About the Event

The Cybersecurity Conference Mannheim 2026 is the 11th edition of the annual cybersecurity congress held on 21 and 22 October 2026 at Mannheim Baroque Palace (Barockschloss Mannheim) in Germany. The event has been organised and held annually by SAMA PARTNERS Business Solutions GmbH since its founding in December 2016, growing from a single-day forum at the Maritim Hotel Mannheim into a two-day congress, first at the Rosengarten and since 2019 at the Baroque Palace. Established as the leading cybersecurity platform in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, the conference draws participants from across Germany and beyond. It is organised with the support of a broad network of partners including the City of Mannheim, BVMW Nordbaden-Rhein-Neckar, the Smart Industries Network, the Federal IT Security Association TeleTrusT e.V., the ISSA Germany Chapter, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, DHBW Mannheim, and the University of Mannheim.

Audience and Attendees

The event is designed for cybersecurity professionals, IT decision-makers, executives, public authority representatives, academics, and anyone with responsibility for digital security in their organisation. Attendees span medium-sized and large enterprises, public sector institutions, critical infrastructure operators, and the wider technology and consulting community across the Rhine-Neckar region and Germany. Past speakers have included representatives from the ISSA Germany Chapter, the Zentrale Ansprechstelle Cybercrime (ZAC) for businesses and authorities, the Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA), Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, and regional energy and infrastructure operators. The conference format combines high-calibre keynotes and expert presentations with moderated panel discussions and structured networking sessions in the historic setting of the Mannheim Baroque Palace.

Programme Structure

The two-day programme is structured across themed blocks addressing current and emerging cybersecurity challenges for enterprises and public institutions. Each day features keynote presentations from senior experts in business, academia, law enforcement, and government, followed by thematic panel discussions and dialogue sessions. Topic blocks have covered the current cyber threat landscape from an intelligence perspective, legal and regulatory requirements including data protection and data sovereignty, OT and industrial security, regional cybersecurity strategies and authority recommendations, and the digital resilience of organisations in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. Networking in the breaks and informal exchanges between participants are a central part of the conference experience. The 2026 programme will be published in advance of the event; detailed speaker and session information follows in due course.

Main Topics

The agenda addresses the full spectrum of IT, information, and industrial security facing German enterprises and public institutions. Key recurring themes include the current cybersecurity threat landscape including ransomware, phishing, and advanced persistent threats; cybersecurity from an intelligence perspective covering risks to critical infrastructure and economic targets; NIS2 Directive implementation and its practical implications for German companies; OT security and the protection of industrial and operational technology environments; data protection, data sovereignty, and compliance with GDPR and sector-specific regulatory requirements; regional cybersecurity strategies and the role of law enforcement bodies including ZAC; digital sovereignty and resilience through regional and national cooperation; communication as a tool for building a strong security culture within organisations; and disruption as an opportunity for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region's digital future.

Closing Session

The Cybersecurity Conference Mannheim 2026 concludes on 22 October following two days of expert presentations, panel discussions, and networking at Mannheim Baroque Palace. The annual event has established itself as a fixed point in the German cybersecurity calendar, bringing together the regional and national community each autumn to take stock of the current threat environment and share practical approaches to protection.

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