Black Hat USA 2026
Las Vegas
August 1–6, 2026
Mandalay Bay Convention Center — 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
The world's most prominent technical information security conference — 20,000+ cybersecurity professionals across six days of Trainings (Aug 1–4) and Briefings (Aug 5–6) at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. On-site pool party at Tailgate Beach Club. Hakkasan Nightclub walkable in 10 minutes.
Dates
Aug 1–6, 2026
Venue
Mandalay Bay MBCC
Attendance
20,000+
On-Site Pool
Tailgate Beach Club
About the Conference
The World's Largest Technical Information Security Conference
Black Hat USA 2026 is the premier global forum for advanced cybersecurity research, enterprise security strategy, and professional development — a six-day event combining intensive Trainings (August 1–4) with the two-day main Briefings conference (August 5–6) at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. With 20,000+ attendees from enterprise security teams, government agencies, independent researchers, and vendor organizations, Black Hat draws the most technical and decision-making-capable audience of any security conference globally. The Briefings program features peer-reviewed research presentations that routinely result in responsible disclosure of significant vulnerabilities and tool releases that reshape industry defensive practice.
The conference's location at the southern tip of the Las Vegas Strip gives Black Hat USA a distinct logistical character compared to conventions at the Las Vegas Convention Center (north Strip). Mandalay Bay sits at the end of the boulevard — approximately 2.5 to 3 miles south of center-Strip hotels, ARIA, Cosmopolitan, and Caesars Palace. The most immediately accessible major nightclub is Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand (0.5 miles north, walkable in 10 minutes). On-site nightlife within the Mandalay Bay complex includes House of Blues (live music venue), Skyfall Lounge at Delano (64th floor panoramic bar), Tailgate Beach Club (pool party, Thu–Sun), and Moorea Beach Club (adults-only pool, daily). This on-site infrastructure makes Black Hat the easiest major Las Vegas convention to access quality nightlife without rideshare.
Black Hat's three distinct attendee segments have different nightlife profiles. Enterprise vendors — who staff the Business Hall and host client entertainment throughout the week — typically operate with corporate entertainment budgets, preferring Hakkasan VIP tables, TAO for client dinners, or OMNIA for large-group bookings. Senior security practitioners and independent researchers favor quieter environments: Skyfall Lounge at Delano, ARIA's Liquid Pool during the day, or House of Blues programming on-site. Training attendees — often early-to-mid-career practitioners attending intensive courses — tend toward EBC (Encore Beach Club), Drai's, or Hakkasan's Saturday and Sunday programming.
A critical note for 2026 planning: XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas is closed August 1 through December 31, 2026 for full renovation and reopens New Year's Eve. Any Black Hat nightlife plan that previously included XS needs to be revised. EBC at Night (Encore Beach Club at Night, open Wednesday through Saturday) is the functional replacement for Wynn-area nightclub programming during Black Hat week.
Program Structure
Trainings & Briefings — Black Hat USA 2026
Aug 1–4 (Sat–Tue)
Trainings
Four days of intensive two-day and four-day deep-dive training courses across 70+ topics: offensive security, cloud security, AI adversarial attacks, red team operations, malware analysis, bug bounty methodology, and more. Separate registration required ($3,000–$6,000+ per course). Training attendees have full convention floor access.
Training attendance runs approximately 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center south hall hosts Training classrooms. Saturday and Sunday training courses continue through the weekend — the convention floor is active from day one.
Aug 5–6 (Wed–Thu)
Briefings
The main two-day conference: keynotes, research presentations on newly discovered vulnerabilities, the Business Hall vendor expo floor, and Arsenal open-source tool demonstrations. The most visible component of Black Hat USA for the broader security industry.
Business Hall (vendor expo) is exclusive to Briefings. Arsenal (tool demos from security researchers) runs both days. Keynote attendance is first-come-first-served in the main stage area. Badge pickup for Briefings-only attendees opens Tuesday evening August 4.
Schedule
Daily Schedule — Black Hat USA 2026
Saturday, August 1
Training Day 1
Four-day training courses open. Registration and badge pickup at MBCC West Hall entrance.
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, August 2
Training Day 2
Continued training coursework. House of Blues: Beach Bunny + The Beths 7:30 PM on-site.
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Monday, August 3
Training Day 3
Two-day training courses begin (second cohort). Vendor demo appointments common Monday.
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday, August 4
Training Day 4
Final training day. Briefings badge pickup opens evening. Vendor-client dinners peak.
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, August 5
Briefings Day 1
Keynote, Business Hall opens, Arsenal. Main conference population arrives.
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday, August 6
Briefings Day 2
Closing day. DEF CON 34 opens same day at Caesars Palace Forum. Bridge events.
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Schedule confirmed at blackhat.com/us-26/. Briefings badge pickup for non-Training attendees opens Tuesday evening August 4. Source: blackhat.com/us-26/registration.html
Planning Guide
How to Navigate Black Hat USA 2026
Book Trainings 3–4 Months Before the Conference
Popular Black Hat training courses — especially anything covering offensive tooling, red team operations, or AI security — routinely sell out 90+ days in advance. If your organization is budget-approving training attendance, register before May to secure seats in top-tier courses. Waitlists do clear but not reliably. The Black Hat training catalog at blackhat.com/us-26/training typically opens March–April for the August event.
Stay at Mandalay Bay or Delano for Zero-Transit Convention Access
Mandalay Bay Hotel is physically connected to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center via indoor walkway — the fastest possible access with no outdoor exposure in August heat (108°F average high). Delano Las Vegas (the premium connected tower) offers adult-only floors, quieter atmosphere, and access to Skyfall Lounge on the 64th floor. Both book out fast during Black Hat — confirm your reservation immediately after registering for the conference.
Use Hakkasan for Group Dinners and Nightlife in One Venue
MGM Grand is 0.5 miles north of Mandalay Bay — a 10-minute walk or 2-minute rideshare. Hakkasan runs R&Bae Wednesdays with DJ Franzen (August 5, Briefings Day 1) and a full-production Saturday set (August 1). MGM Grand also hosts Craft Steak and the Hakkasan restaurant tier above the nightclub. One rideshare gets your group dinner and nightlife on one property.
Tailgate Beach Club: On-Site Pool Party Saturday, Sunday, and Thursday
Tailgate Beach Club inside the Mandalay Bay beach complex is the only major pool party venue within the conference footprint. Open Saturday August 1 (9 AM–5 PM), Sunday August 2 (11 AM–5 PM), and Thursday August 6 (11 AM–5 PM). Access directly through the Mandalay Bay casino floor — no rideshare needed. The 145-foot LED screen wall and 5-pool layout handles large groups. Book a cabana early — Black Hat and DEF CON overlap weekend hits peak Tailgate demand.
XS at Wynn Is Closed — Plan Accordingly
XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas is closed August 1 through December 31, 2026 for full renovation. Any pre-conference plan that included XS needs to be updated. The strongest Wynn-area substitute during Black Hat week is EBC at Night (Encore Beach Club at Night), open Wednesday–Saturday and approximately 6–8 minutes from Mandalay Bay by rideshare. OMNIA at Caesars Palace is the other top-tier alternative for main-stage EDM production.
Use Skyfall Lounge at Delano for Client Entertainment
Skyfall Lounge on the 64th floor of Delano Las Vegas has panoramic Strip views and is accessible without leaving the Mandalay Bay complex. It is the most appropriate client entertainment venue for cybersecurity account executives and sales leadership hosting customer dinners or evening receptions — intimate, upscale, and demonstrably Las Vegas without the operational complexity of securing nightclub tables mid-conference. Reservations strongly recommended: contact Delano concierge at least 48 hours in advance.
Thursday August 6 Doubles as DEF CON Opening Day
Black Hat Briefings close Thursday August 6 at 5:00 PM. DEF CON 34 opens the same day at Caesars Palace Forum — approximately 2.5 miles north, 6–7 minutes by rideshare. Many Black Hat practitioners bridge directly to DEF CON on Thursday evening. If you plan to attend both, book DEF CON registration separately and confirm hotel availability near Caesars for the DEF CON window (August 6–9). The dual-conference handoff on Thursday evening is the highest-energy nightlife moment of the combined Hacker Summer Camp window.
Aug 1–6 Picks
Black Hat Week Nightlife — Night by Night
Confirmed venues and performers for Black Hat USA 2026. Mid-conference weeknight evenings (Mon–Wed) have the most accessible guest list availability — free entry versus $30–$100+ walk-up cover at the same venues on weekend nights. Note: XS Nightclub at Wynn is closed Aug 1–Dec 31 for renovation.
Training 8 AM to 6 PM · Tailgate Beach Club 9 AM
Tailgate Beach Club
Opening Weekend Programming
9:00 AM · Dayclub · Mandalay Bay (On-Site)
Encore Beach Club
The Chainsmokers
11:00 AM · Dayclub · Wynn (6-min rideshare)
Palm Tree Beach Club
Saturday Programming
11:00 AM · Dayclub · MGM Grand (10-min walk)
OMNIA Nightclub
DJ Snake
10:30 PM · Nightclub · Caesars Palace (7-min rideshare)
Hakkasan Nightclub
Hakkasan Saturdays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · MGM Grand (10-min walk)
Saturday is the first training day and the best single nightlife night of Black Hat week. The Chainsmokers headline Encore Beach Club (2.3 miles, 6-min rideshare) — the top daytime booking of the conference window. Tailgate Beach Club is on-site at Mandalay Bay for attendees who want a pool day without a rideshare. Saturday nightclubs — OMNIA with DJ Snake, Hakkasan Saturdays — operate at peak production without weekend-premium conference markup. Book guest list 24–48 hours in advance for both nightclub options.
Training 8 AM to 6 PM · House of Blues 7:30 PM
Tailgate Beach Club
Sunday Programming
11:00 AM · Dayclub · Mandalay Bay (On-Site)
Palm Tree Beach Club
Sunday Programming
11:00 AM · Dayclub · MGM Grand (10-min walk)
LIV Nightclub
R&B Sundays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · Fontainebleau (10-min rideshare)
Hakkasan Nightclub
Hakkasan Sundays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · MGM Grand (2-min rideshare)
Sunday has the highest-value on-site event of the conference week: Beach Bunny and The Beths at House of Blues Mandalay Bay at 7:30 PM — two back-to-back indie rock headliners in the convention complex, no rideshare required, and doors close before midnight, making it compatible with Monday morning training resumption. For attendees who prefer live music to clubs, Sunday evening at House of Blues is the priority. Tailgate Beach Club runs Sunday afternoon 11 AM–5 PM for a zero-transit daytime option.
Training 8 AM to 6 PM
Marquee Nightclub
Marquee Mondays
10:00 PM · Nightclub · The Cosmopolitan (8-min rideshare)
OMNIA Nightclub
OMNIA Monday Series
10:30 PM · Nightclub · Caesars Palace (7-min rideshare)
TAO Nightclub
TAO Mondays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · The Venetian (9-min rideshare)
Monday is the most demanding training day — two-day course cohorts begin their final day, and four-day course attendees are at the midpoint. The best nightlife strategy is a single-venue late start at 11 PM rather than an early extended session. Marquee Mondays at The Cosmopolitan is the most consistent Monday programming on the Strip. For groups staying at Mandalay Bay, factor 20–25 minutes total for rideshare return after closing.
Training 8 AM to 6 PM · Briefings badge pickup opens evening
Marquee Nightclub
Marquee Tuesdays
10:00 PM · Nightclub · The Cosmopolitan (8-min rideshare)
OMNIA Nightclub
OMNIA Tuesday Series
10:30 PM · Nightclub · Caesars Palace (7-min rideshare)
TAO Nightclub
TAO Tuesdays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · The Venetian (9-min rideshare)
Zouk Nightclub
Zouk Tuesdays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · Resorts World (12-min rideshare)
Tuesday August 4 is the transition night: last day of Trainings plus Briefings badge pickup opening in the evening. Vendor and enterprise attendees often schedule client dinners Tuesday night ahead of the Business Hall opening Wednesday. OMNIA Tuesday Series is the best single choice for a mid-week nightclub night — sophisticated venue architecture with lower crowd density than weekend peaks, accessible to all attendee segments without prior familiarity with specific DJ lineups.
Briefings 8 AM to 6 PM · Business Hall + Arsenal opens
Palm Tree Beach Club
Drift Wednesdays
11:00 AM · Dayclub · MGM Grand (10-min walk)
Hakkasan Nightclub
DJ Franzen — R&Bae Wednesdays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · MGM Grand (2-min rideshare)
EBC at Night
Wednesday Programming
10:30 PM · Nightclub · Wynn (7-min rideshare)
Marquee Nightclub
Marquee Wednesdays
10:00 PM · Nightclub · The Cosmopolitan (8-min rideshare)
Wednesday August 5 is the strategic peak of Black Hat nightlife. The Business Hall opens in the morning, vendor-buyer meetings run all day, and by evening the full Briefings population is activated and looking for dinner and nightlife. Hakkasan R&Bae Wednesdays with DJ Franzen is the strongest mid-week booking of the conference window — 0.5 miles from Mandalay Bay, walkable in 10 minutes. Palm Tree Beach Club runs Drift Wednesdays for an afternoon pool option (10-min walk from MBCC). Wednesday is the optimal night to invest in a Hakkasan nightclub table for team or client entertainment.
