​Tennessee’s largest gathering of entrepreneurs

​Launch Tennessee’s renowned annual entrepreneur conference is back for year 13, Sept. 14-16, with a new home in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood and an expanded lineup of events and programming, including several new additions to the week you won’t want to miss!

​About 3686

​3686 brings hundreds of innovators, startup founders, investors, ecosystem supporters, and more to Nashville from across the state and all over the U.S. 2026’s conference promises the first-rate programming, panels, and speakers, high-impact connections, and dynamic networking that have made 3686 an unmissable event for over a decade. Plus, a super-sized schedule and all new events designed for even more connection, community, and unforgettable fun.

​New this year

​Now in 2026, we’re going even bigger—expanding the week’s lineup and introducing new can’t-miss events, from a tech and startup job fair connecting the state’s top talent and next-gen innovators with opportunities at dynamic startups and corporate leaders to Tennessee Innovation Night with the Minor League Baseball team Nashville Sounds as they face off against the Memphis Redbirds at First Horizon Park. Plus, Startup Homecoming, an unforgettable 3686 celebration packed with capital, corsages, cover bands… and plenty of surprises!

​Plus: By popular demand, Brella access will be extended this year beyond the core conference window. In addition to the 36 hours of main programming as in past years, ticket holders will now be able to use Brella throughout the full week of 3686 events AND the week after, to continue conversations and deepen connections.

​All registered attendees will receive an invitation ahead of the conference to create a profile and receive personalized connection recommendations. From there, you can schedule meetings in designated meeting space on-site at 3686, elsewhere in Nashville, or virtually via video chat.

​FAQs

​What is 3686?
We always say, 3686 is the best way to get to know Tennessee startups. Rooted in Nashville and named for the city’s geographic coordinates, the four-day event is the state’s leading entrepreneur conference and one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the southeast.

​Where is 3686 2026?
3686 is a dynamic week-long conference with events taking place in a number of venues. This year, 3686 moves to Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood, creating a campus headquartered at Brooklyn Bowl and spread across multiple sites, including Tailgate Brewery, the Tennessee State Museum, the Tennessee State Library & Archives, and Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen. Specific programming and locations will be announced with the schedule, later this summer.

​For over a decade, 3686 has brought together leading voices and fresh perspectives to tackle the ideas, trends, and challenges shaping what’s next—paired with high-impact networking that puts founders and innovators face-to-face with investors from across the country.

​I’m not familiar with Launch Tennessee. What is that?
Launch Tennessee is Tennessee’s hub for startups and innovation. Launch Tennessee is a 501c3 nonprofit as well as a public-private partnership with the state’s Economic and Community Development department that supports entrepreneurship across the state by providing capital, commercialization, and connections.

​LaunchTN is the organizer and host of 3686, now in its 13th year.

​To learn more about Launch Tennessee, please visit www.launchtn.org.

​I’m not seeing any information about this year’s programming schedule or this year’s confirmed speakers. When will all that be available?
Thanks for your patience. We anticipate announcing speakers and revealing the conference’s schedule in mid-August, roughly 4 weeks before 3686. We encourage you to keep an eye on attend3686.com as well as Launch Tennessee’s social media channels (@LaunchTN) for news.

​Additionally, be sure to sign up for LaunchTN’s bi-weekly email newsletter, The Pitch, and our 3686 news alerts, to stay on top of all updates.

​What is the 3686 cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel your 3686 ticket, please email us directly at [email protected]. Refunds are available until Friday, August 14, 2026. All sales are considered final after August 14.

​I keep hearing about an InvestTN Summit. What is that, and how do I attend?
In 2025, Launch Tennessee introduced the InvestTN Summit, a private invite-only, day-long event for Launch Tennessee portfolio companies and their co-investors, as an adjacent companion to the 3686 conference. The Summit convenes the roster of startups with LaunchTN backing alongside the investor community and top venture firms from across the country for exclusive programming and connections.

​If you meet these criteria and want to request an invitation to attend the Summit, please contact the LaunchTN Capital team at [email protected].

​Please note: the InvestTN Summit is separate from the 3686 programming schedule, and your ticket to 3686 does not grant you access to the Summit.

​What is Brella?
Brella is an AI-powered networking platform that helps attendees discover and schedule 1:1 meetings with other participants.

​Using Brella, you can request and book recommended meetings with investors, founders, corporate partners, and service providers based on your goals and interests. If you’ve attended 3686 before, you’ll likely be familiar with the platform—we’ve used it for several years to strong feedback and meaningful results.

​My company would like to sponsor 3686. How can we explore opportunities?
We would love to work with you! If you’re interested in partnering with us, please email Emily Booth Masters, Vice President of Development, at [email protected].

​I’m interested in suggesting a speaker for this year’s 3686. Who do I talk to about that?
3686’s editorial programming is produced by the team at Launch Tennessee. With any speaker pitches or panel proposals, please email [email protected] with subject line SPEAKER/PANEL PROPOSAL by July 31, 2026.

​Due to the volume of submissions, we are only able to respond to opportunities we wish to explore in more detail.

​Can I volunteer at 3686?
We are accepting volunteers to help out with production and execution of the conference, aid around the venue, interact with guests, and assist with conference speakers.

​Please email [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more about the 2026 3686 volunteer opportunities. We will reach out to you roughly two to three weeks before the conference to confirm your participation and on-site schedule.

​Can I take part in 3686 virtually? How do I stream this year’s conference programming?
Unfortunately, access to 3686 is only available live and in-person. The conference content will not be streamed nor will it be made available for viewing after the event.

​I’m a member of the media, looking to cover 3686 2026. How do I get media credentials?
With any media inquiries about this year’s conference, please contact Chloé Morrison, LaunchTN’s Communications Director, at [email protected].

​I’m interested in hosting a Partner Popup event on Wednesday, September 16, as part of this year’s 3686 conference. How do I do that?
We will be accepting pitches for community programming and partner popups, which are workshops, panels, and programs hosted around Nashville by friends of Launch Tennessee and open to 3686 badgeholders, as well as non-badgeholders.

​They are curated by the LaunchTN team for maximum value to our 3686 attendee pool of innovators, startup founders, investors, and other members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem but cover a broader range of topics than traditionally explored in conference programming and frequently offer more hands-on instruction. Hosts are responsible for securing the venue as well as booking speakers and crafting the agenda for the program, and in exchange, the popups are featured on the official 3686 programming schedule and across the 3686 website as well as receive marketing and promotion from LaunchTN.

​We anticipate launching the submission form in late-June and accepting pitches through early-August, with a batch approval process.

​Help! I have a question or special need that is not addressed on this page.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Please just email us at [email protected] for more information or with any outstanding queries.