An estimated 75,000 attendees are expected to descend on downtown Atlanta for Dragon Con, Atlanta’s five-day internationally known pop culture, fantasy, science fiction, and gaming convention, held over Labor Day Weekend (August 28 – September 1), filling the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree Plaza, and Courtland Grand Hotel, as well as AmericasMart Buildings Two and Three. John Boyega, Mike Colter, Christopher Judge, Peter Macon, David Ramsey, Tim Russ, and Tamara Taylor are among the featured African American stars who will be there.
Top guests from television, movies, and video games include Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, and John de Lancie from Star Trek: The Next Generation; Robert Picardo, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Garrett Wang from Star Trek: Voyager; Psych’s Timothy Omundson, Kurt Fuller, and Maggie Lawson; Evil’s Mike Colter, Katja Herbers and Aasif Mandvi; Once Upon a Time’s Lana Parrilla and Colin O’Donoghue plus many others; plus favorite Arrowverse cast members David Ramsey, Colton Haynes, and Paul Blackthorne.
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.
For the MTV Generation, Christopher Lloyd will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future with castmates Tom Wilson, Claudia Wells, and James Tolkan. 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.
Various acclaimed actors and voice actors will represent Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ahsoka, Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Boys, Daredevil, Evil, The Magicians, Mortal Kombat, Once Upon a Time, The Orville, Stargate SG1, and X-Men ’97, among others shows, films and video games.
The convention’s celebrity guests get immediate notice, but only about a quarter of Dragon Con’s roster of guests come from television and movies. The majority of convention guests are storytellers, artists, scientists, and other experts in fields like science, space exploration, digital rights, and more.
“Our authors, comic creators, and experts don’t just help fans understand the world — they make sure no one leaves without having their minds at least slightly blown,” convention co – chair Rachel Reeves said. “Whether they’re diving into speculative fiction or tackling real – world topics like science, space, civil rights, or skepticism, we bring in sharp minds who can break down big ideas and make it fun.”
Organized for fans by fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over five days. Dragon Con’s gaming floor, spanning more than three acres in AmericasMart Building Three, features a massive assortment of games: console and PC games, RPGs, LARPs, miniatures, collectible card games, and an extensive board game library. For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and or X.
Dragon Con Diversity Track features special programming \
Once again Nashville native Dr. Jarvis Sheffield leads the Diversity Track at Dragon Con. Inaugurated a few years ago when Black Panther arrived on screens around the globe, this track celebrates diversity in fandom. This year, among the panels planned for presentation in the Hyatt- Hanover AB Room include the following:
THURSDAY: Afrofuturism Ascending: Dreams of Tomorrow — Today. Dragon Con Kick – Off Celebration: From Juke Joints to Hip Hop Dance / Dance party. Game Night Spectacular: Your Epic Quest Awaits.
FRIDAY: Black Comics Blaze: A Cultural Odyssey. Women Warriors of Comics: Crafting the Future. Asian Americans in the Spotlight: Stories that Shine. Age-Defying Fandom: Revolutionizing Representation. Neurodiversity Nexus: Where Uniqueness Meets Fandom. The Beat Goes On (how artists like Run-DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, & Wu Tang Clan embraced comics). The Gauntlet / Heatwave Q&A / Inferno Interviews. Storytelling Ignited: The Digital Frontier (how digital magic brings stories to life in innovative ways that captivate and inspire). Paint the Night Fantastic: After – Hours Artistry exclusive paint party.
SATURDAY: Dragon Con Parade Spectacular: The Ultimate Fan March (the biggest parade in downtown Atlanta). Gaming & Learning: The Future of Fun Education (reimagining the future of education through innovative gaming experiences), followed by Fandom Fusion: Where Classroom Meets Imagination (educators and scientists bridge the worlds of classroom learning and fandom). Fandom for All: Mastering Accessibility & Inclusion (addresses diverse needs and representation, fostering a supportive environment for all). Diversity Track Author Group Signing: Women in Speculative Fiction, with Charlie Jane Anders, R. E. Carr, Elizabeth Donald, Ai Jiang, Rose Reynolds, and Jasmine Walt signing. Inspiring Innovators: Diverse Programming for Young Minds (the importance of diverse programming for youth). Heroines Unleashed: The Power of Female Protagonists. Latinx Fandom Fiesta: Celebrating Culture, Creativity, and Community. Behind the Scenes: The Magic of the Mainstream Unveiled. From Zero to Hero: LIVE Makeup Transformation (interactive demo creating a full makeup look in real time — with your input, building a character’s backstory, setting, personality, and color palette. DragonCraft Creatives Night: Sketch, Craft, & Create after – hours extravaganza.
SUNDAY: Balancing Act: Women’s Guide to Art & Life Mastery (insights and strategies for thriving in the arts, while managing multiple roles). Inside the Industry: Your Blueprint to Entertainment Success. Cinematic Voyage: Short Films that Captivate. Comic Creations: The Web & Print Saga Unveiled (the dual worlds of digital and print comics). The Theater — A Space for All DC Theater Lovers. Love without Limits: Revolutionizing LGBTQ Representation. Cosplay Universe: Unleash Your Inner Hero (learn from masters and transform into anyone you dream of being, followed by Cosplay Party Extravaganza: Unleash Your Inner Hero, an unforgettable cosplay party celebrating creativity and camaraderie in an inclusive space where everyone can express their inner hero.
MONDAY: Enchanting Realms: Black Voices in Fantasy. Asexuality on Screen: Visibility & Beyond. The Science of Storytelling: Fact Meets Fiction. The weekend concludes with a Diversity Celebration: Looking Back – Moving Forward, reflecting on the triumphs and challenges of fostering diversity in a Cake and Ice cream social.
