Tag Archive for: dragon con

40 YEARS OF DRAGON CON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/17/26

Dragon Con is like transporting to another world and it is outside of the box. You step into a realm of endless possibilities from unforgettable cosplays to star studded panels to real life droids to a real lifelike Tardis to ribbon swaps to photo ops and the best parade you’ll see. And Dragon Con has been doing this for 40 years, and it is 40 years in the making.

Trends

This year the trends always pretty much include a hot new show or movie or a big show ending. Like, I saw groups and a lot more of the “The Boys” this year after this year’s finale. One big trend this year was the Dungeon Master Carl. You found him sporting white boxers with tiny hearts. I had never even heard of the books until this con. And of course there are the typical trends this year. The ribbon wars have heated up and they get funnier and bolder every year. You will see even the regular person walking around with 10 of them on their badge. Plus, the usual big movies like Star Wars still draw lots of cosplay and the droids people build these days are really lifelike. We always see a R2, a BB8, and a Wall-e every year and the droids keep growing including some Project Hail Mary rocks! And you can’t ever miss the running of the heard. The T-rex heard has grown into every type of inflatable from Pikachu to unicorns and everything in between.

Panels

This year I went to two panels. The first was a “The Boys” panel with Jack Quaid and the gentlemen who plays, Frenchie, Tomier. They talked about the shenanigans on the set, their favorite moments, seasons, and who was their favorite characters. It was fun to see them interact with the crowd and how normal they are in real life. You just don’t see that in such a dark show. Then, the second I went to was with Erica Durance of Smallville. Tom Welling didn’t end up coming that day, but it was fun to hear her and — talk about the show and how it has been a decade since it aired. They went over their favorite things and we got to know the actresses a little more intimately.

Something for Everyone

And like I love to say, there is something for everyone at Dragon Con. You can learn new things, take a workshop, listen to poetry and literature, meet an author or cartoonist, buy artwork, people watch, enjoy panels, and everything in between.

40 Years

Boy has Dragon Con grown from it’s start to over 75,000 guests per year. They have expanded to gaming, anime, and every genre you can think of now in 40 years. They have wrapped in Netherworld Haunted House for haunts. They’ve collected a bunch of returning musical artists to play around the con or late night. They have aquired hotels from the Mariott Marquis to the Hilton Atlanta to the Hyatt and expaned to the Courtyard, Westin, and America’s Mart. Needless to say, Dragon Con is now on most ATLiens map for Labor Day Weekend.

DRAGON CON CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF POP CULTURE REVELRY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/18/26

More Than 75,000 Fans Will Party on Peachtree for Five Days of Celebrity Guests, Eye-Popping Cosplay, Acres of Gaming, and Gloriously Geeky Awesomeness That Only Happens at Dragon Con

More than 75,000 pop culture fans are expected to pack downtown Atlanta over the five-day Labor Day weekend as Dragon Con, the internationally known pop culture, science fiction, fantasy, and gaming convention, celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Fans come from all 50 states and several foreign countries to meet their favorite actors, artists, authors, creators, and experts, show off their latest cosplay, make new friends, and revel in the awesomeness that is Dragon Con.

Dragon Con runs from Thursday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 7 with events and activities across five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Courtland Grand – plus AmericasMart Buildings Two and Three.

Guests – Oscar-nominated actor Edward James Olmos will lead a Battlestar Galactica cast reunion while Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk, stars of the fan favorite Firefly television series, anchor an only-at-Dragon Con mash-up of casts from Firefly, Castle, Resident Alien, and Tucker & Dale vs. Evil to meet fans, lead panel discussions, and sign autographs.

They will be joined by The Goonies’ Sean Astin, Stargate’s Richard Dean Anderson, Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey, Smallville’s Tom Welling and Erica Durance, Wednesday’s Evie Templeton and Isaac Ordonez, The Amazing Digital Circus’ Michael Kovach, Lower Decks’ Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome, legendary comics creator and co-founder of Valiant Comics, Bob Layton, best known for his definitive, industry-revitalizing work on Marvel’s Iron Man, plus author Matt Dinniman and voice actor Jeff Hays, the creative duo behind the massive multi-media franchise Dungeon Crawler Carl. 

