PasswordsCon 2026
7–9th December 2026 | Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland
Register here
Registration & Pricing
| Ticket | Price | Deadline |
| Early Early Bird | €450 | End of July |
| Early Bird | €500 | End of September |
| Student (with valid ID) | €400 | — |
| Regular | €600 | From October |
About PasswordsCon
The Passwords Conference is the world’s first conference dedicated to passwords, PINs, and digital authentication. Originally launched as a small workshop in 2010 by Per Thorsheim at the University of Bergen, Norway, it has grown significantly and has been hosted across Europe and the United States.
In 2014 and 2015, the conference accepted peer-reviewed papers published in the Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series (LNCS 9393, Trondheim 2014; LNCS 9551, Cambridge 2015). PasswordsCon 2026 will reintroduce a peer-reviewed paper track — further details on submissions and publication will be announced. It brings together researchers, practitioners, password crackers, and industry experts from around the world to explore challenges in authentication security, usability, and policy. PasswordsCon is known for its collaborative and informal environment, encouraging open discussion between participants and speakers throughout the event.
The 2026 conference will be hosted at Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland.
Video playlist from PasswordsCon 2019, Stockholm
Also That Week — Cyber Research Conference Ireland (Cyber-RCI)
If you’re already in Cork for PasswordsCon, why not stay on for the Cyber Research Conference Ireland (Cyber-RCI), taking place the same week at MTU Cork on Thursday 10th December?
Cyber-RCI is an annual IEEE WIE sponsored conference bringing together researchers from academia, industry, and public authorities working in the field of cybersecurity across the island of Ireland. The conference focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of cybersecurity, privacy, trust, and resilience of networks, systems, and services, as well as the human dimensions of security.
Cyber-RCI 2026 will be co-located with PasswordsCon at Munster Technological University, Cork — making it the perfect opportunity to extend your stay and connect with the wider Irish cybersecurity research community.
More details including ticket prices, the call for papers, and the full programme will be announced at https://cyber-rci.com/2026/
Call for Papers & Presentations
PasswordsCon welcomes original contributions presenting attacks, analyses, designs, applications, protocols, systems, practical experiences, and theory related to passwords and authentication. Topics include but are not limited to:
Technical Challenges
- Cryptanalytic attacks, cryptographic formal attack models, cryptographic protections and protocols
- Dictionary attacks, digital forensics, online attacks, rate-limiting, side-channel attacks
- Physical access control systems
Administrative Challenges
- Account lifecycle management, user identification, password resets
- Cross-domain and multi-enterprise system access, hardware token administration
Password Replacements
- 2FA and multifactor authentication, best practice reports, costs and economy
- Biometrics, continuous authentication, FIDO/U2F
The Human Side of Password Security
- Best practices, social engineering, security usability, design & UX
- Memorability, pattern predictability, gestures and graphical patterns, guessing attacks
- Psychology, statistics (languages, age, demographics)
Call for Presentations: We also welcome short abstract submissions for presentations on new work in progress or previously published work deserving wider attention. These presentations will not be published.
Full submission instructions to follow.
Accommodation in Cork City
The following hotels are all located in Cork city centre and within easy reach of MTU. We recommend booking early as availability can be limited.
Budget
Premier Inn Cork City Centre — Morrison’s Quay, Cork
Clean, modern and reliable. One of the most affordable options in the city centre.
Mid-range
Hotel Isaacs Cork — 48 MacCurtain Street, Cork
Boutique hotel with excellent reviews for comfort and service. Great breakfast included.
The Metropole Hotel — MacCurtain Street, Cork
A classic Cork hotel with a warm atmosphere, well located for the city centre.
Clayton Hotel Cork City — Lapp’s Quay, Cork
Modern hotel with spacious rooms, a pool, and good transport links.
Premium
The Imperial Hotel & Spa — 76 South Mall, Cork
A historic landmark hotel right in the heart of the city.
Prices vary by date — check each hotel’s website directly for availability and rates.
Getting to Cork City
From Cork Airport
Cork Airport is approximately 10–15 minutes from Cork city centre.
- By car/rental car: Exit the airport and follow signs for Cork City via the N27 northbound. Enter your hotel’s Eircode into sat nav/Google Maps for accurate routing.
- By bus: Bus Éireann routes 225 and 226 link Cork Airport to Cork City Centre and Kent Railway Station, running every 30 minutes on weekdays. Buy tickets on board or via the Bus Éireann app.
- By taxi: Available directly outside arrivals. Fare to Cork city centre approximately €20–€25.
From Dublin Airport
Journey time approximately 3–3.5 hours.
- By car/rental car: Join the M1 southbound, follow signs for the M50 (Dublin Ring Road), then take the M7/M8 motorway all the way to Cork. Journey time approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. Tip: avoid the M50 during peak hours (7–9am and 4–7pm).
- By coach (recommended): Aircoach 704X runs directly from Dublin Airport Terminals 1 & 2 to Cork city centre — up to 36 daily services. Tickets from €16 at www.aircoach.ie
- By Citylink: Hourly direct bus from Dublin Airport to Cork, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. Book at www.citylink.ie
By train: Bus or taxi from Dublin Airport to Dublin Heuston Station, then Iarnód Éireann intercity to Cork Kent Station (approx. 2 hours 32 minutes). Book at www.irishrail.ie
Getting to MTU Cork from Cork City Centre
MTU Cork (Eircode: T12 P928) is located in Bishopstown, approximately 4km west of Cork city centre.
- By car: Follow signs for Bishopstown/Wilton via the Model Farm Road. MTU is well signposted. Parking is available on campus.
- By bus: Bus Éireann route 205 runs frequently between Cork City Centre/Kent Train Station and MTU throughout the day.
- By taxi: Approximately 10 minutes and €15 from the city centre.
Public Transport — TFI Leap Card
If you plan to use buses during your stay, we recommend getting a TFI Leap Card — a reusable prepaid travel card that saves you 30% compared to cash fares on Bus Éireann services in Cork. Cash is accepted on buses but exact change is required.
- Buy one: At Irish Rail station ticket machines or at newsagents and convenience stores across Cork city centre.
- Top up: Download the free Leap Top-Up app to add credit directly from your phone.
- Plan your journey: Download the TFI Live app for real-time bus schedules and route planning.
More information at www.leapcard.ie
What to Do in Cork
Cork is a vibrant city with plenty to see and do. For visitor information and attractions: