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Dream Con is an annual three-day multi-genre convention held during July at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. The convention was founded by Mark Phillips and RDCWorld (Real Dreamers Change the World), a YouTube channel and minority owned business.[1][3][4]

Programming

The convention’s programming includes an artist alley, cosplay contest, exhibitors, gaming tournaments, music concert, panels, and various sports events.[5][4][6] Dream Con in 2024 added over $15 million to the Austin, Texas economy.[7] In 2025, Dream Con brought $19.2 million to the Houston, Texas economy.[8]

History

RDCWorld started Dream Con after the group had issues working with other conventions.[5][7] Dream Con 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The convention, due to growth, moved to Esports Stadium Arlington in 2021 and was sold-out of tickets.[1][10] It remained at the Esports Stadium for 2022 and attendance was limited to 6,000.[10] The convention’s 2022 COVID-19 policies required vaccination or testing to attend.[5]

Dream Con moved in 2023 to the Austin Convention Center and was sold-out of tickets in February.[3] For 2025, the convention moved to the George R. Brown Convention Center due to expected construction at the Austin Convention Center that would make it unavailable for several years.[7][11] Megan Thee Stallion appeared as a guest, in cosplay, and had a cosplay contest she judged.[12][13] During a panel she announced an animated series in development with Amazon Prime Video. Prior to the event, the convention apologized for liking controversial posts on Instagram regarding her.[14][15]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
August 10-12, 2018[16] Waco Convention Center
Waco, Texas		1,000 or 1,200[10][17]
May 3-5, 2019 Waco Convention Center
Houston, Texas		John Burgmeier, Kyle Hebert, Chuck Huber, and Linda Young.[18]
July 23-24, 2021 Esports Stadium Arlington
Arlington, Texas		3,000 total[19]Maile Flanagan and Sean Schemmel.[19]
July 15-17, 2022 Esports Stadium Arlington
Arlington, Texas		6,000[3][10]Dani Chambers, Gabe Kunda, Anairis Quiñones, and Zeno Robinson.[20]
July 28-30, 2023[21] Austin Convention Center
Austin, Texas		20,000 or 23,000[4][17]
July 26-28, 2024 Austin Convention Center
Hilton Austin
Austin, Texas		19,853 individual or 25,000[7][8]Nadji Jeter and Pros and Cons Cosplay.[22]
July 10-13, 2025 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		32,674 paid[2]Rodney Barnes, Kimberly Brooks, CutiePieSensei, Zeno Robinson, Reed Shannon, Tony Weaver, Jr.,[2] Dontai, Cedric Yarbrough,[23] Kai Cenat, and Megan Thee Stallion.[24]
July 10-13, 2026[25] George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas

References

  1. ^ a b c Walker, Noelle (23 July 2021). “Dream Con Moves to Esports Stadium in Arlington”. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b c “Dream Con 2025 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Ortega, Hannah (19 July 2023). “Black-owned Dream Con coming to Austin for the first time. Here’s what to expect”. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Garrett, Kaila (August 21, 2023). “Dream Con 2024 is returning to Austin”. Spectrum News. Charter Communications. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b c “The Dream Con Anime and Gaming Convention Returns to Esports Stadium Arlington | FCT News”. Freestone County Times. July 9, 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  6. ^ Page Jr., Francis (May 29, 2025). “Dream Con 2025: Culture, Community & Cosmic Vibes Take Over Houston”. Houston Style Magazine. Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d Douglas, DeVaughn (28 August 2024). “Dream Chasers: How RDCWorld Has Built Their Online Platform Into One of the Fastest Growing Conventions”. Forward Times. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b Miranda, Janet (26 June 2025). “Black-owned convention generates millions in economic impact in its first year in Houston”. KHOU (Houston Business Journal). Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  9. ^ “DreamCon 2020 Coronavirus Facebook”. Facebook. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Danny (30 May 2022). “The Growing Anime and Gaming Convention Dream Con Returns in July”. Dallas Observer. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  11. ^ Johnson, Octavia (28 August 2024). “Dream Con anime convention in Houston first release of early badges sold out”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  12. ^ Iikura-Gross, Ken (31 March 2026). “Megan Thee Stallion Appears at Dream Con in Bleach Cosplay”. Anime News Network. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  13. ^ Guerra, Joey (31 May 2025). “Megan Thee Stallion talks anime series and ‘staying strong’ at DreamCon Houston”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  14. ^ David, Jamil (21 May 2025). “Anime convention sparks outrage from Houston Hotties”. Chron. Hearst Newspapers, LLC. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  15. ^ Garcia, Michael (27 May 2025). “Megan Thee Stallion’s team denies claims of new evidence in Tory Lanez shooting”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  16. ^ “Dream Con 2022 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Garfias, Agustin (February 27, 2024). “Texas’ only Black-owned gaming and anime convention rooted in Waco”. Spectrum News. Charter Communications. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  18. ^ “Dream Con 2022 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  19. ^ a b “Dream Con 2021 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  20. ^ “Dream Con 2022 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  21. ^ “Dream Con 2023 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  22. ^ “Dream Con 2024 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  23. ^ Rouner, Jef (20 May 2025). “Megan Thee Stallion to appear at H-Town’s first Dream Con pop-culture convention”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  24. ^ Green, Ralph (2 June 2025). “DreamCon will be held in Houston again next year. Here’s when”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  25. ^ “Dream Con 2026 Information”. FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.

29°45′8″N 95°21′28″W / 29.75222°N 95.35778°W / 29.75222; -95.35778