Boncl is back baby, back to the roots, community venue, community-run and community-sponsored.

Bring Out Your Weird

BSidesNCL is back on 28th November 2026 at the Star and Shadow Community Cinema, Newcastle.

For almost a decade, BSidesNCL has been a place for curious minds, hackers, makers, builders, breakers, learners, and security professionals to come together and share knowledge. Whether you're just starting your journey or have years of experience, there's a place for you here.

This year's theme is:

Bring Out Your Weird

The security community is full of people who think differently, solve problems differently, and follow paths that don't always fit the conventional mould. BSidesNCL has always celebrated that.

Got an unusual research project? A niche interest? A side project that got way out of hand? An unconventional career path? We want to hear about it.

This year is about embracing the things that make our community unique and creating a space where people can share ideas, learn from one another, and be unapologetically themselves.

Back to Our Roots

We're scaling things back and returning to the community-focused spirit that BSidesNCL was built on.

Instead of traditional Bronze, Silver, and Gold sponsorship packages, we're introducing Community Micro Sponsors.

These sponsorship opportunities range from £25 to £250, allowing individuals, small businesses, and organisations to directly support parts of the event. Whether it's coffee, t-shirts, stickers, lanyards, or refreshments, the community can help make BSidesNCL happen.

The goal is simple: make the event more accessible to support and keep BSidesNCL community-driven.

What to Expect

Cyber security talks and workshops

Community-led content

Networking with like-minded people

Opportunities to learn, share, and collaborate

A welcoming environment for newcomers and veterans alike

Plenty of coffee and conversation

Description supplied by the event organiser.