Briefings 8 AM to 5 PM · DEF CON 34 opens same day
Tailgate Beach Club
Thursday Programming
11:00 AM · Dayclub · Mandalay Bay (On-Site)
Palm Tree Beach Club
Thursday Programming
11:00 AM · Dayclub · MGM Grand (10-min walk)
Hakkasan Nightclub
Hakkasan Thursdays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · MGM Grand (2-min rideshare)
TAO Nightclub
TAO Thursdays
10:30 PM · Nightclub · The Venetian (9-min rideshare)
Drai’s After Hours
After Hours Opens 1 AM
1:00 AM · After Hours · The Vanderpump Hotel
Thursday August 6 is the highest-energy closing night of Black Hat — and DEF CON 34 opens the same day at Caesars Palace Forum. Briefings close at 5 PM, leaving a full evening for the natural closing celebration. Tailgate Beach Club is on-site at Mandalay Bay for a Thursday afternoon transition from convention floor to pool. For attendees bridging to DEF CON, Thursday evening is the unofficial handoff — many practitioners move from Mandalay Bay to Caesars by rideshare after 8 PM. Drai’s After Hours opens at 1 AM Thursday at The Vanderpump Hotel for the late-night extension.
Where to Stay
Hotels for Black Hat USA 2026 Attendees
Mandalay Bay is the conference hotel with direct walkway to MBCC. MGM Grand (0.5 mi north) is the best alternative for Hakkasan on-property access. Center-Strip hotels add 7–10 min rideshare to MBCC but provide better all-week nightlife access.
Mandalay Bay
Conference hotel. Direct walkway to MBCC. Tailgate Beach Club + Moorea Beach Club on-property. House of Blues for live music. 3,200 rooms — book early.
Delano Las Vegas
Premium connected tower (adult-only). Skyfall Lounge on 64th floor — top client entertainment venue in the complex. Connected to Mandalay Bay via indoor walkway.
MGM Grand
Hakkasan Nightclub (Wed–Sat) + Palm Tree Beach Club on-property. Best choice for nightlife proximity. Craft Steak, Joël Robuchon fine dining. 0.5 mi from MBCC.
Park MGM / NoMad
Boutique option 1.2 miles from MBCC. NoMad rooftop restaurant, Eataly food hall. Quietest major resort on the south Strip. Top pick for senior practitioners.
ARIA Resort & Casino
Liquid Pool Lounge (Fri–Sun) and Catch restaurant on-property. 1.3 miles from MBCC. Best upscale center-resort option for mid-Strip access.
New York-New York
Budget-friendly option adjacent to MGM Grand. Good location for Hakkasan access. Park Theater for shows. 0.7 mi from MBCC.
Note: XS at Wynn Is Closed August 1 – December 31, 2026
Wynn Las Vegas and Encore are premium properties (2.7 miles from MBCC) but XS Nightclub — historically a top Black Hat nightclub choice — is closed all of August through year-end for renovation. Wynn-area alternatives during Black Hat week: EBC at Night (Encore Beach Club at Night, Wed–Sat) and Wynn's restaurant tier (Lakeside, Wing Lei, Mizumi). Factor the 7–9 minute rideshare from Wynn back to Mandalay Bay into your planning.
Getting Around
Transportation: Mandalay Bay to Strip Nightlife
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)
Primary option for Mandalay Bay-to-Strip movement. Budget: $12–$18 to Hakkasan (MGM Grand, 0.5 mi), $20–$28 to OMNIA (Caesars, 2.5 mi), $22–$30 to Marquee (Cosmopolitan, 2.8 mi), $28–$38 to EBC at Night (Wynn, 3 mi). Return rideshare at 2–3 AM typically adds $5–$15 surge. Pickup zone on MBCC east entrance drop-off.
Free Tram: Mandalay Bay – Luxor – Excalibur
A free climate-controlled tram connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur within the MGM Resorts south complex (runs approximately 9 AM–10:30 PM). It doesn't reach MGM Grand directly, but combining tram to Excalibur plus a short rideshare from Excalibur can reduce rideshare pricing for MGM Grand-area venues.
Walking to Hakkasan
Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand is 0.5 miles north of MBCC — approximately 10–12 minutes walking along the Strip. In August (108°F average daily high), outdoor walking is realistic only in evening hours after 7 PM when temperatures fall into the low-to-mid 90s. For groups leaving Hakkasan at 2–3 AM, walking back to Mandalay Bay eliminates late-night rideshare wait time.
