brimstone here again — the phreaknic store is live! Grab challenge coins, preregister for this year, and look fresh at the con.
We have this year's store up at phreaknic.square.site. Right now you can snag some challenge coins and preregister for Phreaknic 27. Preregistration guarantees your spot and helps us plan for headcount — plus you might save a few bucks compared to at-the-door pricing.
Challenge coins are a recent phreaknic tradition. Get yours before they sell out.
More merch coming soon (hopefully). Stay tuned.
brimstone here - Benthemeek asked me to post some news so pitter patter. Talk submissions, volunteer signups, and room bookings are open. Get your talk in, help out on event day, spread the word to sister conferences, and book your stay before the November 6, 2026.
First priority: submit a talk — we always need more talks, always.
Second priority: volunteer — we need volunteers day of to help make the magic happen.
Third priority: spread the word. There's a number of sister conferences happening between now and then so get out there and make some new friends (and get them to submit a talk!):
I know you're itching to get the party started and so am I, so after you submit a talk:
Forth priority: book a room with our room code: BMKPTK.
What is PhreakNIC?
PhreakNIC is a volunteer-led hacker conference run by an active nonprofit called the Nashville2600. Our total attendance typically runs under 200 folks — so we are small enough for you to meet and have a conversation with almost everyone.
When is PhreakNIC?
PhreakNIC takes place in late fall. Since returning after COVID19, we've typically held it on the first or second weekend of November. The conference usually starts Friday at 9:00 AM and ends Saturday around 9:00 PM. If you'd like to help out outside of those times, you are welcome to assist with setup on Thursday night and teardown on Sunday morning.
Where is PhreakNIC?
PhreakNIC is held at the Clarion Inn in Murfreesboro, TN (about 30 minutes outside Nashville).
Why should I come to PhreakNIC?
PhreakNIC is all about connection and community. Come hear about other people's passion projects — or share your own. In addition to 18+ hours of talks, there's a world-class Capture the Flag (CTF) event, usually some form of hardware hacking, and (most importantly) interesting people who share a passion for technology. We purposely build in lunch and dinner breaks with no programming so that attendees can go have a meal or hang out together.
Is my family welcome at PhreakNIC?
Yes — some attendees bring their families. Since COVID, we haven't offered child-specific programming. Children must always be accompanied by their parent/guardian (or other responsible adult) and may not be left unattended. Please note: At the conference you may encounter language and topics that would typically receive a PG-13 rating in a movie.
Is there a way I can reduce the cost of PhreakNIC?
Students:
If you're a student with a valid student ID, we try to keep admission very affordable (typically $5–$10 at the door). Note: student admission may not receive the same S.W.A.G. as full-price attendees, since we need to cover costs.
Volunteer:
Volunteers might help record talks, keep an eye on conference space and check badges, or help at registration. Volunteer HERE.
Speak:
If you submit a talk and it's accepted, you'll also receive free admission.
Share a room or ride:
You can ask in the PhreakNIC Discord if anyone wants to share a room or carpool to this year.
I want to sponsor PhreakNIC. What are the benefits, and how do I do that?
Thank you for your interest! We work to keep PhreakNIC from turning into vendor pitches. If you or your organization would like to provide 250 S.W.A.G. items for attendees, or donate $300 or more, we'd be happy to include your logo on all PhreakNIC videos posted for the year. You/Your company will also be publicly thanked during the opening and closing ceremonies. Please contact us at info@nashville2600.org to discuss details.
What was PhreakNIC like in past years?
Here's the website archive for past years: