VidCon
YouTube convention
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
VidCon is an annual multi-genre online video tech convention conference for influencers, fans, executives, YouTubers, and online brands held annually in Southern California since 2010. The event primarily features prominent video stars from across the internet. It was founded by veteran YouTube creators John and Hank Green (Vlogbrothers), and was later acquired by Viacom (now Paramount Skydance) in 2018 and later acquired by Informa in 2024. Its offices remain in Missoula, Montana, sharing a building with Complexly. VidCon's international presence continues to expand with additional events planned in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Mexico City, Australia, and São Paulo. In October 2020, VidCon Now relaunched as an ongoing, free digital offering.
- Hyatt Regency Century Plaza (2010–2011)
- Anaheim Convention Center (2012–present)
- Los Angeles, California (2010–2011)
- Anaheim, California (2012–present)
| VidCon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Online video influencer conference |
| Venue |
|
| Locations |
|
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | July 9, 2010 |
Most recent | June 25-27, 2026 |
Next event | July 8-10, 2027 |
| Attendance | 75,000 (2019) |
| Organized by |
|
| Website | vidcon |
| [1] | |
History
The first VidCon was held on July 9–11, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles and sold out in advance,[2] with over 1,400 people attending.[3] On August 29, 2017, Jim Louderback was named as CEO of the convention, replacing Hank Green.[4]
People with disabilities are offered assistance throughout the convention. Special accessible seating is provided along with ASL interpreters present in the arena and main stage.[5]
Viacom acquisition
In February 2018, Viacom (owner of the Viacom Media Networks and film studio Paramount Pictures) announced that they were acquiring VidCon, as part of its efforts to increase its live events business and expand beyond television. Louderback remained the CEO of the convention, and co-founder Hank Green continued his involvement. Its offices continued to exist in Missoula, Montana.[6][7] Internet reception to this acquisition was mixed, with some noting the irony of Viacom acquiring VidCon a decade after their lawsuit against Google and YouTube for copyright infringement. Hank Green reassured fans that Viacom's acquisition[8] was a positive development that would help the convention's growth.[6][7]
COVID-19 pandemic
Three conferences were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a series of online programming, VidCon Now, became available for registration.[9]
In 2019, VidCon announced that the 11th U.S VidCon event would be held from June 17, through June 20, 2020, but on March 23, 2020, they announced that all international VidCon events were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic including Mexico, U.S, and Abu Dhabi.[10]
On April 27, 2020, VidCon announced that Australia 2020 would not return in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and would be on hiatus.[11]
In March 2021, VidCon announced that it would host its next U.S. conference at the Anaheim Convention Center from October 22–24, 2021, delayed from its usual summer scheduling in order to increase the chance that an in-person event could be held.[12] VidCon also announced that TikTok would be the top sponsor of the 2021 event, replacing YouTube who had been the main sponsor since 2013.[13] On August 20, however, VidCon announced the cancellation of its 2021 event "due to the recent increases in COVID-19 cases [in California] and evolving health and safety mandates."[14] The convention was rescheduled to June 22–25, 2022 in Anaheim.[14] The 2023 event was held between June 21–24, with YouTube returning as the sponsor.[15]
With the flagship convention in Anaheim, International editions such as VidCon London, VidCon Australia, and VidCon Asia have not yet returned.[citation needed] A limited expansion has continued in Mexico City, but no other international locations have been announced.[citation needed]
For the 2026 event, Pop Store became the main sponsor for VidCon Anaheim 2026 replacing YouTube for the second time after TikTok became the sponsor in the 2022 event.[16]
Fan Expo acquisition
In April 2024, Viacom's successor Paramount Global hired Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips to locate a buyer for VidCon.[17] In August 2024, Paramount completed the sale of VidCon to Informa, with the convention being moved under its Fan Expo HQ unit.[18][19][20] Following the acquisition, Informa executives stated their ambition to eventually bring VidCon back to global markets, describing Anaheim as the "Super Bowl for creators" and indicating that international expansion may be revisited in the future.[21]
Events
| Event | Date | Venue | City | Country | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VidCon 2010 | July 9–11, 2010 | Hyatt Regency Century Plaza | Anaheim, California |  United States |
1,400 | [3] |
| VidCon 2011 | July 28–30, 2011 | 2,500 | [22] | |||
| VidCon 2012 | June 29–30, 2012 | Anaheim Convention Center | 7,000 | [23] | ||
| VidCon 2013 | August 1–3, 2013 | 12,000 | [24] | |||
| VidCon 2014 | June 26–28, 2014 | 18,000 | [25] | |||
| VidCon 2015 | July 23–25, 2015 | 20,000 | [26] | |||
| VidCon 2016 | June 23–25, 2016 | 26,400 | [27] | |||
| VidCon Europe 2017 | April 8–9, 2017 | RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre | Amsterdam, North Holland |  Netherlands |
3,500 | [28] |
| VidCon 2017 | June 22–24, 2017 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
31,000 | [29] |
| VidCon Australia 2017 | September 9–10, 2017 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | Melbourne, Victoria |  Australia |
[30] | |
| VidCon Europe 2018 | March 22–24, 2018 | Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam | Amsterdam, North Holland | Netherlands |
[31] | |
| VidCon 2018 | June 20–23, 2018 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
75,000 | [32] |
| VidCon Australia 2018 | August 31–September 2, 2018 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | Melbourne, Victoria | Australia |
7,000+ | [33][34] |
| VidCon London 2019 | February 14–17, 2019 | ExCeL London | London, England |  United Kingdom |
13,000 | [35][36] |
| VidCon 2019 | July 10–13, 2019 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
75,000 | [37] |
| VidCon Australia 2019 | September 19–22, 2019 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | Melbourne, Victoria | Australia |
[38] | |
| VidCon Asia | Dec 3, 2019 – Dec 4, 2019 | Raffles City Convention Center | Downtown Core |  Singapore |
600+ | [39][40] |
| VidCon London 2020 | February 20–23, 2020 | ExCeL London | London, England | United Kingdom |
[41] | |
| VidCon Anaheim 2020 | The 11th U.S VidCon event was scheduled for June 17-20, 2020 but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||
| VidCon Mexico 2020 | The first Mexico VidCon event was scheduled for April 30 - May 3, 2020 but it was postponed to September 17-20, 2020 and was cancelled and rescheduled to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||
| VidCon Abu Dhabi 2020 | The first Abu Dubai VidCon event was scheduled for March 25-28, 2020 but it was postponed to December 16-18, before being cancelled and rescheduled to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||
| VidCon Anaheim 2021 | The 2021 event was scheduled to be held from October 22–24, 2021 but it was postponed to June 22-25, 2022 due to the COVID-19 cases increasing in California. | |||||
| VidCon Asia 2021 | November 25, 2021 | Suntec Convention Centre | Marina Centre | Singapore |
||
| VidCon Abu Dhabi | December 3–6, 2021 | Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre | Abu Dhabi |  United Arab Emirates |
||
| VidCon Mexico 2021 | December 3–6, 2021 | Citibanamex Center | Mexico City |  Mexico |
||
| VidCon 2022 | June 22–25, 2022 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
50,000 | [42] |
| VidCon Mexico 2022 | September 23–25, 2022 | Citibanamex Center | Mexico City | Mexico |
||
| VidCon Anaheim 2023 | June 21–24, 2023 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
55,000 | [43] |
| VidCon Baltimore 2023 | September 21–October 1, 2023 | Baltimore Convention Center | Baltimore, Maryland | United States |
||
| VidCon Anaheim 2024 | June 26–29, 2024 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
55,000 | [44] |
| VidCon Mexico 2024 | August 9–11, 2024 | Citibanamex Center | Mexico City | Mexico |
||
| VidCon Anaheim 2025 | June 19–21, 2025 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
||
| VidCon Anaheim 2026 | June 25–27, 2026 | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California | United States |
International conventions
| Convention | Country | Location(s) | Venue | Inaugural event | Most recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VidCon London (Formerly VidCon Europe) |
Netherlands (2017–2018) United Kingdom (2019–2020) |
Amsterdam (2017–2018) London (2019–2020) |
RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre (2017) Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam (2018) ExCeL London (2019–2020) |
April 8–9, 2017 | February 20–23, 2020 |
| VidCon Australia | Australia |
Melbourne | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | September 9–10, 2017 | September 19–22, 2019 |
| VidCon Asia | Singapore |
Singapore | Raffles City Convention Centre | December 3–4, 2019 | November 25, 2021 |
| VidCon Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates |
Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre | December 3–6, 2021 | — |
| VidCon Mexico | Mexico |
Mexico City | Citibanamex Center | May 6–9, 2021 | August 9–11, 2024 |