Fans of the 1990s cult classic Starship Troopers will get a chance to meet Denise Richards, Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, and Michael Ironside.

In addition, Dragon Con will host approximately 300 authors, artists, game designers, puppeteers, scientists, engineers, and other experts to lead panels and talk with fans across 38 programming tracks, from high fantasy to hard science.

Gaming – Dragon Con, one of the largest gaming conventions in the nation, offers more than three acres of gaming at AmericasMart Building Three, plus additional gaming and game-related programming in the nearby Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.

Dragon Con offers the full array of games, including PC and console games, miniatures, role-playing games, collectible card games, social deception games, LARP games, and a basement full of familiar and rare board games. All gaming is free to Dragon Con members and begins Thursday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m.

Fans can explore traditional arcade cabinet favorites and imports from across the Pacific in the ever-popular Japanese and Asian arcade, all of which are free to play. Atlanta’s own Joystick Game Bar returns with a pop-up version of its retro arcade in Peachtree Center Mall.

Programming highlights include game designer and astronaut Richard Garriott, a guest at Dragon Con’s first convention in 1987, discussing his efforts to regain control of his pioneering video game Ultima, while game designer and Origins Hall of Famer David “Zeb” Cook will draw on his 18 years’ of designing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns to lead fans in discussions of game design.

Celebrity Dungeon Master Mark Meer will lead a new D&D Live featuring the cast of Hades II, including Amelia Tyler, Erin Yvette, Jason Marnocha, Judy Alice Lee, Becca Q. Co, and Ashley Barrett; Final Fantasy XIV voice actors Peter Bramhill, Sena Bryer, and Javier Prusky will be on hand to talk about their experiences creating the game; and popular Twitch streamer AnEternalEnigma returns to perform his Silent Hill speedrun showcase.

Parade – Atlanta’s most colorful and always popular Dragon Con Parade steps off on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 am. The parade is free and open to the public.

The parade route remains the same as in past years. Beginning at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue, the parade will head south on Peachtree, east (left) on Andrew Young International Boulevard and north (left) on Peachtree Center Avenue. It will end on Peachtree Center Avenue between John Portman Boulevard and Baker Street, in front of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

The route is convenient to three MARTA stations – North Avenue, Civic Center, and Peachtree Center. Parking downtown is expected to be tight. Dragon Con encourages parade spectators to ride MARTA.

The 2026 parade will be televised live on CBS Atlanta, with live coverage starting at 10 am and will remain on air through the entire parade. 

There are a number of live streaming options. DCTV will broadcast the parade live on a closed circuit to the convention’s host hotels, with rebroadcasts throughout the weekend. Parade coverage will also stream on dragoncon.tv, subscription required.

Cosplay – Dragon Con is well known for the quality of its cosplay and that tradition will certainly continue. The nation’s top cosplayers will show off their best work during the show, participating in costume contests every night of the convention and promenading throughout the five host hotels and the streets of downtown Atlanta.

Cosplay competitions remain a mainstay of Dragon Con. This year, there will be ten different contests, including the queen of competitions, Dragon Con Masquerade, the oldest continuously run competition in fandom; the craftsmanship-focused Friday Night Costume Contest; and the low-key and fan-voted Hallway Costume Contest.

Official Charity – Hope Atlanta, the state’s longest-standing nonprofit committed to preventing and ending homelessness,is Dragon Con’s official 2026 charity.

Combating homelessness is one of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ signature priorities, supported by $60 million in public funding to drive a historic public-private investment in dignified housing and supportive services. The city tapped Hope Atlanta to provide one-on-one assistance to individuals and families seeking housing and other basic needs.

This year’s effort follows a landmark 2025 campaign, which generated $325,000 for mental health advocate NAMI Georgia through auctions, exclusive merchandise, special events, and a dollar-for-dollar match from the convention. Dragon Con has raised more than $2 million for Atlanta-based charities since 2012. 

In addition to fundraising, Dragon Con conducts the largest convention-based blood drive in the nation. Each year, some 3,000 fans donate more than 6,000 units of blood and blood products in the annual Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” blood drive, benefiting LifeSouth, which serves more than 40 hospitals in the Atlanta area and 110 hospitals in the Southeast.

