University Blockchain Conference 2026: Dates, Tickets & Programs
University Blockchain Conference 2026 (UBC 2026) will take place on November 20–21 at The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. This student-run conference brings university crypto communities together with founders, researchers, investors, companies and builders. The 2026 edition will include a Student Founder Stage, a hackathon, a research competition and a student travel-grant program.
Event status: Upcoming
Last verified: October 15, 2026
Event dates: November 20–21, 2026
Doors open: 9:00 a.m. on both days, according to the organizer
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
University Blockchain Conference 2026 at a Glance
Use this summary to check the date, location and available programs. Ticket prices, applications and competition rules can change, so confirm the latest details with the organizer before registering or making travel plans.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | University Blockchain Conference 2026 |
| Short Name | UBC 2026 |
| Dates | November 20–21, 2026 |
| Doors Open | 9:00 a.m. |
| Venue | The University of Texas at Austin |
| Venue Address | 2515 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA |
| Format | In person |
| Organizer | University Blockchain Conference; presented/hosted by College.xyz on the ticketing page |
| Event Type | Student-run blockchain and Web3 gathering |
| Programs | Student Founder Stage, hackathon, research competition and travel grants |
| Official Event Website | |
| Official Ticket Page |
What Is the University Blockchain Conference?
UBC is a student-run gathering designed to connect university crypto clubs and students with people working in the industry. Its audience includes students, founders, engineers, researchers, investors, companies and other people interested in blockchain and frontier technology.
The 2026 edition is listed at UT Austin. The ticket page says the conference was previously known as the Midwest Blockchain Conference and describes the 2026 edition as a new name and a new location for the community. UBC says its aim is to help students connect with companies, investors and builders across the industry.
The organizer reports that its first two years brought together more than 1,000 attendees from over 100 universities. It also lists 50+ companies in its statistics. These are past-edition or organizer-reported figures; they should not be presented as a confirmed 2026 attendance forecast.
Who Should Attend UBC 2026?
UBC is aimed at students and industry participants who want to meet people working in blockchain and related areas. It may be relevant to:
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University students interested in blockchain, crypto, Web3 or frontier technology.
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University blockchain clubs looking to meet peers from other campuses.
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Founders and early-stage teams seeking feedback, mentors or investor connections.
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Engineers, protocol contributors and researchers who want to share technical work.
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Investors, companies and recruiters interested in meeting student builders and talent.
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Industry professionals interested in student-led blockchain programs and research.
UBC describes itself as student-led and built for students and the industry. People comparing more upcoming listings can also browse crypto events in the USA.
Student Founder Stage and $10,000 Grant
The Student Founder Stage is a demo day for founders under 25. Selected teams will present to investors, accelerators, mentors and builders during UBC 2026. The organizer says around 20 founders may be selected, and the program is open to frontier-technology companies, not only crypto projects.
The top team is eligible for a $10,000 non-dilutive grant from the USC VanEck Digital Assets Initiative and College.xyz. The organizer describes this as a grant rather than an investment, so the winning team does not give up equity in exchange for the award.
| Program | Student Founder Stage |
| Who may apply | Founders under 25 building a real company in frontier technology |
| Fields | Crypto, AI, hard tech and related areas |
| Selection | Around 20 founders, according to the organizer |
| Grant | $10,000 for the top team; described as non-dilutive |
| Application deadline | October 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility to present | UBC 2026 attendees |
The program page says applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. It lists Demo Day as likely to take place on November 21, but that timing is not stated as final. Applicants should check the official Founder Stage page for current rules and application details.
Hackathon and Research Competition
The organizer lists a hackathon and a research competition as programs running alongside the main days. At the time of this content check, some program details were still marked “coming soon.” Do not add prize amounts, team-registration deadlines, judging criteria or competition schedules until the organizer publishes them.
| Program | What is currently confirmed | Details to check |
| Hackathon | Participants will build during UBC 2026 and compete for partner prizes. | Registration status, team rules, challenge themes, prize details and deadline. |
| Research Competition | Participants can submit original research and present findings to industry judges. | Submission deadline, eligibility, topic rules, judging criteria and schedule. |
Check the organizer’s UBC programs page before applying. Its information may change as competition registration opens.
