Fal.Con 2026: The only travel guide you need

Registration gets you into the event at Mandalay Bay. How you plan your flights, hotel, and time in The Hub determines whether you leave Fal.Con 2026 with a validated agentic SOC roadmap, stronger partner relationships, and clear next steps — or just a folder of unread session notes and an overdue expense report.[1][2] A well-planned week gives you more time to evaluate new security capabilities, connect with peers facing similar challenges, and validate your team's priorities before you head home.

What is Fal.Con and who is it for?

Fal.Con is CrowdStrike's annual user conference and one of the cybersecurity community's premier gatherings for stopping breaches, exploring the Falcon platform, and sharing frontline threat intelligence.[2] The in-person 2026 event runs Aug. 31–Sept. 3 at Mandalay Bay Resort on the Las Vegas Strip.[1][2][3] Day Zero begins Monday, Aug. 31, with CrowdStrike University Training, the Global Partner Summit, Industry Exchanges, and the Opening Welcome Reception in The Hub before Tuesday's opening keynotes.[3]

Attendees include CISOs and security leaders evaluating platform strategy, SOC managers and threat hunters testing agentic workflows, cloud and DevSecOps teams securing AI deployments, incident responders comparing adversary tradecraft, and partners working the Fal.Con Meeting Center toward signed deals.[2] You don't need an existing Falcon deployment to attend, although all attendees must be 21 or older.[2]

The 2026 program includes more than 500 sessions, 100+ hands-on workshops, 150+ sponsors, and 10,000+ registered attendees across four days.[1][3] If you're securing internal budget, anchor the trip to measurable outcomes: validating AI security controls before your next production rollout, shortlisting Falcon Marketplace partners with a scored rubric on The Hub floor, or aligning your SOC on agentic automation before Q4 planning begins.

What makes Fal.Con 2026 worth the trip

Fal.Con is where CrowdStrike's AI-era security vision meets the practitioners who run SOCs daily. For digital security professionals, that means elite threat briefings, Adversary Tradecraft workshops, and hands-on Falcon labs. For leaders, it means keynotes on securing AI everywhere, stopping AI-powered adversaries, and transforming security operations for machine-speed threats.[1][4]

Don't limit your schedule to breakout sessions. Make time for these conference highlights as well:[3]

• Opening Welcome Reception: Kick off the conference with networking in The Hub on Monday evening.
• CrowdStrike University Training: Add a full-day training course on Monday or Thursday for $1,000, or use existing training credits.
• Fal.Con Meeting Center: Schedule one-on-one meetings with customers and partners from Monday through Thursday.
• Global Partner Summit and Awards Reception: Partner programming is on Monday, and additional registration may apply.
• The Hub: Explore sponsor booths, product demos, and networking opportunities on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Adversary Underground: Join this evening of networking on Tuesday.
• Fal.Con Fest: Attend the Customer Appreciation Party on Wednesday evening.

What you take back to your team — a prioritized Falcon roadmap, three vendor evaluations that advance a deal, SOC playbooks your team has been debating — is what earns the travel line item. And that only happens when flights, hotels, and Hub time are locked before you land.

Where to stay for Fal.Con 2026

The hotel you choose determines your travel time to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, whether you can reset between workshops, and how late you stay out after Fal.Con Fest without a long rideshare.

Hotels by distance to Mandalay Bay Resort

CrowdStrike sends HotelMap access in your confirmation email and attendee portal after registration. When searching, match neighborhoods by walk time, Strip character, and typical Fal.Con-week rates:

The Mandalay Bay complex gives you the shortest walk to keynotes and The Hub. Luxor and Excalibur trade a short tram ride for meaningfully lower open-market rates when blocks fill. Mid-Strip official properties — MGM Grand, Signature, Aria, and Vdara — work when you want block pricing through HotelMap after registration; confirm shuttle or rideshare times before you book farther north. Resort fees, parking, and cancellation terms vary widely on the Strip; official blocks require a one-night deposit charged around Aug. 10.

Fal.Con hotel pricing

Navan analyzed anonymized hotel booking patterns near Mandalay Bay during Fal.Con 2025 (check-ins August 28–September 6) to provide the following context for this year's conference week:[13]

• Median hotel rate: During conference week, the median nightly rate near the venue was $159.
• Stay length: Business travelers stayed an average of 2 nights in 4-star properties.
• Late bookings: Nearly 53.4% of bookings happened within two weeks of check-in and 39.7% within seven days.

