TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competitionThe Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world.