DRAGON CON CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF GAMING WITH LEGENDARY CREATORS, TALENTED VOICE ACTORS, AND THOUSANDS OF WAYS TO PLAY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 7/25/26

More Than Three Acres of Gaming Lets Gamers Do It All

Dragon Con, celebrating its 40th year as one of the nation’s largest gaming conventions, brings together game designers, voice actors, and streaming stars for panels and live events alongside one of the Southeast’s largest collections of playable games.

Highlights of this year’s programming include:

·         Game designer and astronaut Richard Garriott, a guest at Dragon Con’s first convention in 1987, will discuss his efforts to regain control of his pioneering video game Ultima.

·         Celebrity Dungeon Master Mark Meer will lead a new D&D Live with the cast of Hades II, including Amelia Tyler, Erin Yvette, Jason Marnocha, Judy Alice Lee, Becca Q. Co, and Ashley Barrett.

·         Game designer and Origins Hall of Famer David “Zeb” Cook will draw on his 18 years’ of designing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns to lead fans on discussions of game design.

·         Peter Bramhill, Sena Bryer, and Javier Prusky, voice actors from Final Fantasy XIV, will be on hand to talk about their experiences creating the game. 

·         Popular Twitch streamer AnEternalEnigma returns to perform his Silent Hill speedrun showcase.

An estimated 75,000 attendees are expected to descend on downtown Atlanta for the five-day convention held over Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 3 – Sept. 7), filling the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree Plaza, and Courtland Grand Hotel, as well as AmericasMart Buildings Two and Three.

Covering more than three acres in AmericasMart Building Three, Dragon Con’s gaming floor offers something for every kind of gamer, latest hit video games and international arcade cabinets to rarely seen board games and fan-favorite tabletop titles. “Every corner of Dragon Con’s gaming hall offers a new adventure,” said David Cody, senior director of Gaming and IT. “You can challenge friends in a tournament, try a game you’ve never heard of, meet the people who helped create the games you love, or join an epic tabletop campaign. Whatever kind of gamer you are, there’s a place for you here.”

As always, Dragon Con offers a place to connect, learn, and play. Panels and discussions led by some of gaming’s most influential designers, developers, and voice actors take fans and gamers alike inside the games they love to play.

New this year, Dragon Con will feature an expanded footprint of Virtual Reality equipment that supports multiplayer games, giving gamers an only-at-Dragon Con VR experience.

At the same time, the convention’s gaming volunteers will host sessions to teach new board and collectible card game players the most popular, award-winning games introduced over the last few years, including the highly interactive games Terraforming Mars, Wingspan, Wyrmspan, Galactic Cruise, The Gang, and World Order.  On the collectible card game side, Dragon Con will continue to lead sessions to help players master Disney’s Lorcana, an easy-to-learn game for hardcore gamers and casual Disney fans alike. 

After the sun goes down, the Heroes & Villains Ball and the 8-Bit Bash give gamers a chance to unwind and celebrate their favorite fandoms.

Fans can explore traditional arcade cabinet favorites and from across the Pacific in the ever-popular Japanese and Asian arcade game section, all free to play for convention members.  Atlanta’s own Joystick Game Bar returns with a pop-up version of its retro arcade in Peachtree Center Mall.

Werewolf and other social deception games will once again claim a central spot in late-night gaming. Known for its accessibility and high energy, Werewolf is often an entry point for the gaming curious while retaining its appeal among veterans.

About Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3 – Sept. 7, 2026) in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over five days. For more information, please visit http://www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.

DRAGON CON MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LEGENDS TIMOTHY ZAHN AND TONY DITERLIZZI AS LITERARY AND ARTIST GUESTS OF HONOR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 7/14/26

Dragon Con, celebrating its 40th anniversary as Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy, sci-fi, and gaming convention, has named author Timothy Zahn and artist Tony DiTerlizzi as its 2026 Literary and Artist Guests of Honor.

Dragon Con’s 2026 convention runs from Thursday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 7 with events and activities across five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Courtland Grand Hotel – and AmericasMart Buildings 2 and 3.

Since its first convention in 1987, Dragon Con has spotlighted the authors and artists whose creative contributions have breathed life into the realms of fantasy and science fiction as Literary and Artist Guests of Honor. Both Zahn and DiTerlizzi will be recognized throughout the event and will be on hand to meet fans and participate in panels to provide insight into their success and love of fandom.