Speakers and 2026 Lineup
The University Blockchain Conference website has a “2026 Lineup” and “Our Speakers” section, but the speaker list was displaying “Loading speakers…” when this page was checked on October 15, 2026. This listing does not name speakers until their 2026 participation can be confirmed from the organizer’s speaker page or a direct announcement.
Check the official UBC website for speaker announcements and session updates. Once speakers are confirmed, this section should be updated with each person’s name, current role, organization and announced session. Do not reuse names or biographies from UBC 2025, the former Midwest Blockchain Conference, or unrelated events.
Tickets and Registration
The official UBC ticket page on Luma lists Student and Industry ticket types. Its description displayed early-bird prices of $10 for students and $25 for industry attendees when checked on October 15, 2026. The same listing says the $10 student ticket cost will be reimbursed. Ticket availability and prices may change; confirm the displayed price and conditions on Luma before registering.
| Ticket type | Price shown in listing | Important note |
| Student | $10 early-bird price | The ticket listing says the $10 cost will be reimbursed. Check current terms and eligibility. |
| Industry | $25 early-bird price | Confirm the current ticket price and availability on the official registration page. |
Students seeking travel support must register for UBC and meet the grant program’s requirements. A ticket does not by itself guarantee a travel-grant reimbursement. Review the official grant rules before buying a ticket or booking travel.
Student Travel Grants
UBC’s travel-grant program offers eligible students reimbursement for documented travel and lodging expenses. The organizer lists maximum grants of $250 for domestic travel and $500 for international travel. It defines domestic travel as travel from the United States, Canada or Mexico; travel from outside those countries is classified as international.
| Grant category | Maximum listed amount | Examples of eligible expenses |
| Domestic | Up to $250 | Flights, train or bus tickets, lodging and eligible gas expenses |
| International | Up to $500 | Flights, train or bus tickets, lodging and eligible gas expenses |
The program is reimbursement-based: the organizer says applicants receive the lower of their eligible documented expenses or the applicable grant cap. Food, local rides in Austin, entertainment and other personal expenses are not listed as eligible. Applicants must register, submit the travel-grant application by November 13, check in on site, and send receipts by December 12, 2026.
The organizer also lists referral rewards for eligible students. Referral conditions apply, and rewards are paid only against eligible documented expenses. Read the current UBC travel-grant rules before relying on a reimbursement amount.
Venue and Travel Information
UBC 2026 is listed at The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. The ticketing page gives the campus address as 2515 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA. The website says doors open at 9:00 a.m. on both November 20 and 21.
The organizer’s public details identify UT Austin but do not specify a building or room for the full program. The Student Founder Stage page identifies the AT&T Center at UT Austin for that program, but this should not be treated as the venue for every activity unless the organizer confirms it.
Check the website and ticket email for the final building, check-in instructions, room locations, accessibility details and campus directions before travelling. Attendees coming from outside Austin should confirm accommodation and transport arrangements directly with providers.
Event History and Name
The UBC Luma page says it was formerly known as the Midwest Blockchain Conference. The 2026 edition is listed as the University Blockchain Conference at UT Austin. Keep earlier-edition details separate from the current dates, location, ticket prices, programs and speakers.
To discover other events in this category, explore CoinGabbar’s crypto conference listings and event calendar.
Event Information Disclaimer
Dates, venue details, ticket prices, speaker announcements, program rules, grant terms and schedules may change. Ticket and travel-grant amounts in this listing were checked on October 15, 2026. Confirm current information with the organizer before registering, applying for a grant or booking travel. CoinGabbar listings do not guarantee ticket availability, grant eligibility, competition selection or business outcomes.