When to book (median nightly rate by lead time):

• 2+ months ahead: $244 median
• 1–2 months ahead: $303 median (highest)
• 2–4 weeks ahead: $178 median
• 1–2 weeks ahead: $121 median
• Last-minute (0–7 days): $119 median (lowest)

What stands out: This year's attendees don't have the luxury of following last year's lowest-price booking window. With Mandalay Bay and Luxor room blocks already sold out and the conference just weeks away, compare the remaining official HotelMap inventory with open-market rates as soon as you're ready to book. Waiting for last-minute pricing may occasionally pay off, but it's not a strategy to rely on for a conference of this size.

Keep in mind that Las Vegas's federal lodging per diem remains $126 per night in August and September, while conference-week hotel rates can still exceed that cap.[5] Remaining official inventory is available through CrowdStrike's HotelMap portal while rooms last.[2][4]

Fal.Con flight trends

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is located less than three miles from Mandalay Bay[2][6] and is the primary gateway for Fal.Con attendees. While most attendees fly in from major U.S. tech hubs — including San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, Phoenix, and New York — about 10% arrive on international itineraries, reflecting the conference's global audience.[13]

If you're crossing time zones, plan to arrive on August 30 if your travel policy allows. You'll have time to check in, pick up your badge, and settle in before Day Zero programming and the Opening Welcome Reception begin on August 31.

How Navan Edge helps with all your bookings

With Mandalay Bay and Luxor room blocks already sold out, Fal.Con attendees may need to compare the remaining official hotels with open-market inventory across the south and mid-Strip. Navan Edge can weigh live availability, total cost, location, and the amenities you care about in one conversation, then coordinate your hotel and LAS flight without sending you across multiple booking sites.

As the Aug. 10 HotelMap deadline approaches and conference-week inventory tightens, Navan Edge is available around the clock to look at alternate properties, nearby neighborhoods, or adjusted travel dates without making you start the search again. See how to book a conference trip for the full workflow.

Get more value from your conference travel

Trips booked through Navan Edge can layer loyalty points, credit card multipliers, and 5% back as Amazon gift cards (on eligible hotel stays). See our travel rewards on business trips guide for how it works.

Set your Fal.Con budget before you travel

Your pass price is the baseline expense, but Fal.Con week spending includes Strip lodging, airport transfers, client dinners, and incidentals beyond what CrowdStrike provides on-site.

Federal per diem for Las Vegas

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) sets federal per diem rates by city and season. For Las Vegas (Clark County), the August and September 2026 rates are:

• $212 per day combined: $126 nightly lodging, plus $86 daily meals and incidental expenses (M&IE)
• M&IE breakdown: Breakfast $22, lunch $23, dinner $36, incidentals $5; reduce your meal allowance for any catering CrowdStrike provides[3][5]
• Transit-day M&IE: 75% of the daily rate ($64.50) on your first and last travel days[5]

Conference-week hotels near Mandalay Bay can exceed the $126 lodging cap even when Navan's directional proxy-week median was $119 — and official block rates at MGM Grand, Aria, and Signature run $168–$198+ on peak nights.[2][13] Budget for that gap with finance before you book outside per diem.

Other expenses to consider

Hotel costs are only part of the equation. These are the other expenses most attendees should factor into their Fal.Con budget.

• Conference registration: Regular passes start at $1,995, team passes start at 10 for $7,500, and eligible .gov and .mil attendee passes are $1,195. Verify current pricing before you register.[2][4]
• CrowdStrike University Training: Add a Monday or Thursday training course for $1,000, or use existing training credits.[2][3]
• Conference-provided meals: Lunch is provided Tuesday through Thursday, and food is served during the Opening Welcome Reception. Adjust your M&IE claim accordingly.[3]
• Airport transfer: Taxis to Mandalay Bay typically cost about $29, plus a $2.40 airport pickup fee, while rideshares generally range from $15–$40, depending on demand.[6][7]
• Client dinners: Sit-down restaurants at Mandalay Bay typically run $75–$150 per person, with premium steakhouses costing more.
• After-hours networking: Partner receptions, Adversary Underground, and Fal.Con Fest may add incidental transportation or entertainment costs beyond what's included with your registration.

Planning for these costs in advance helps you stay within policy, avoid last-minute surprises, and submit your expense report while the details are still fresh.