Zahn is a Hugo Award winning and New York Times bestselling author whose work has helped define modern science fiction. A member of the Dragon Con family since his first appearance in 1995, Zahn is best known for creating the iconic Grand Admiral Thrawn and the bestselling Thrawn Trilogy. He has written more than 60 novels, nearly 90 works of short fiction, and multiple collections, with over eight million copies of his books in print. In addition to his influential Star Wars novels, Zahn’s extensive body of work includes original series such as Cobra, Quadrail, and Dragonback, as well as contributions to major franchises like StarCraft. For more information, visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Timothy-Zahn/432874

Tony DiTerlizzi is a bestselling author and acclaimed illustrator whose work has shaped modern fantasy across gaming, books, and film. He first rose to prominence for his distinctive artwork in Dungeons & Dragons and for illustrating iconic cards for Magic: The Gathering, helping redefine the visual language of both franchises. DiTerlizzi is the co-creator of the internationally bestselling The Spiderwick Chronicles series (with Holly Black), which has been adapted into a feature film and a television series. His imaginative storytelling continues with projects such as the WondLa series. Blending classical illustration influences with a whimsical, otherworldly style, DiTerlizzi remains one of the most recognizable and influential artists in contemporary fantasy. For more information about DiTerlizzi, visit https://diterlizzi.com.

DRAGON CON 2025: A ONE DAY ITINERARY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/15/25

Come with us to a day at Dragon con! John and I have attended Dragon Con for years, over 20 for him and in the teens for me. So needless to say, we’re veterans! So, we thought we’d put together the ultimate day at the con for you to grab for next year!

This itinerary is based on Saturday and you will need to purchase a badge to get into any of the Dragon Con hotels.

You’ll start your day by going to see the 10 am Saturday morning Dragon Con parade. It is the best way to see all the best costumes and this is free and open to the public. So, we would recommend you get there an hour early to get a good enough seat to see! Plus, bring water, camp chairs, and snacks as the parade is 2 hours!

Next you will need to fuel your day, so take a lunch break. Grab a bite at any of the local restaurants like Gus’ Fried Chicken for hot fried chicken. Other spots include the Peachtree Center food court, Aviva, or Willy’s to name a few. Plus, there is a food truck parking lot.


While at lunch, download the Dragon Con app and find some things to do during the day, like attend an early afternoon panel with one of your favorite celebrities, comic book artists, and more. This year we saw David Boreanaz who has starred in shows like Buffy, Angle, and Bones. The second panel was Simon Pegg from Sean of the Dead and Mission Impossible. I couldn’t make it to the 40th anniversary panel of Back to the Future, that would have been interesting to see Christopher Lloyd.


Go to the Marriott Marquis and take a walk around the walk of fame. It is a ballroom filled with all types of famous people from TV shows to movies to animators and voice actors. You can just walk around and see who is there or get in line to talk to one of your favorites. Typically, the celebrities charge for photos and signatures so bring some cash!

Then, go find your favorite cosplayers walking around and score a ribbon to attach to your badge! Usually if you interact with them or take their photo, they will give you one, and sometimes swag!

Are you into art? Head to America’s Mart to do some shopping. They have all kinds of goodies you can take home. This is something you could also do first thing during the parade, as we’ve heard that is lighter. The lines can be very long, so if you do this make sure you have at least an hour an a half.

Now, if you don’t want to do this you can head to the Hyatt Regency and people watch in the lobby. People are always happy to snap photos and video with you. They also have a fun “bucket of rum” you can get while doing this.

For our 21 and up readers, this is the perfect time to grab a drink and take a break. Some of our favorites are everything from the bourbon drinks at Sear in the Marquis to beers and Tin Lizzy’s and Skol Brewery to the famed mai tai at Trader Vic’s in the Hilton. There are other great cocktail, wine, and beer locations like Meehan’s Irish Pub downtown and cocktails at Red Phone Booth. Red Phone Booth even does a theme with specialty cocktails and food!

Take a trip down the skybridge, it is great people watching and take a stroll around the Hilton. It is the spot for group photos so you may be able to see a large group of Mario characters to maybe a Marvel meet up. Make sure to visit the Cult of John while you’re in the skybridge as well.

