Dream Con

Dream Con
StatusActive
GenreMulti-genre
VenueGeorge R. Brown Convention Center
LocationHouston, Texas
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2018
Attendance32,674 paid in 2025
Organized byRDCWorld
Websitedreamconvention.com

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.

Programming

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

History

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

Dream Con moved in 2023 to the Austin Convention Center and was sold-out of tickets in February. 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. Megan Thee Stallion appeared as a guest, in cosplay, and had a cosplay contest she judged. 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.

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
August 10-12, 2018 Waco Convention Center
Waco, Texas		1,000 or 1,200
May 3-5, 2019 Waco Convention Center
Houston, Texas		John Burgmeier, Kyle Hebert, Chuck Huber, and Linda Young.
July 23-24, 2021 Esports Stadium Arlington
Arlington, Texas		3,000 totalMaile Flanagan and Sean Schemmel.
July 15-17, 2022 Esports Stadium Arlington
Arlington, Texas		6,000Dani Chambers, Gabe Kunda, Anairis Quiñones, and Zeno Robinson.
July 28-30, 2023 Austin Convention Center
Austin, Texas		20,000 or 23,000
July 26-28, 2024 Austin Convention Center
Hilton Austin
Austin, Texas		19,853 individual or 25,000Nadji Jeter and Pros and Cons Cosplay.
July 10-13, 2025 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		32,674 paidRodney Barnes, Kimberly Brooks, CutiePieSensei, Zeno Robinson, Reed Shannon, Tony Weaver, Jr., Dontai, Cedric Yarbrough, Kai Cenat, and Megan Thee Stallion.
July 10-13, 2026 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		Karan Ashley, Nakia Burrise, Xanthe Huynh, Walter E. Jones, Mara Junot, Gabe Kunda, Phil LaMarr, Brandon Jay McLaren, Cree Summer, and Jessie Usher.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Walker, Noelle (23 July 2021). "Dream Con Moves to Esports Stadium in Arlington". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dream Con 2025 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 3 Garrett, Kaila (August 21, 2023). "Dream Con 2024 is returning to Austin". Spectrum News. Charter Communications. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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 August 7, 2026.

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