Plan your agenda with flexibility

With more than 500 sessions on the agenda, it's tempting to fill every hour of your day. Prioritize the breakouts that matter most, then leave room for hands-on workshops, Adversary Tradecraft labs, networking in The Hub, and the conversations between sessions.

Spend 30 minutes before you travel on these tasks:

• Sessions: Star must-see breakouts once the full agenda opens, because popular hands-on workshops fill quickly.[3][4]
• Meetings: Reach out to customers, partners, or colleagues about two weeks ahead with a specific 15-minute meeting request.
• Logistics: Download the attendee app, enable session alerts, set your out-of-office, and save Mandalay Bay Convention Center to your calendar.[2][3]
• Contacts: Decide how you'll exchange contact information — QR code, NFC, or LinkedIn — and add a quick note after every conversation while it's still fresh.

Our business trip planning guide covers flights, hotels, and departure checklists beyond this Fal.Con-specific list.

What to pack and wear at Fal.Con

Fal.Con calls for cybersecurity business casual: chinos or dark jeans with a collared shirt or technical tee, comfortable closed-toe shoes, and an optional blazer for CISO conversations or client dinners. Vendor teams often wear company polos, while practitioners tend to prioritize comfort. Presenters and executives typically dress one step more formally, especially for customer meetings and evening events.[2]

Las Vegas in late August and early September runs hot in the afternoon — highs around 100°F (38°C) — with warm evenings and minimal rainfall.[8] You'll move between climate-controlled halls and outdoor Strip walks, so pack breathable daytime fabrics and a sweater or blazer for over-air-conditioned ballrooms.

Conference essentials

Most people remember the obvious essentials. These are the items that make long days at Mandalay Bay noticeably more comfortable:

• Two pairs of comfortable shoes: Mandalay Bay is sprawling, and long days on convention floors add up quickly.
• Portable charger: Your phone handles session schedules, badge scans, maps, and networking throughout the day.
• Reusable water bottle: Desert heat and dry convention halls can leave you dehydrated before you realize it.
• Light layer: Ballrooms and breakout rooms often feel much colder than the Las Vegas heat outside.
• Throat lozenges and hand sanitizer: Crowded keynotes, dry air, and four days of conversations can take a toll.
• Headphones or earbuds: Use them for flights, focused work between sessions, or a quieter reset in busy conference and hotel spaces.

Getting from the airport to the Fal.Con venue

Most attendees arrive via Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), which is less than three miles from Mandalay Bay.[2][6] If your schedule allows, arrive on Sunday, Aug. 30. You can collect your badge ahead of Monday Day Zero programming and hit the Opening Welcome Reception without a same-day arrival crunch. If you arrive early on Sunday, Navan Edge can help request early check-in.

To get from LAS to Mandalay Bay, you have options:

For weekday business arrivals with checked bags, taxi or rideshare is usually the fastest door-to-door choice. The RTC Deuce works when you're staying on the south Strip near a stop and aren't racing to a workshop.

Beyond sessions: Make time for The Hub and hallway conversations

Some of the highest-value conversations happen outside the breakout rooms. Make time for The Hub, hands-on workshops, and the discussions that start while you're waiting for a demo or comparing notes with other practitioners.

• Evening events: Continue networking at the Opening Welcome Reception (Monday), Adversary Underground (Tuesday), and Fal.Con Fest (Wednesday).
• Industry Exchanges and Survivor Games: Join curated peer discussions during Day Zero programming (Monday).
• Fal.Con Meeting Center: Schedule one-on-one meetings with customers and partners (Monday through Thursday).
• The Hub: Compare vendors, watch product demos, and network throughout the expo (Tuesday and Wednesday).
• Hands-on workshops and Adversary Tradecraft: Build practical skills beyond the breakout sessions (Tuesday through Thursday).

Network like you're building pipeline

Fal.Con brings the security buyers, practitioners, and partners your team wants to meet into one place for four days. Treat that concentration as pipeline work, not just hallway traffic.

• Before you arrive: Identify 10–15 customers, partners, or colleagues you want to meet and send concise meeting requests about two weeks ahead.
• During the conference: Lead with the business problem (e.g., “We're evaluating agentic SOC workflows for Q4”) instead of a product pitch, and capture one key detail after every conversation.
• Within 48 hours: Send short follow-up messages with a clear next step, whether that's a Falcon tenant review, shared detection requirements, or an introduction to your incident response lead.

