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CALENDAR • 20262026 Entertainment-Related Conventions
Big fan cons, creator events, and industry gatherings—organized by month, with official links so you can bookmark, plan, and pitch coverage.
March 2026
Spring kickoff: pop culture + gaming + film/music
SXSW 2026
Dates: Mar 12–18, 2026
Where: Austin, TX
Film/TV premieres, music showcases, and creator + tech programming—great for trend spotting and interview lines.
Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC)
Dates: Mar 5–8, 2026
Where: Seattle, WA
One of the year’s first major fan cons—solid for celebrity photo ops, fandom panels, and creator alley coverage.
C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo)
Dates: Mar 27–29, 2026
Where: Chicago, IL
Midwest mega-con energy—celebrity guests, panels, cosplay, and big merch moments.
WonderCon 2026
Dates: Mar 27–29, 2026
Where: Anaheim, CA
Perfect for animation/comics coverage and studio-driven fan panels—often a strong “spring preview” stop.
PAX East 2026
Dates: Mar 26–29, 2026
Where: Boston, MA
Hands-on game demos, indie spotlights, and community events—prime for creator interviews and preview content.
April 2026
Industry month: theaters + broadcast/media
CinemaCon 2026
Dates: Apr 13–16, 2026
Where: Las Vegas, NV (Caesars Palace)
Major studio presentations and exhibitors—often a source of trailers, release-date chatter, and headline-making reveals.
NAB Show 2026
Dates: Apr 18–22, 2026 (Exhibits Apr 19–22)
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center
Streaming, creator economy, production tools, and sports media—strong for “future of entertainment” coverage.
May 2026
Brand deals + creator gatherings
Licensing Expo 2026
Dates: May 19–21, 2026
Where: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
Where pop culture becomes products—film/TV/game IP meets retailers and brand partners.
TwitchCon Rotterdam 2026
Dates: May 30–31, 2026
Where: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Meetups, panels, and community moments—good for creator collabs, platform announcements, and talent spotting.
June 2026
Digital culture goes IRL
VidCon Anaheim 2026
Dates: June 25–27, 2026
Where: Anaheim, CA
Fan + creator + industry tracks—one of the biggest stages for internet talent and platform strategy.
July 2026
Anime + the biggest pop-culture week of the year
Anime Expo 2026
Dates: July 2–5, 2026
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Huge anime announcements, guests, premieres, and fandom energy—excellent for photo-heavy coverage.
Comic-Con International (San Diego)
Dates: July 23–26, 2026 (Preview Night July 22)
Where: San Diego, CA
Hall H, mega-panels, surprise drops—still the top tentpole for summer fandom headlines.
August 2026
Disney superfans + global gaming spotlight
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026
Dates: Aug 14–16, 2026
Where: Anaheim, CA
Big “what’s next” showcases across Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and more—built for headline recaps.
gamescom 2026
Dates: Aug 26–30, 2026
Where: Cologne, Germany
Europe’s giant gaming trade fair + public event—trailers, demos, and “Opening Night Live” buzz.
September 2026
Major game publisher communities
BlizzCon 2026
Dates: Sep 12–13, 2026
Where: Anaheim, CA
Blizzard’s big community event—expect deep-dive panels, reveals, and esports moments.
October 2026
East Coast pop culture peak
New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2026
Dates: Oct 8–11, 2026
Where: New York City (Javits Center)
Fall’s biggest fandom weekend—perfect for celebrity press lines, premieres, and big publisher news.
November 2026
Streaming-world tentpole in the U.S.
TwitchCon San Diego 2026
Dates: Nov 13–15, 2026
Where: San Diego, CA
The “big weekend” for Twitch culture—creator meetups, platform updates, brand activations, and community moments.