Call for Papers – why you should submit before March 15th

The Call for Papers for CONFidence 2026 is in its final stretch. With the submission deadline set for 15 March 2026, now is the time to turn your research, case study, or incident analysis into a lecture proposal.

We have already outlined what we are looking for: real-world experience, technical depth, and lessons learned. Now, let’s go deeper – into what you gain as a speaker, how your submission is reviewed, how this year’s tracks are structured, and finally, what about the Villages?

Why speak at CONFidence? More than just a stage

Speaking at CONFidence isn’t just about delivering a 45-minute talk. It’s about stepping into a room filled with people who truly care about how things work, how they break, and what we can do about it.

As detailed on our Call For Papers page, selected speakers receive:

• Exposure to 2000+ security professionals from across Europe and beyond
• Strong visibility among engineers, researchers, and technical decision-makers
• Recognition at one of the most technically respected cybersecurity conferences
• On-site support and organization assistance to ensure a smooth experience

Beyond the bullet points, here’s what it really means

It means presenting your research to an audience that really listens and asks sharp questions. Lots of hallway conversations that go deeper than the slides. Meeting people who’ve faced the same issues, incident chaos, or exploit challenges you have.

For many past speakers, CONFidence was a place to share original research with peers who truly understand it, analyse incidents and discuss what actually happened, verify new offensive or defensive approaches, and most of all – build long-term relationships. If you’re proud of your work and think others can learn from it, this is your stage.

A review process led by practitioners

Submitting to a cybersecurity conference can sometimes feel like sending your research into the unknown, but that’s not the case with CONFidence. Every proposal is reviewed by our Program Committee, a group of experienced security experts who actively build, break, defend, and investigate. 

This means that your work is evaluated by professionals who understand technical depth. Proposals are assessed for originality, relevance, and real-world applicability. Purely theoretical or marketing talks won’t make it into the lineup. If your abstract clearly explains what the audience will learn, why it matters, and how it’s grounded in reality, you’re speaking their language.

Choose your stage: the Tracks

CONFidence 2026 is structured around four tracks that reflect how security work happens in practice – Offense, Defense, Future Tech, and Exec Track (check the details of the CONFidence tracks). Whether you break systems, defend them, or explore what’s next, there is a place for your insights. 

From slides to action: the Villages

CONFidence isn’t just about listening to great talks, it’s about getting your hands dirty. The Villages are spaces built for practitioners who learn by doing. Live labs, hardware setups, blue team simulations, hacking challenges, and tool playgrounds, all running in parallel with the main conference. Villages are great if you want to present tools in a live setting or build a CTF-style challenge. Find out more about the idea of CONFidence Villages. 

The deadline is coming: 15 March 2026

Don’t leave your submission for the last minute. Take the stage at CONFidence 2026 and start conversations that move cybersecurity forward.