Las Vegas Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail does NOT stop at Mandalay Bay, Luxor, or Excalibur. It runs along the east side of the Strip from MGM Grand to LVCC. If you are already at Hakkasan (MGM Grand station), the Monorail can take you further north to ARIA, Bally's/Paris, Caesars, or Wynn. Single ride: $5; day pass: $19. Not useful for the initial Mandalay Bay-to-nightlife trip.
Dayclubs During Black Hat Week
Pool Parties August 1–6
Tailgate Beach Club is on-site at Mandalay Bay (Sat Aug 1, Sun Aug 2, Thu Aug 6). Palm Tree Beach Club at MGM Grand is a 10-minute walk north (Wed–Sun). Encore Beach Club is the top-tier headliner option 2.3 miles north (Sat Aug 1: The Chainsmokers). August is peak Las Vegas pool season — cabanas book fast during Black Hat and DEF CON overlap week.
Tailgate Beach Club
ON-SITE · Sat/Sun/Thu · Mandalay Bay · 5 pools, 145ft LED
Encore Beach Club
The Chainsmokers Sat Aug 1 · Wynn (6-min rideshare)
Palm Tree Beach Club
Wed–Sun · MGM Grand (10-min walk) · Drift Wednesdays
OMNIA Dayclub
Caesars Palace · 46K sq ft · 7-min rideshare
Liquid Pool Lounge
ARIA · 1.3 mi · Fri–Sun · Adult, upscale
TAO Beach
The Venetian · 9-min rideshare · Daily
AYU Dayclub
Resorts World · 12-min rideshare · Daily
Drai’s Beach Club
The Cromwell · Rooftop · Sat–Sun
Group Nightlife
Going Out in Groups: Black Hat Conference Teams
Black Hat attendees do not go out alone. Security conference groups typically form by team, by company, or by vendor-client relationship — ranging from 6-person engineering squads to 40-person company outings. Every configuration has a best-fit venue strategy from Mandalay Bay.
Small Teams (4–8 People)
Hakkasan Nightclub on R&Bae Wednesdays (Aug 5) handles groups of 4–8 through standard guest list with no minimum spend required. Free entry, accessible table upgrades if desired. Skyfall Lounge at Delano works for 4–6 — cocktails with panoramic views, no DJ production environment, ideal for technical debriefs and client meals that extend into evening. Best for engineering squads and attendees whose priority is conversation over nightclub production.
View venue →Mid-Size Groups (8–20 People)
Groups of 8–20 from Black Hat benefit most from a table at Hakkasan Nightclub (Wed–Sat) or a shared cabana at Tailgate Beach Club (Sat Aug 1, Sun Aug 2, Thu Aug 6). A Hakkasan table accommodates 10–14 guests at one section. Tailgate cabanas hold 10–20 with on-site pool access. OMNIA Nightclub on Saturday Aug 1 handles groups of 8–20 through guest list plus table upgrade — the main room production at OMNIA is the best single-venue corporate entertainment option on the south Strip.
View venue →Large Groups (20–50 People)
Enterprise vendor groups of 20–50 operate best with advance VIP coordination. Hakkasan accommodates large groups across adjacent tables or a dedicated VIP area. TAO Nightclub at The Venetian hosts company-organized buyouts and back-to-back table sections that seat 30+. Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan has a dedicated group booking desk for sections of 20 or more. For afternoon programming, Tailgate Beach Club cabana combinations (multiple cabanas) handle up to 40 without splitting the group across venues.
View venue →Networking at Nightclubs vs Lounges
Security professionals use nightclub environments primarily for team cohesion rather than new contacts — the ambient sound level at OMNIA and Hakkasan is not conducive to technical conversation. For professional networking with new contacts made at the conference, Skyfall Lounge at Delano (64th floor, panoramic views, lower sound levels) and the Hakkasan bar tier before the main DJ set starts (before 11 PM) are the two functional options. After-hours at Drai's (1 AM Thursday at The Vanderpump Hotel) skews toward informal social networking rather than business conversation. Plan accordingly: nightclubs are for celebrating with your own group; lounges are for building new professional relationships.
Pool Parties for Conference Crews
August heat in Las Vegas (108°F average high) makes pool parties the most practical afternoon activity for Black Hat groups. Tailgate Beach Club on-site at Mandalay Bay eliminates rideshare logistics for the entire group — walk from the convention center to the beach complex through the casino floor. For groups that want a premium pool day, Encore Beach Clubon Saturday Aug 1 (The Chainsmokers headlining) is accessible via 6-minute rideshare and represents the highest-production pool day of the week. Split large groups (30+) between a daybed section and a standard cabana at the same venue to keep the group together without a single minimum that strains any individual's budget.
