Welcome to the BSides Nashville 2026 Call for Presentations. We invite speakers and workshop instructors to share insights and knowledge with our community. Our event is open to topics across all levels, from the basics to advanced ideas in security.

Conference Tracks:

This year, we’ll feature two tracks:

• One located on the main stage of Marathon Music works.
• Another located directly across the street at the Foundry.

Guidelines for Speakers:

We welcome both new and experienced speakers. Please note:

• No Vendor Talks! We focus on education, not product pitches.
• All speakers must present live at the event.
• Talks will not be recorded, so attendees can feel free to engage openly.
• Each speaking slot will be approximately 40 minutes long. Please incorporate a gap for Q&A if you're interested in interacting with the audience. 

Guidelines for Workshop Instructors:

• No Vendor Labs! Workshops should not be focused around vendor tools.
• All workshop instructors must be present for the event.
• Workshop slots are either 60 minutes or 120 minutes long.
• Workshops will default to a flat $20 cost per participant, which can be increased up to $100 per attendee. These costs will go towards material(s) required for the workshop and 100% of the funds will be given to the workshop instructor(s).

Blind Review Process:

BSides Nashville uses a blind review process to reduce bias during the talk selection process. We remove names and personal details before review. Avoid including personal information in your talk description unless it directly relates to your topic. Many talks have been denied because they were submitted with context such as "So and So (a CISO at X or Y) has given this talk at A, B, and C."

The blind view process does not apply to workshop submissions.

Review Criteria:

Our review team assesses each proposal on three main areas:

• Topic: We prioritize topics that are relevant, timely, and offer new insights or address current challenges in the security field.
• Content: Proposals should be clear, well-organized, and have a focused message with practical takeaways for attendees.
• Respect for Blind CFP: (Again) we use a blind review process to keep selection fair and unbiased. Please avoid including personal identifiers in your proposal, allowing the focus to remain on the content itself.

Support for First-Time Speakers:

We encourage newcomers to submit! For those new to presenting, consider reaching out to local BSides or security communities for feedback. While we don’t offer direct mentorship, we’re happy to share community resources and links to past talks to help you prepare.

Travel and Accommodation:

Speakers will need to self-fund travel and lodging due to our limited resources, and we’re unable to provide stipends. However, we may have discounted rates available at nearby hotels and can share those details with speakers closer to the event.

We look forward to reading your ideas. Whether you’re sharing a new method, concept, or personal experiences, you are what makes BSides Nashville amazing! 🫰