Potsdam Conference for National Cybersecurity 2026 | 24-25 June 2026 | Potsdam, Germany

Event: Potsdam Conference for National Cybersecurity 2026
German title: Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale CyberSicherheit 2026
Dates: Wednesday, 24 June - Thursday, 25 June 2026
Location: Potsdam, Germany
Venue: Hasso-Plattner-Institut, Potsdam
Format: In-person cybersecurity conference
Organiser: Hasso-Plattner-Institut (HPI)
Theme: “What Now? Redesigning cybersecurity in times of global upheaval”
Ticket price: €290
Registration status: Registration currently appears closed / no places available
Website: https://hpi.de/potsdamer-konferenz-fuer-nationale-cybersicherheit/

The Potsdam Conference for National Cybersecurity 2026 will take place on 24-25 June 2026 at the Hasso-Plattner-Institut in Potsdam, Germany.

The German title of the event is Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale CyberSicherheit. It is one of Germany’s key high-level cybersecurity conferences, bringing together decision-makers and experts from politics, industry, academia and security authorities.

The 2026 edition is held under the theme:

“What Now? Redesigning cybersecurity in times of global upheaval”

In German, HPI presents the theme as:

“WHAT NOW? Cybersicherheit in Zeiten des globalen Umbruchs neu gestalten”

About the conference

HPI describes the Potsdam Conference for National Cybersecurity as a nationwide platform for international exchange on the cybersecurity situation in cyberspace.

The conference brings representatives of key security authorities in Germany, Europe and internationally into dialogue with stakeholders from industry, politics and associations. The aim is to discuss the current global cybersecurity situation, important milestones in cybersecurity governance, technological developments and shared standards for improving security in cyberspace.

Why this event matters to the domain and internet infrastructure industry

Although this is not a domain-only conference, it is highly relevant to DNForum readers because cybersecurity is now directly connected to domain names, DNS, hosting, registries, registrars, online identity, digital infrastructure and business continuity.

Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, ransomware, disinformation, AI-driven threats, identity leaks and systemic vulnerabilities all affect the wider internet ecosystem. Domain registrars, DNS operators, hosting providers, cybersecurity vendors, infrastructure companies and digital policy professionals should follow the discussions around national cybersecurity and digital resilience.

Key questions for 2026

HPI says the 2026 conference looks ahead by asking:

• What consequences must be drawn from the current cybersecurity situation?
• Which concrete steps are now necessary so that strategic goals have real impact?
• How can Germany and Europe move from reactive defence to actively shaping security, resilience and digital sovereignty?

Programme highlights

The published programme includes keynotes, panels, talks, workshops and an evening reception. Current agenda items include:

• Opening by Prof. Dr. Christian Dörr, Chair of the Potsdam Conference for National Cybersecurity, HPI
• Greeting by Daniela Ludwig, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of the Interior
• Keynote by Sinan Selen, President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
• Panel: Ransomware and AI - threat situation 2026
• Keynote by Claudia Plattner, President of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
• Panel: The path to digital sovereignty
• Panel: Digital derisking
• Relaunch of the HPI Identity Leak Checker
• Panel: Digital attack surfaces and systemic vulnerability
• Fireside chat with Bruce Schneier, cryptography and computer security expert
• Breakfast talk on cyber and information security
• Panel: Hybrid threats and vulnerable infrastructure
• Keynote on threats in the cyber and information domain in national and alliance defence
• Panel: Cyberdome
• Keynote by Dr. Markus Richter on cybersecurity as a driver of digitalisation and state modernisation
• Break-out workshops on critical infrastructure, resilience and cyber governance

Selected speakers and participants

HPI has announced a strong speaker line-up including representatives from government, security authorities, industry and cybersecurity research. Selected names include:

• Prof. Dr. Christian Dörr - Chair of the conference, Hasso-Plattner-Institut
• Sinan Selen - President, Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
• Claudia Plattner - President, Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
• Bruce Schneier - Cryptography and computer security expert, Harvard Kennedy School
• Dr. Markus Richter - State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernisation
• Martina Link - Vice President, Federal Criminal Police Office
• Wilfried Karl - President, Central Office for Information Technology in the Security Sector
• Dr. Patrick Hennies - Chief Security Officer, Deutsche Bahn AG
• Michael Löttner - Chief Information Security Officer, Deutsche Bahn AG
• Vizeadmiral Dr. Thomas Daum - Inspector Cyber and Information Domain, Bundeswehr
• Dr. Konstantin von Notz - Member of the German Bundestag
• Johannes Schätzl - Member of the German Bundestag, Digital Policy Spokesperson of the SPD parliamentary group
• Armin Müller - Regional Vice President Central Europe, Veeam Software
• Colin Eide - Director, Microsoft Threat Center, Microsoft
• Dr. Kim Nguyen - SVP Innovations, Bundesdruckerei GmbH
• Klaus Landefeld - Deputy Chair, eco Association

Topics of interest

• National cybersecurity strategy
• Cybersecurity governance
• Ransomware and AI-enabled attacks
• Critical infrastructure protection
• Digital sovereignty
• Hybrid threats and disinformation
• Identity leaks and data exposure
• Cyber resilience for state, economy and society
• Secure cloud and infrastructure dependency
• Cybersecurity regulation and policy
• Operational security for digital infrastructure

Registration status

The HPI registration page currently states that registration is no longer possible and that all available places are taken. The page lists a total capacity of 320 places.

The official ticket price for the full conference is listed as €290.

Who should follow this event

• Domain registrars and registries
• DNS and internet infrastructure operators
• Hosting and cloud providers
• Cybersecurity professionals
• Critical infrastructure operators
• Government and public-sector technology teams
• Policy and legal professionals
• Digital identity and online trust specialists
• Security researchers
• Companies concerned with cyber resilience and business continuity

Useful links

• Official conference website:
  

  Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale Cybersicherheit

  Bei der Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale Cybersicherheit diskutieren hochrangige Expert:innen am HPI über die aktuelle Cybersicherheitslage in Deutschland.

  hpi.de
• Programme 2026:
  

  Programm 2026 | Hasso-Plattner-Institut

  hpi.de
• Registration page:
  

  Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale Cybersicherheit

  Bei der Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale Cybersicherheit diskutieren hochrangige Expert:innen am HPI über die aktuelle Cybersicherheitslage in Deutschland.

  hpi.de
• Documentation and past editions:
  

  Dokumentation | Hasso-Plattner-Institut

  hpi.de
• HPI news article:
  
  

  HPI lädt zur Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale CyberSicherheit 2026

  Am 24. und 25. Juni 2026 lädt das HPI zur Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale CyberSicherheit auf den HPI-Campus in Potsdam ein. Erfahre hier mehr.

  hpi.de

Contact

For registration questions, HPI lists:

[email protected]