FAQ
Black Hat USA 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Black Hat USA 2026 and where is it held?
Black Hat USA 2026 runs Saturday, August 1 through Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119. Trainings run August 1–4 (Saturday through Tuesday) and Briefings run August 5–6 (Wednesday–Thursday). Badge pickup for Briefings-only attendees opens the evening of Tuesday, August 4.
What is the difference between Black Hat Trainings and Briefings?
Trainings (August 1–4) are intensive two-day and four-day deep-dive courses covering offensive security, AI security, cloud security, red team operations, and more — separate registration at $3,000–$6,000+ per course. Briefings (August 5–6) is the main conference: keynotes, research presentations, Business Hall (vendor expo), and Arsenal tool demos. Briefings registration is required for the main conference and does not include Training access.
What nightclub is closest to Mandalay Bay Convention Center?
Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand is the closest major nightclub — approximately 0.5 miles north, 10–12 minutes on foot or 2 minutes by rideshare ($12–$18). Hakkasan runs Wednesday through Saturday programming. R&Bae Wednesdays with DJ Franzen on August 5 (Briefings Day 1) is the highest-value Black Hat week booking. Most other Strip nightclubs require a 6–15 minute rideshare from Mandalay Bay.
Is XS Nightclub open during Black Hat USA 2026?
No. XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas is closed August 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 for renovation. Do not plan for XS during Black Hat week. The best Wynn-area alternative is EBC at Night (Encore Beach Club at Night, open Wednesday–Saturday, 2.5 miles from Mandalay Bay, 6–8 min rideshare). OMNIA at Caesars Palace is the top-tier alternative for large-production EDM.
What pool party is on-site at Mandalay Bay during Black Hat?
Tailgate Beach Club at Mandalay Bay is the on-site pool venue (Thu–Sun, 11 AM–5 PM standard; Saturday opens 9 AM). Open August 1, 2, and 6. The 11-acre beach complex includes 5 pools and a 145-foot LED screen wall. Access through the Mandalay Bay casino floor — no rideshare required. A second on-site option is Moorea Beach Club (adults-only, quieter, European-style, daily).
How do I get from Mandalay Bay to Strip nightlife?
Rideshare is the primary option from Mandalay Bay. Budget $12–$18 to Hakkasan (MGM Grand, 0.5 mi), $20–$28 to OMNIA (Caesars Palace, 2.5 mi), $22–$30 to Marquee (Cosmopolitan, 2.8 mi), $28–$38 to EBC at Night (Wynn, 3 mi). A free tram connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur, useful to reduce rideshare distance for MGM Grand-area venues. Walking is not viable for center-Strip venues in August (108°F average high).
What hotels are best for Black Hat USA 2026 attendees?
Mandalay Bay (conference hotel, direct walkway to MBCC), Delano Las Vegas (premium connected tower, adult-only, Skyfall Lounge on 64th floor), MGM Grand (Hakkasan Nightclub and Palm Tree Beach Club on-property, 0.5 miles from MBCC), Park MGM/NoMad Las Vegas (boutique, 1.2 miles, NoMad restaurant, Eataly). ARIA is the top choice for senior practitioners preferring quieter environments.
Is there live music or nightlife inside Mandalay Bay during Black Hat?
Yes. House of Blues at Mandalay Bay hosts Beach Bunny and The Beths on Sunday August 2 at 7:30 PM — the top live music event of conference week. Skyfall Lounge at Delano (64th floor, connected tower) is open evenings for cocktails with panoramic views — reservations recommended. Tailgate Beach Club (Thu–Sun, 11 AM) and Moorea Beach Club (daily) are on-site pool options.
Quick Links — Black Hat USA 2026 Nightlife
Nightclubs
Pool Parties
Strip Clubs
Hotels
Related Guides
Las Vegas Nightlife Directory — Black Hat Week
Nightclubs
Pool Parties
Hotels
Free Guest List for Black Hat USA 2026
Free Entry August 1–6
Free nightclub and pool party entry throughout Black Hat USA 2026 week. Mid-conference weeknight evenings (Monday through Wednesday) deliver the most accessible guest list availability of the summer — same headliner quality as weekends, conference-week pricing. Submit your group and preferred venue and we send venue access details by text before your night out.