Make sure to turn right after exiting the skybridge between the Hyatt and Marriott Marquis, you’ll find a collection of working droids, and you can interact with! They are my favorite part of Dragon Con and there are so many new ones each year. Wall-e, R2, and BB8 are always there, as well!

It’s time to find another panel! There are so many, two a day is usually what I shoot for, and they are always fun and entertaining. I will never forget the one with Vincent D’Onafro last year! His story about how he got cast in full metal jacket is epic. Or the time, I went the Smallville panel, and all the stars stood on their chairs and sang.

Take a dinner break at one of the local restaurants or hotel restaurants around. We typically always eat dinner at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, it is really affordable, and I love their So Cal bowl. Then, there is also Alma, they have the best Bulgogi beef tacos and a delightful fish dish.

After dinner, is the ultimate people watching time and the lobby of the Mariott Marquis is the best spot. You can grab some Mead from the Monk’s Mead and take in all the over-the-top cosplays! I’m sure you’ll find a photo op! This year, I really enjoyed what I call, “experience cosplay” where you can interact with the person, play a game, buy a trinket. Like the guy who dressed as a game show host and actually hosted a game show, or the battle of wits from Princess Bride. Also, hopefully you’ll see a herd of T-Rexes as well while you are there. They run a herd most nights!

It’s time for the Saturday night party in one of the ballrooms with dancing, drinks, and fun people watching. One is the Heroes and Villans Ball or the Zombie Prom.

If you’re up for it, concerts start at midnight and you can find some fun, entertaining acts. One year Here come the Mummies played and it was so worth the late night!

That is one packed day!


NETHERWORLD HAUNTED HOUSE BRINGING MONSTERS & MAYHEM TO DRAGON CON 2025

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/26/25

DATES YOU NEED TO KNOW…
Thursday, Aug. 28 – Monday, Sept. 1 | Dragon Con Weekend
Saturday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m. | Dragon Con Parade on Peachtree Street; broadcast live on CBS Atlanta (WUPA, Channel 69) at 10 a.m. EST
Friday, Sept. 19 | NETHERWORLD Haunted House Opening Night

This Labor Day Weekend, the streets of downtown Atlanta will tremble as NETHERWORLD Haunted House brings its legion of monsters to Dragon Con. From grotesque new fiends and fan-favorite creatures to an elaborate parade float brimming with terror, NETHERWORLD will once again fuse fright and fantasy as it kicks off its 29th Season of Screams in spine-chilling style.

As the sponsor of Dragon Con’s Horror Track programming, NETHERWORLD will be present all weekend with a booth located on the Marquis level of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. There, fans can snap photos with NETHERWORLD’s famous monsters, learn about this year’s attractions, snag discounts for Escape the NETHERWORLD, and even sign up to join the “Netherspawn” crew for the upcoming season.

In the iconic Dragon Con Parade, spectators will get the very first glimpse of new nightmare-fueled characters from NETHERWORLD’s 2025 themes — the epic monster showdown MONSTERS ATTACK! and the twisted double feature OBLIVION: RETURN OF THE MANGLER and GRENDEL’S FEAST. Alongside the acclaimed attraction’s float, legendary Netherworld denizens will unleash a sneak peek of the fearsome battles, grotesque creations, and sinister clowns that await haunt-goers this fall.
 
“Dragon Con is our official start to haunt season and the ultimate stage to introduce our new characters and themes,” said NETHERWORLD Haunted House Co-Creator Ben Armstrong. “For 2025, we’re unleashing massive new monsters, mind-bending sets, and some of the most ambitious haunts in our history. Dragon Con gives us the chance to share that excitement with fans before we open our doors, and we can’t wait to see their reactions!”
 
A few short weeks after Dragon Con, the scares officially open for its 29th Season of Screams on Friday, Sept. 19. Guests will journey through the monstrous chaos of MONSTERS ATTACK! before plunging into the horrific depths of OBLIVION: RETURN OF THE MANGLER and the grotesque carnival of GRENDEL’S FEAST. Between haunts, visitors can explore the NETHERWORLD Midway, packed with roaming creatures, food, games, photo ops, and festive fun. Tickets — including General Admission and Speed Passes for faster entry — are on sale now at Fearworld.com, and fans are encouraged to purchase early to secure their spot.

