Best of · 2026

The best cyber security communities and events of 2026.

Most lists like this are bought. This one is the judged outcome of the 2026 Cyber Security Awards: the community an independent panel recognised on the evidence, for the people it brings together and the work it makes possible.

Quick answer

What is the best cyber security community or event in 2026?

The Cyber Security Awards named ISC2 Security Congress the Cyber Security Community of the Year for 2026, the single community recognised in this category under the restructured programme. ISC2 is the membership body behind the CISSP certification, and its annual Congress draws practitioners, researchers and newcomers together to share threat findings, certification pathways and the honest detail of defending real organisations. The panel recognised the community for the standard it sets and the people it supports, judging a nomination against published criteria rather than marketing spend. We list one name here because one community earned the recognition this year, and padding the list with brands that did not win would defeat the point of a judged programme. If you run a community or event, you can nominate it for the next edition. Nobody on this page paid to appear.

Best of

The 2026 honouree

One community earned the 2026 recognition, and we name only that community. Every entry below is a real winner of the programme.

1

ISC2 Security Congress · Cyber Security Community of the Year 2026

The annual gathering convened by ISC2, the membership body behind the CISSP, where practitioners share research, certification pathways and frank lessons from the field.

How this list is built: it contains only real winners of the 2026 Cyber Security Awards, a programme judged by an independent panel. We do not sell placement, and the list is not influenced by sponsorship. When a single community earns the award, we list a single community rather than fill space. See how winners are chosen.

FAQ

About this list

Why does the list name only one community?

Because one community won. The Cyber Security Community of the Year for 2026 is ISC2 Security Congress, and this list reflects real winners rather than a curated set of brands. Honouring a single deserving name is more useful than padding a ranking.

How was the community selected?

It is the Cyber Security Community of the Year for 2026, chosen by an independent panel that scored a nomination against published criteria. See the methodology page for the full process.

Can a community or event pay to be on this list?

No. The list contains only judged winners. Placement cannot be bought, and sponsorship has no bearing on who appears or where.

How often is the list updated?

It reflects the most recent edition and is refreshed each year as a new winner is recognised. The 2026 winner is the current one. There was no edition in 2024.