VidCon

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

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]

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. Jim Louderback remained the CEO of the convention, and co-founder Hank Green continued his involvement. Its offices continued to exist in Missoula, Montana.^[4][5] 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^[6] was a positive development that would help the convention's growth.^[4][5] Three conferences were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a series of online programming, VidCon Now, became available for registration.^[7]

In 2019, VidCon announced that the 11th U.S VidCon event would be held from June 17, through June 20, 2020, but in March 23, 2020 all international VidCon events including the U.S, Mexico, and Abu Dhabi were suspended and cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,^[8] with Mexico and Abu Dhabi held in 2021 and with the flagship convention in Anaheim, California resumed in 2022. 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]}

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.^[9] VidCon also announced that TikTok would be the top sponsor of the 2021 event, replacing YouTube who had been the main sponsor since 2013.^[10] 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."^[11] The convention was rescheduled to June 22–25, 2022 in Anaheim.^[11] The 2023 event was held between June 21–24, with YouTube returning as the sponsor.^[12]

In April 2024, Viacom's successor Paramount Global hired Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips to locate a buyer for VidCon.^[13] In August 2024, Paramount completed the sale of VidCon to Informa, with the convention being moved under its Fan Expo HQ unit.^[14][15][16] 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.^[17]