If you've ever wanted to meet your favorite creator, attend a live podcast, learn how influencers make money online, or get a glimpse into the future of the creator economy, that's exactly what VidCon is for.
The annual convention has become one of the largest gatherings for internet culture, bringing together creators, fans, platforms, brands, and industry professionals under one roof. What started as a YouTube-focused event has evolved into a three-day celebration of the creator economy, spanning everything from TikTok and Snapchat to podcasts, gaming, AI, and digital entrepreneurship.
This year's event takes place June 25–27, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Here's what you need to know.
What is VidCon?
VidCon is an annual convention dedicated to online creators and the communities that surround them. Founded in 2010 by brothers John and Hank Green, the event brings together digital creators, fans, industry leaders, and technology companies to celebrate and discuss internet culture.
Over the years, VidCon has grown alongside the creator economy itself. While early editions were heavily centered on YouTube personalities, today's convention reflects a much broader creator landscape that includes TikTok stars, livestreamers, podcasters, educators, entrepreneurs, and independent media companies.
When is VidCon 2026?
VidCon Anaheim 2026 takes place June 25–27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Registration and some pre-event activities begin on June 24.
The convention is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026 and features three days of panels, meet-and-greets, live shows, workshops, networking events, and industry programming.
Who attends VidCon?
VidCon attracts three primary groups:
Fans
For many attendees, VidCon is a chance to meet creators they've followed online for years. Fan-focused programming includes creator panels and games, meet-and-greets, live podcasts, performances, community meetups, and interactive experiences.
Creators
Aspiring and established creators attend to learn about audience growth, monetization, content strategy, production, and brand partnerships. Creator-focused programming often includes workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions with successful influencers and industry experts. If you're looking for tips on breaking through the internet noise, VidCon is for you.
Industry professionals
Brands, platforms, talent managers, marketers, agencies, and media executives use VidCon to track trends in the creator economy and build partnerships. In fact, the convention has increasingly become a major business event for the digital media industry.
What happens at VidCon?
VidCon's schedule includes a mix of entertainment, education, and networking.
Attendees can expect:
Creator panels and Q&A sessions
Meet-and-greets with featured creators
Live podcast recordings
Workshops and educational sessions
Expo hall activations and brand experiences
Industry keynotes and presentations
Community meetups
Evening events and performances
The event also features an opening celebration and the VidCon Hall of Fame ceremony, which honors creators who helped shape internet culture.
As creator businesses become increasingly sophisticated, VidCon's 15th anniversary event will be sponsored by POP.STORE, a creator monetization platform that plans to unveil ECHO-ME, an AI-powered commerce platform designed for creators. The sponsorship marks a notable change from last year, when the convention's title sponsor was YouTube, underscoring how conversations around creator industry infrastructure and monetization have become increasingly central to the event.
Who is attending VidCon 2026?
VidCon has announced hundreds of featured creators for its 2026 event across gaming, comedy, lifestyle, education, and entertainment. The official creator lineup continues to expand leading up to the convention. Here are the featured creators attending this year's VidCon:
Among this year's biggest attractions is the second class of VidCon Hall of Fame inductees, which includes creator pioneers Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Cassey Ho.
Why does VidCon still matter?
The creator economy has changed dramatically since VidCon launched in 2010, but the convention remains one of the few places where the internet exists in physical form.
Creators who spend most of their careers communicating through screens get to meet their audiences face-to-face. Fans who spend years participating in online communities can experience those communities in real life. And industry leaders gather to discuss where digital culture is heading next.
In many ways, VidCon serves as an annual snapshot of the internet itself, revealing which creators are breaking through, which platforms are gaining influence, and what trends will shape online culture in the year ahead.
How can you attend VidCon?
Tickets for VidCon Anaheim 2026 are available through the convention's official website. Pass options range from fan-focused experiences to creator- and industry-access tiers, depending on what attendees hope to get out of the event.
For the latest information on featured creators, schedules, and ticket availability, attendees can visit VidCon's official website ahead of the big weekend.
Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.
Source: Mashable
