SparkCon 2026: Where Cybersecurity Meets Community
March 11, 2026 | 2 min read
Collaboration is powerful. In cybersecurity, it’s essential. What began as a small, mostly internal gathering of Walmart associates, security practitioners and security leaders has evolved into something much bigger: our annual cybersecurity conference bringing together associates, leading technologists, emerging talent, students and community members to explore what’s next in digital defense.
Senior Director of Technology Operations Debora Wills took the reins in 2018, shaping SparkCon into a space where deep technical expertise meets practical application. When COVID put the event on pause, the momentum didn’t disappear. It built. Since returning in 2023, SparkCon has continued to grow, strengthening connections between Walmart’s security community and the broader cybersecurity ecosystem. At its core, SparkCon is a working session for the cybersecurity community. It brings together security practitioners, enterprise technologists and rising cyber talent to move beyond theory and share practical solutions designed for real-world application.
This year, SparkCon moves to Sam Walton Hall at Walmart’s tech-powered 400+ acre Home Office campus in Bentonville. A fitting backdrop for conversations about the future of cybersecurity.
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CDT, we’re opening the doors free to anyone who wants to learn (though it helps to register in advance!). Removing cost barriers to learning is part of the mission.
Whether you’re new to cybersecurity or decades into your career, you’ll get exposure to current threats, enterprise-scale security design and forward-looking solutions in a single, high-impact day. You’ll hear directly from practitioners. You’ll walk away with ideas you can put to work immediately. And yes, you can earn continuing education credits along the way.
From AI-Driven Defense to Quantum Futures: The SparkCon 2026 agenda spans the spectrum.
Join sessions like “A Retailer’s Motley Crew” and “Navigating the Quantum-Safe Future.” Then step into hands-on experiences, including the crowd-favorite lock-picking booth, that underscore a simple truth: security is both digital and physical, technical and human.
At its core, SparkCon is about human-centered cybersecurity.
It’s builders, defenders, analysts and architects designing systems that are resilient, responsible and usable. It’s about creating pathways into the field for emerging talent, learning in public, networking, and strengthening the broader ecosystem alongside our own.
Whether you’ve been defending enterprise-scale systems for decades or you’re just beginning your cybersecurity journey, SparkCon is built for you.
We’ll see you in April.
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