Call for Speakers
BSidesChicago 2025
31 Oct 2025
1 Nov 2025
Chicago Hilton, 720 S Michigan Ave Chicago, Illinois, United States
bsideschicago.org
🎉 BSidesChicago 2025 is back — and we’re going BIGGER than ever! 🎉
That’s right: we’re celebrating our 12th in-person year by leveling up to two full days of flamingo-fueled security goodness.
🛠 October 31st = Workshops: Hands-on, minds-on, get-your-hands-dirty workshops. Whether you want to deep dive into reverse engineering, policy evasion, or something you've never even heard of (yet), this is your playground.
🎤 November 1st = Main Conference: Four jam-packed tracks of brilliant talks, zero-fluff learning, wild hallway track convos, and yes — the return of the CTF, Lockpick Village, Career Village, and the now-infamous Great Flamingo Hunt 🦩. (Good luck catching those robot flamingos this year...)
💡 We use blind reviews — our reviewers won’t know who you are, just what you bring to the table. If your talk isn’t selected, you’ll still get thoughtful feedback to help level up your submission game.
📝 Pro Tip: The Abstract is what goes in the public schedule, but it’s the Detailed Description that wins hearts (and top scores) from the review team.
So bring the weird, the wonderful, the wicked smart. We want first-timers, seasoned veterans, and anyone ready to help make the security world better (and more fun).
💬 Come teach. Come learn. Come help us make magic in Chicago!
Call for Speakers
22 May 2025
31 Jul 2025
🎤 BSidesChicago 2025: Call for Submissions 🦩
It’s time. Whether you're ready to deliver a zero-fluff technical deep dive, a thought-provoking community session, or a hands-on workshop that leaves people thinking “I didn’t know I could do that!” — we want to hear from you!
🔥 NEW THIS YEAR: We’re a TWO-DAY CONFERENCE!
- Workshops happen on Friday, October 31st
- Main Talks happen on Saturday, November 1st
We’re running two separate CFPs — so read carefully!
🛠️ Call for Workshops
Want to teach a room full of curious hackers how to exploit a protocol, build a threat model, reverse-engineer firmware, or anything in between? This is your moment!
- Opens: May 22
- Closes: June 27
- Notification by: July 11
- Confirmation due: July 31
🎙️ General Call for Talks
We’re talking technical talks, GRC hacks, human factors, offbeat research, and career truth bombs. If it’s got substance and style, bring it!!
- Opens: June 28
- Closes: July 31
- Notification by: August 29
- Confirmation due: Sept 6
⚠️ CFP Rules & Tips
- Only 2 submissions per person this year — pick your best!
- We use anonymous review — so no names, bios, or personal shout outs in your submission, please.
- No product/vendor pitches. We will reject them outright (and possibly glare disapprovingly at your company sticker table).
- Check out this example of a GOOD CFP submission — it applies to both talks and workshops.
🧠 Submission Tips
Your abstract is the blurb participants will see in the schedule. Your description is where we want all the juicy stuff — learning goals, your structure, your spicy outline, your pacing, and how you’ll leave participants smarter than when they walked in. Bonus points for originality, clarity, and accessibility.
🎟️ Speaker Perks
- 1 free badge per accepted speaker (panels may be limited)
- 2 drink tickets per speaker
- Access to the speaker green room (with snacks!)
- Major love from the BSidesChicago crew and community
- No travel or honoraria provided (we’re a volunteer-led event)
- You get to help/support others, which is the best perk of all!!
💥 Let’s make some magic. Submit your talk or workshop and help make BSidesChicago 2025 the most unforgettable, inclusive, and electrifying security event of the year.
🦩 Get weird. Get real. Get submitting.