One final tip: Leave some unscheduled time in your day. A quick walk through Mandalay Place, a proper lunch, or even a short pool break can leave you better prepared for an afternoon workshop or customer meeting than rushing from session to session. And in the Las Vegas heat, staying hydrated is just as important as planning your agenda.

What to eat at Fal.Con 2026

CrowdStrike provides lunch Tuesday through Thursday, and catering is available at the Opening Welcome Reception, so you don't have to worry about buying every meal on the Strip,[3] but you may have client dinners and team outings.

For sit-down meals beyond conference catering, these Mandalay Bay venues fit different Fal.Con moments:

• Client dinner: STRIPSTEAK by Michael Mina inside Mandalay Bay handles executive dinners with private dining rooms, steps from the convention center.[10]
• Team meal: Border Grill sits between the Shark Reef and the convention center, with patio seating for group meals without white-tablecloth formality.[11]
• Private dining/executive lunch: Orla at Mandalay Bay offers Mediterranean sit-down dining suited to one-on-one security-leader conversations near the venue.[12]

If you need to book a partner dinner or one-on-one, Navan Edge can help you find and reserve for Las Vegas restaurants in the same chat where you booked your hotel and LAS flight.

Finish strong on departure day

Your Fal.Con outcomes don't fully count until you're through LAS and back in your normal workflow. Tackle these tasks before checkout:

• Pack the night before: Charge your phone and laptop, stage travel clothes, sweep the room for badges and chargers.
• Confirm late checkout: Request late check out during check-in and remind the hotel staff the night before, or Navan Edge specialists can coordinate on your behalf.
• Pad LAS time: Post-conference Thursday departures can lead to long lines at LAS — allow at least two hours for domestic flights and three for international.
• Submit expenses while details are live: Upload receipts before the Strip blurs together; flag lodging above your per-diem cap when you file.
• Use lounge buffer: Airport lounge access buys quiet time to sort notes and receipts before boarding.
• Calendar a Friday debrief: Reserve an hour to message new contacts and summarize Fal.Con outcomes for your team before regular work resumes.

Make the most of Fal.Con 2026

Fal.Con 2026 rewards attendees who plan beyond the session schedule. Choose a hotel that keeps the week manageable, budget for conference-week costs, leave room for The Hub and hands-on workshops, and start your follow-up before you leave Las Vegas. Those decisions make it easier to return home with a clearer Falcon roadmap, stronger partner relationships, and practical next steps for your SOC.

Heading to Fal.Con? Book your LAS flights, hotel, and partner dinners through one Navan Edge conversation.

Navan is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CrowdStrike, Falcon or their organizers, and this guide is not an official Crowstrike, Falcon publication. Crowdstrike and Falcon are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here for identification and descriptive purposes only. All schedules, pricing, venue details, and program information are subject to change; verify current details with the official organizers before you travel.

Navan publishes this guide as part of its Navan Edge content series. Navan Edge is a Navan product referenced throughout this post. Card benefits, fees, loyalty program thresholds, earning structures, reward values, and AI capabilities described in this article are subject to change and were accurate as of the date of publication. Verify current terms with your card issuer, loyalty program operator, or the relevant program's website before making decisions. Amazon Gift Card rewards are subject to Navan Edge Terms and Conditions for eligible hotel bookings.

© Navan, Inc. All rights reserved. Navan and Navan's logo are trademarks of Navan, Inc.

Sources

• CrowdStrike, "Fal.Con Las Vegas," crowdstrike.com, 2026
• CrowdStrike, "Fal.Con 2026 FAQ," crowdstrike.com, 2026
• CrowdStrike, "Fal.Con 2026 At a Glance," crowdstrike.com, 2026
• CrowdStrike, "Fal.Con Las Vegas Registration," crowdstrike.com, 2026
• GSA, "Per Diem Rates," FY 2026
• Harry Reid International Airport, "Airport Information," harryreidairport.com, accessed 2026
• Las Vegas Taxi Fare, lasvegashowto.com, 2026
• National Weather Service, "Las Vegas climate averages," weather.gov, accessed 2026
• Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, RTC routes, accessed 2026
• STRIPSTEAK, "Las Vegas," accessed 2026
• Border Grill, "Mandalay Bay," accessed 2026
• Orla, "Mandalay Bay," accessed 2026
• Navan, anonymized analysis of hotel booking and flight data for business travelers near Mandalay Bay, Fal.Con proxy conference week August 28–September 6, 2025 (internal data)