The 2026 edition of Dream Con is in the books, and man… It was a movie. The entire con was a blast from start to finish, and instantly set itself apart as a “must attend” for any fans of the culture. The show was held at the George R. Brown convention center in Houston from Friday July 10th through the 12th with some after party events to end each night. This was my first time attending Dream Con, and I had no idea that this show would be as insanely dope as it was.
I flew in on Thursday so that I could get my bearings, as it was my first time in Houston. My flight got in a little later than originally planned, so I missed the early press badge pickup, but it didn’t impact my time at the show at all. By the time we’d rolled up on Friday, the line was already wrapped around the building pretty much, and this was the first sign that I’d extremely underestimated the size and scale of Dream Con. I have to give the entire Dream Con team their credit where it’s due though, they definitely had their stuff together as the check in process was insanely simple, and from what I witnessed, getting into the main show floor was a breeze.
One of my single most favorite things about getting to attend Dream Con on a press pass is the fact that they actually GENUINELY cared about making sure press got access to some of the talent for interviews, we got expedited access to certain panels and events, and access to a dedicated press room with some wildly delicious food. I’ve caught a lot of flack for saying this, but other shows need to pay attention: Press exclusive ANYTHING goes a long way with spreading the word about your events. And I will die on the hill that Dream Con is the GOLD STANDARD for how to stand out and provide your press attendees with a unique experience.
But enough about that, y’all want to know about the show itself, and why I’m beaming about it right?
The main floor was divided into three different sections, with activations happening all over the place. Keep in mind, the convention center was MASSIVE, and yet, there was no wasted space. The first section was the Exhibit Hall, which held space for vendors of varying merch and collectibles. Just beyond that, was Artist Alley which was home to well over 20 independent comic artists and writers for the weekend. It was absolutely amazing to see so many talented black creatives in one space, and I wish more cons would shine a light on some of the brilliant minds from the community. The last section in from the main show floor was an insanely massive, sprawling gaming section. There was action happening no matter where I turned, and I honestly couldn’t get enough of it.
The rest of the convention center had events going on all throughout, so even if you did happen to wait too late to RSVP for some of the special events (or in my case ALL of them), there were still enough things happening at the same time to keep attendees entertained all day long. There were community dodgeball events, pickleball, anime debates, industry panels, hell… there was even a wrestling ring set up for LIVE WRESTLING matches all con long. I’ve not experienced a con this well put together since my multi year run of attending Sand Diego Comic Con. The biggest difference with Dream Con though was accessibility. Meaning you didn’t have to camp out or go on wild hunts to experience the best the con had to offer, and for someone that’s been to as many shows as I have, that alone is a winning combination.
As far as attending talent goes, you’d be pressed to find another show that had as many fandoms represented as Dream Con. There were established YouTube stars like Berleezy and the event creators RDCWorld, indie creators like KevOnStage and Bigg Jah, animation stars like Cree Summer, Phil Lamar, and Carl Jones, and even big screen stars like Jessie T. Usher and Issa Rae all gathered under one roof. This was the FIRST con I’ve ever been to where everybody felt so approachable and just as happy to be there as the attendees. I ran into Deante Kyle in the hallway right before his panel and we chopped it up for a few. Dude talked to me as if we’d known each other for years. Then, right in the middle of that convo, established content creator Tony Statovci walked up and started chatting too. Unreal. I do wish I’d have got a photo with him too…
Panels and special events… My God. So many to choose from, so little time. There were celebrity dodgeball and basketball matches, a fireside chat with Issa Rae, a special RDC closing ceremony and many more things happening all weekend long to keep fans engaged. My single biggest mistake in attending my first Dream Con was legitimately underestimating how locked in the attendees would be, especially when it came to special events. When the people really, legitimately mess with you, they will show up. And not understanding this very simple premise is what cost me the opportunity to attend some of the weekend’s biggest events. Not complaining at all, and in fact, it was really cool to see.
Speaking of showing up, the cosplay at Dream Con was among the best that I’ve ever seen. People took their time in making really detailed, accurate costumes, and you could tell there was a real passion about the art of cosplay. I couldn’t take more than 5-6 steps without seeing some insanely dope cosplayer, and once again, literally EVERY fandom was represented. This of course spilled over into the cosplay contest which had some INSANE costumes competing to be called “best in show.” If you’re serious about your craft and want the ultimate litmus test for your skills, then you need to cosplay at Dream Con.
As a whole, Dream Con is an entire experience. One that has to be lived, rather than read about. I was expecting to go to another comic con, and ended up enjoying what I can only describe as a “big ass family reunion.” The vibes were immaculate, the energy was unbeatable, and the show was an instant classic. If you’ve never attended a Dream Con, start making your plans for next year RIGHT NOW. If they continue putting on shows of this caliber, they will only get bigger as time passes.
