Photos
The thing that happens before the thing that happens
The Tonga Room · Fairmont San Francisco
Tongacon is an annual gathering of security researchers, hackers, and infosec leaders held at San Francisco's legendary Tonga Room inside the Fairmont Hotel. Started by Jack Daniel in 2011, Tongacon has become one of the most anticipated traditions of RSAC week.
Every year on the Sunday before RSA Conference, the community comes together for an evening of tiki drinks, good conversation, and the kind of connections that only happen when you put the right people in a room with a pirate ship and a rain storm.
No badges. No lanyards. No talks. Just the people who make this industry worth being a part of.
RSAC brings the industry to San Francisco. Tongacon gives the people in it somewhere to find each other.
Since 2011, researchers, builders, defenders, founders, operators, and old friends have gathered here before the week begins. There's no stage, sales pitch, or formal program. Just enough hospitality to make the conversations happen.
Tongacon is intentionally invitation-based so it can remain personal, conversational, and rooted in the security community. Invitations are shared through the community rather than sold.
We reserve room each year for people attending for the first time.
Live from the fediverse · tag #tongacon on Mastodon and your post shows up here.
Annually on the Sunday evening before RSAC week. Doors open at 7 PM.
The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, Fairmont San Francisco, 950 Mason St.
An invite-only evening for the infosec community. Tiki drinks, passed appetizers, and great company.
Tongacon has remained possible because companies and individuals have quietly picked up the tab over the years. We're grateful to everyone who helped preserve this tradition.
Reconstructed from public thank-yous, not yet from our own records. Help us confirm and fill the gaps.
Our archive is still being reconstructed. If your organisation supported an early Tongacon and is missing here, please let us know.
Since 2011, sponsors have helped give the security community a place to reconnect before RSAC week begins. Their support covers the room, hospitality, and all the wonderfully impractical things required to gather good people beside an indoor lagoon.
Sponsorship comes with genuine gratitude and visible recognition, but not attendee lists, sales pitches, or ownership of the experience. Tongacon belongs to the people in the room. Our sponsors help us keep it that way.
Sponsors help make Tongacon possible. They don't buy the room.
The venue, food and drink, staffing, photography, accessibility, and community invitations.
Lasting credit in the archive, recognition in the invitation and the thank-you, a small number of guest invitations, and first option to return the next year.
No attendee-list sales. No mandatory lead capture. No talks or product pitches. No pay-to-play invitations. Community comes first.
Tongacon 2027 is already on the books. If you would like to help keep it going, we share the available opportunities and a budget range on request.
Talk to us about sponsoring