RED PHONE BOOTH TO CELEBRATE DRAGON CON 2025 WITH DOCTOR WHO-INSPIRED EVENTS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/21/25

Red Phone Booth, Atlanta’s premier prohibition experience, is excited to welcome Dragon Con to the city for the ninth consecutive year this Labor Day weekend, August 27 through September 1.  Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, pop culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe.

Red Phone Booth will offer a special series of events and promotions designed to enhance the convention experience for members and attendees alike. Centrally located in Downtown Atlanta, just 100 feet from Peachtree Street at 17 Andrew Young International Blvd, Red Phone Booth is the ultimate destination for fans seeking a unique and immersive celebration during Dragon Con. Convention attendees can get the code for entry through their hotel concierge.

A Whovian Transformation

In honor of this year’s festivities, Red Phone Booth will undergo a remarkable transformation, painting the iconic entrance, an antique London red phone booth, to BLUE to resemble the famous police box from Doctor Who. This homage to one of the most beloved sci-fi series will set the tone for a weekend filled with adventure, camaraderie and celebration. Additionally, Red Phone Booth has added an intergalactic window mural that sets the tone before you even step inside.

Exclusive Events and Offers

The Dragon Con themed Cigar Lounge will create themed craft cocktails to transport you across time and space. Each evening, guests can enjoy a complimentary Pasta and Salad Bar from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. while supplies last, courtesy of Amalfi Cucina & Mercato, offering a taste of Italy to fuel the night’s festivities. At 10:01 p.m., Red Phone Booth will host a complimentary toast in honor of the 10th Doctor from Doctor Who. Patrons are invited to raise their glasses and celebrate the spirit of adventure and the many Dragon Cons to come.

Throughout the weekend, members of the Dragon Con Cigar Club can take advantage of an exclusive BOGO Cigar Offer on select cigars, allowing them to buy one cigar and get another of equal or lesser value free.  Guests will also enjoy raffle prizes and giveaways all weekend. You never know what might materialize, from merch to VIP experiences.

In the spirit of Dragon Con, Red Phone Booth will adopt a “Geek Chic” Dress Code for the weekend, encouraging cosplay while maintaining a standard of elegance. While creativity is encouraged, guests are reminded that attire must be fully covering, and body paint will not be permitted.

Members are encouraged to secure their spot at these exclusive events by making advanced reservations through the member app. For those seeking a more demure, more mindful Red Phone Booth experience, the Buckhead location will maintain its regular dress code and atmosphere throughout the holiday weekend.

For more information about the Dragon Con events at Red Phone Booth, or to learn more about membership opportunities, visit www.RedPhoneBooth.com. For entry, please ask your hotel concierge for the code.

DRAGON CON RETURNS THIS LABOR DAY WITH 75,000 FANS, COUNTLESS COSTUMES, AND MORE NERDY FUN THAN YOU CAN FIT IN A TARDIS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/20/25

From Screen Legends to Dungeon Masters, Fans Turn Out for Star Encounters, Gaming Hall Glory,

and the Most Colorful Parade This Side of the Multiverse

Dragon Con, the internationally known pop culture, fantasy, science fiction, and gaming convention, returns to downtown Atlanta for the five-day Labor Day weekend, attracting some 75,000 fans from all 50 states and several foreign countries.

Fans come to Dragon Con to meet their favorite actors, artists, authors, creators, and experts, show off their latest cosplay, make new friends, and revel in nerdy fun.

Dragon Con 2025 runs from Thursday, Aug. 28 to Monday, Sept. 1 with events and activities across five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Courtland Grand – plus AmericasMart Buildings Two and Three.

Guests – Cultural icon William Shatner, Mission Impossible’s Simon Pegg, and John Boyega from the Star Wars sequels are set to light up the stage while legendary actor Christopher Lloyd will be on hand to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future.

They will be joined by Bones’ David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, Superman Returns’ Brandon Routh, Marvel’s Kingpin Vincent D’Onofrio, Arrowverse’s Emily Bett Rickards, and Katee Sackhoff from The Mandalorian, all coming out to meet fans, lead panel discussions, and sign autographs.

The Muppet Show and Sesame Street Muppeteers Bill Barretta (Pepe the King Prawn), Kevin Clash (Elmo), Bonnie Erickson (Miss Piggy), and Dave Goelz (Gonzo) will be on hand to lead fans in sing-alongs, panel discussions, and puppetry demonstrations.

In addition, Dragon Con will host some 300 authors, artists, game designers, puppeteers, scientists, engineers, and other experts to lead panels and talk with fans across 38 tracks of programming, from high fantasy to hard science.

Gaming – Dragon Con, one of the largest gaming conventions in the nation, offers more than three acres of gaming in AmericasMart Building Three, plus additional gaming and game-related programming in the nearby Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.

Dragon Con offers the full array of games including PC and console games, miniatures, role-playing games, collectible card games, social deception games, LARP games, and a basement full of familiar and rare board games. All gaming is free to Dragon Con members and begins Thursday, Aug. 28 at 4 pm.

Fans can explore traditional arcade cabinet favorites and imports from across the Pacific in the ever-popular Japanese and Asian arcade game section that are free to play. Atlanta’s own Joystick Game Bar returns with a pop-up version of its retro arcade in Peachtree Center Mall.

Programming highlights include the return of celebrity Dungeon Master Mark Meer, who will lead a D&D Live session with the cast of Baldur’s Gate III including Samantha Béart, Tim Downie, Emma Gregory, Cissy Jones, and Dave Jones through a classic adventure. Meer will also team up with Atlanta’s own Dad’s Garage for a one-of-a-kind improv tribute to Baldur’s Gate III.

Sean Copeland, Loremaster at Blizzard Entertainment, Ashley Ruhl, Narrative Director on Star Wars: The Old Republic, along with Alison Carrier from Scopely, Brian Urbanek from Marauder Tech, and content creator Jynxie Rose will participate in multiple panels on game design, development, and content creation. Paris K. Arrowsmith brings the award-winning Cyberpunk Red podcast to Dragon Con with guest stars Mikal Mosley and Tracie Hearne.

Parade – Atlanta’s most colorful and always popular Dragon Con Parade steps off on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 am. The parade is free and open to the public.

The parade route remains the same as in past years. Beginning at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue, the parade will head south on Peachtree, east (left) on Andrew Young International Boulevard and north (left) on Peachtree Center Avenue. It will end on Peachtree Center Avenue between John Portman Boulevard and Baker Street, in front of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

The route is convenient to three MARTA stations – North Avenue, Civic Center, and Peachtree Center. Parking downtown is expected to be tight. Dragon Con encourages parade spectators to ride MARTA.

The 2025 parade will be televised live on CBS Atlanta (formerly Atlanta 69). Live coverage will begin at 10 am and will remain on air through the entire parade. 

There are a number of live streaming options. DCTV will broadcast the parade live on a closed circuit to the convention’s host hotels, with rebroadcasts throughout the weekend. Parade coverage will also stream on dragoncon.tv, subscription required.

Cosplay – Dragon Con is well known for the quality of its cosplay and that tradition will certainly continue. The nation’s top cosplayers will show off their best work during the show, participating in costume contests every night of the convention and promenading throughout the five host hotels and the streets of downtown Atlanta.

Cosplay competitions remain a mainstay of Dragon Con, including the queen of competitions, Dragon Con Masquerade, the oldest continuously-run competition in fandom, the craftsmanship-focused Friday Night Costume Contest, and the low-key and fan-voted Hallway Costume Contest.

Official Charity – Mental health advocacy and education organization NAMI Georgia is Dragon Con’s official 2025 charity. NAMI Georgia works to raise awareness across the state and provide support to its 18 local affiliates serving individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Through convention-based auctions, special merchandise sales, special events, plus a dollar-for-dollar match from the convention, Dragon Con raised $300,000 in 2024 for the Georgia chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Since 2015, the convention has raised more than $1.48 million for Atlanta-based charities. 

In addition to fundraising, Dragon Con conducts the largest convention-based blood drive in the nation. Each year, some 3,000 fans donate more than 6,000 units of blood and blood products in the annual Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” blood drive, benefiting LifeSouth, which serves more than 40 hospitals in the Atlanta area and 110 hospitals in the Southeast.

About Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 28 – Sept. 1, 2025) in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over four days. For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.