sessions
Accepted papers are presented across parallel tracks. Sessions group work by topic area. Proceedings are open access to the public on the technical sessions page.
Enigma Track
The Enigma Track brings practitioners into the programme. It focuses on real-world security and privacy problems. David Freeman of Meta leads it.
Posters and Networking
Poster sessions showcase early and ongoing research. Birds-of-a-Feather meetups gather people by interest. These sessions support informal discussion and collaboration.
Awards and Recognition
The Test of Time Award honours long-standing research impact. The Internet Defense Prize recognises defensive security work. Meta funds that prize in partnership with USENIX.
Why USENIX Security 2026 Matters
3 topicsThe symposium shapes the direction of security research. Its accepted papers influence both academia and industry. Different groups gain different value from attending.
For Engineers and Technical Leaders
The sessions surface new attacks and practical defences. Engineers can track emerging threats early. Open proceedings make the findings easy to apply.
For Researchers and Academics
Acceptance here carries strong academic weight. The venue is a benchmark for security scholarship. Networking supports collaboration and future work.
For Security Practitioners
The Enigma Track connects research to daily practice. Practitioners can bring findings back to their teams. Government and industry attendees share real-world context.
Agenda
The symposium runs across three days. Times follow US Eastern Time (UTC-4). The full session schedule is on the technical sessions page.
| Date | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, August 12 | Technical sessions, Enigma Track, embargoed papers released | Baltimore Marriott Waterfront |
| Thursday, August 13 | Technical sessions, posters, awards | Baltimore Marriott Waterfront |
| Friday, August 14 | Technical sessions, closing programme | Baltimore Marriott Waterfront |
Following this event? Get the updates as they drop.
Registration and Access
USENIX Security 2026 requires paid registration. The early bird deadline was July 20, 2026. Standard rates apply after that date. Register on the registration information page.
| Pass Type | Details | Price / Status |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Full symposium access from July 21 | US$1400 |
| Standard Student | Full access, student rate from July 21 | US$775 |
| Early Bird | Full access through July 20 | US$1100 (deadline passed) |
| Early Bird Student | Student rate through July 20 | US$625 (deadline passed) |
| Member discount | Champion, Sustainer, or Student member | US$200, US$125, or US$75 off |
Member discounts require a discount code from USENIX. The cancellation deadline was July 27, 2026.
Venue
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
USENIX secured a room rate of US$250 plus tax for single or double occupancy, including in-room wireless internet. The room block runs through July 20, 2026 and may close earlier if rooms sell out. Attendees should check the hotel site for parking details. The hotel phone number is +1 410.385.3000.
Date & Time
Aug 12–14
Starts 9:00 AM EDT
Location
Baltimore, MD 21202
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, USA
Format
In-person
On location only
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
700 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
Speakers3
Engineers shipping the work, not theorizing about it
Named keynote speakers are not yet published for 2026. The confirmed programme leadership appears below, and the full presenter list follows on the technical sessions page.
Recap: 2025 & 2024
The biggest announcements from the last 2 35th USENIX Security Symposium (USENIX Security '26) editions.
USENIX Security 2025 Recap
USENIX Security runs every year in a US city, and both recent editions offer open-access proceedings, slides, and videos. The 34th symposium ran August 13-15, 2025, in Seattle at the Seattle Convention Center. The year also marked USENIX's 50th anniversary.
See the USENIX Security '25 programme and the 2025 Test of Time Award.
Main announcements included:
- The programme included a USENIX 50th Anniversary Celebration
- The 2025 Test of Time Award went to "Comprehensive Experimental Analyses of Automotive Attack Surfaces"
- That 2011 paper included Stefan Savage and Hovav Shacham
- Meta and TikTok ran sponsor events on site
- An LGBTQ+ and Allies happy hour featured in the schedule
- Proceedings, slides, and videos are free on the technical sessions page
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