YC W26 at a glance
- Program dates: January – late March 2026
- Demo Day: second half of March 2026
- Expected size: ~150–250 companies
- Deal: $125K for 7% + $375K MFN SAFE
- Location: San Francisco, in person, mandatory relocation
- Applications: closed — next window is S26
What W26 looks like
W26 continues the pattern set by W25 and S25: heavy concentration in AI agents, vertical AI for regulated industries, AI infrastructure and evals, plus a persistent tail of dev tools, fintech, and defense/dual-use. YC's Request for Startups is the clearest public signal of what partners funded this cycle.
The structural things have not changed. Weekly group office hours, Tuesday dinners, a Demo Day pitch measured in seconds, and an alumni network that is the actual product. What has changed since 2024 is speed: teams arrive with a shipped product, not a deck.
W26 vs W25
| W25 | W26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ~230 | ~150–250 |
| AI share | ~70% | Higher still |
| Format | In person, SF | In person, SF |
| Deal | $500K | $500K |
How to get into the next batch
If you missed W26, the fastest path in is to apply early for S26. Read the accepted application examples, understand the real acceptance rate, and get your co-founder situation resolved before you submit.
FAQ
When is the YC W26 batch?
Y Combinator's Winter 2026 batch runs January through March 2026, ending with Demo Day in late March. Applications closed in the autumn of 2025; interviews and decisions went out before the batch started.
How many companies are in YC W26?
Recent Winter batches have invited roughly 150–250 companies. YC confirms the exact number only after all acceptances go out. Expect AI-native startups to remain the dominant share, as they were in W25 and S25.
What is the YC W26 deal?
The standard deal is unchanged: $125,000 for 7% on a post-money SAFE, plus $375,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE. That is $500,000 total per company.
When is YC W26 Demo Day?
Demo Day falls at the end of the batch, in the second half of March 2026. It is invite-only for investors, with the company list published shortly afterwards.
Is YC W26 in person?
Yes. Since W25, YC requires founders to relocate to San Francisco for the full duration of the batch. There is no remote track.
Can I still apply for YC W26?
Winter 2026 applications have closed. The next open window is Summer 2026 (S26). YC also accepts late applications for the following batch at any time — earlier submissions get more partner attention.