There are conventions, and then there’s Dream Con.
Dream Con took over Houston, Texas, from May 30th through June 1st this year at the George R. Brown Convention Center, and what an incredible time it was!
As you enter through the Convention doors, it quickly becomes apparent that Dream Con is not an ordinary fan convention. It is a loving tribute to Black nerddom: proud, exciting, vibrant, and unapologetically for the culture.
Founded by the iconic online sensation and hilarious collective, RDCWorld, Dream Con was created “for anyone who has ever had a dream,” as shared by the visionary, content creator, and driving force behind RDCWorld, Mark Phillips. That dream can be felt as its energy pulses through every corner of the con. Whether it’s a cosplaying kid smiling ecstatically, a vendor sharing their original artwork, or a first-time panelist dropping gems of wisdom on stage, this event celebrates all of what’s possible.
Dream Con doesn’t just check boxes for diversity; it centers it, celebrates it, and creates a space where you feel like you belong in every room, every line, and every hilarious and vibe-filled moment in between.
The Vibe: Where Nerd Culture Feels Like Home
It started with a badge and a magnetic euphoria in the air that I had not felt in a long time at a convention. Dream Con didn’t waste any time making its presence known. You could feel the energy the instant you walked inside the George R. Brown Convention Center, alive, welcoming, and rooted in a sense of shared interests and community. The whole space was filled with fun entertainment options, eager attendees, and extremely hospitable staff and volunteers.
The energy was not just hype; it was comfort, acceptance, creativity, and a sense of community. The kind of space where you could cosplay as whoever you wanted, express your fandom in your own way, and know you’d be proudly celebrated for it.
It felt like home because it was created purely with you in mind.
As a Black American fan of anime, gaming, and pop culture, I’ve been to many conventions, but none have ever truly felt this way. Dream Con felt like the embrace of a family reunion, where I was able to bask in pure nerd euphoric paradise. It was the first time that I ever felt entirely seen, understood, and celebrated for all in all my nerdy, creative, blerd glory at a convention.
The People: Good Vibes, Great Energy, Even Better Community
There’s something powerful about being in a space where the energy is high, but the attitude is humble. Everyone, from first-time con-goers to seasoned veterans, showed up ready to have a good time and hype up the next person. Strangers became friends in seconds. Compliments flew left and right over cosplay, outfits, and shared fandom love.
The community at Dream Con is its own superpower. You weren’t just attending an event; you were part of a living, breathing network of people who just got it. People who may have felt unseen, misunderstood, or who had to carve out their own space in pop culture now finally have a space that was created to shape itself around them.
The Culture: For Us, By Us, About Us – But Open to All
One of the most powerful aspects of Dream Con is its commitment to uplifting Black culture in every possible way. From panels featuring Black creatives and industry voices to performances that felt like blerd bliss to vendors and artists whose work celebrated Blackness in anime, gaming, comics, pop culture, and more. It was impossible not to be inspired.
Walking through the artist’s alley was like stepping into a perfectly curated gallery of nerd imagination. Every booth offered a different lens into our stories: Afrofuturistic reimaginings of anime icons, handmade crafts, streetwear inspired by pop and gaming culture, and artwork that honored Black heroes, real and fictional.
Dream Con doesn’t treat Black culture like a theme; it’s the foundation. And that’s what makes it more than a con: it’s a cultural shift. A manifestation of the dream RDCWorld1 set in motion: a space where Black creatives, fans, and visionaries could flourish freely in their creativity.
While Dream Con centers and uplifts Black culture proudly and unapologetically, it remains a space where everyone is welcome. No matter your background, if you love anime, gaming, pop culture, or just good energy and a great time, Dream Con welcomes you with open arms. It’s not about gatekeeping; it’s about community. Everyone who shows up with respect and love in their heart becomes part of the community.
Lines Were Long, But So Was The Love
Let’s be real: any con with this kind of massive turnout is going to have long lines.
The badge pickup line alone felt like its own mini pre-convention event, with lots of entertainment and the kind of hype that only happens when a bunch of passionate fans are all in the same space.
But here’s the thing: the lines moved.
Staff and volunteers kept things moving and friendly, and if you planned ahead by arriving early or going by during off-peak hours, you could avoid most of the heavy crowds and get your badges in a few minutes.
Honestly? It was hard to be mad about waiting when cosplay convos, some anime debates, and the sheer excitement for the convention surrounded you. Dream Con finds a way to turn everything, even waiting, into a vibe.
The Memories: What Stays With You
When I think about Dream Con, I feel pure happiness. Not just because it’s fun but because it’s one of the few places where Black creativity, fandom, and freedom to be yourself come together in one vibrant, unforgettable celebration.
I think about a little kid dressed as Miles Morales taking a photo with his cosplaying family. I think about the impromptu dancing that broke out on the way to the panels and how comfortable I felt walking around without code-switching, apologizing, or toning myself down.
Dream Con is more than an event. It’s an experience. It is a reminder that representation is powerful, but a celebration of representation is revolutionary. It’s proof that our stories, our fandoms, and our voices deserve to take up space and then some.
Dream Con Was Built For You
If you’re looking for a con that feels like home, where you can immerse yourself in intense excitement and happiness while celebrating your fandoms, Dream Con is it. It’s where your creative passions, culture, and connections come alive. Where Black culture isn’t just included: it’s the blueprint. Beyond the panels, cosplay, gaming, tournaments, exclusives, vendors, and afterparties, it’s the feeling of community and endless fun that keeps you coming back.
As founder Mark Phillips said, Dream Con was built “for anyone who has ever had a dream.” And when you’re there laughing, learning, and connecting, you quickly realize that the dream is alive and well, beating in every hallway, booth, panel, and cosplay meetup. It’s a place that doesn’t just inspire you to keep dreaming.
It reminds you that you belong in the dream, too.
If, like me, you are eagerly awaiting Dream Con 2026, happening July 10- 12, 2026, in Houston at the George R Brown Convention Center, you can stay updated on ticket releases here.
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