VidCon 2026: 7 things to watch this year

VidCon is back at the Anaheim Convention Center from June 25 to 27, and this year, the largest gathering of Internet creators will be 15 years old.

Started in 2010 as a YouTube-focused gathering by John and Hank Green, Vidcon has become one of the largest annual conventions of internet culture, bringing together creators, fans, platforms, brands, and media companies under one roof. The event now includes creator panels, meet and greets, live podcasts, workshops, community meetings, industry programs, and discussions about where the creator economy is headed next.

The 2026 event comes at a time when the creative culture is bigger, more diverse, and more technological than ever. TikTok stars, livestreamers, podcasters, gamers, educators, entrepreneurs, and independent media companies now all fall under the broader creator economy umbrella, and this year’s program reflects that change.

Here are seven things I particularly enjoy.

1. The second Hall of Fame class is stacked

Now in its second year, the VidCon Hall of Fame gives creator culture a formal way to recognize its own history.

This year’s inductees are content creators Markiplier, Michelle Phan, Cassey Ho, and Philip DeFranco, representing gaming, independent news, beauty, and fitness content channels.

Their induction, which took place on Thursday, June 25 at the Opening Ceremony, follows VidCon’s inaugural class of 2025 Hall of Fame, which includes Anthony Padilla, Grace Helbig, Hank Green, and Tyler Oakley.

2. The list covers almost all corners of the internet

This year’s list of featured creators brings together legacy YouTubers, short-form stars, animators, beauty creators, gamers, actors, and internet personalities who have built audiences in the web’s most diverse eras.

Confirmed names include SSSniperwolf, The Professor, Sydney Morgan, Alex Wassabi, GloZell, Rosanna Pansino, Jasmin and James, and Tubbo.

3. The Exhibition Hall is lit up

The Expo Hall has always been where VidCon feels like the Internet started, and this year, it’s getting a big information boost.

The 2026 Expo Hall includes exhibit booths, Game Zone, Sports Court, Live Podcast Studio, Community Zone programming, featured creator booths, ShopSpot, Makers’ Alley, Out of the Box IRL, and Creator TV Pickleball Arena.

There’s also an entire section of GorillaCon, a space dedicated to the Gorilla Tag virtual reality gaming community that goes well beyond the usual game activations. The program includes a meet and greet with the creator of Gorilla Tag, developer AMAs, music from MixMaster Monke DJ, and sessions with Lemming, the creator of Gorilla Tag, including a look at the future of the game.

4. Sports and creative culture are legitimately in conflict

One of the most interesting parts of this year’s program is the focus on the intersection of sports media and the creative economy – especially amid the current frenzy of the FIFA World Cup and the 2026 NBA Finals.

One event includes the Sports Court, the Creator TV Pickleball Arena, and the Creator Pickleball Tour with names like NichLmao, ZHC, Peet Montzingo, and Austin Sprinz. VidCon also hosts creator competition formats such as Shoot for the CROWN, GeoGuessr Battle, and Creator Casino.

5. Platform execs should be watched

VidCon has always been a place where fans go to see creators, but the industry side is where you can see which platforms are really putting it forward.

This year’s speaker lineup includes executives from Twitch, Snap, Spotify, Pinterest, and Tubi, with Twitch CEO Dan Clancy speaking on the Industry Mainstage about the future of live content. Creative economy expert Jon Youshaei is also chairing the opening day keynote, and more speakers are expected from the main forums.

There will also be panels titled “The Vertical Shorts Dilemma – Bubble or Boom?” and “The Economic State of the Union Creator.” These discussions are sure to serve as a temperature check for companies currently building platforms, from top to bottom.

6. Some of the biggest fan moments will happen offstage

The meet and greet remains one of VidCon’s biggest fan draws, and this year it’s split between the regular Meet & Greet and the Ultimate Meet & Greet Experiences. Eligible multi-day pass holders can register in advance, with VidCon, Creator, and Pro Pass holders allowed up to 4 Meet & Greets total and VidCon+ Pass holders allowed up to 5 (single-day tickets are not eligible for Meet & Greet registration). The list includes some event names that are more visible.

7. Network options go beyond standard mixers

Beyond the on-stage panels and fan-oriented events, VidCon also emphasizes smaller communication formats. The Mentorship Series gives creative and Pro Pass attendees access to first-come, first-served tables of up to 19 people, where attendees can ask questions and get advice from creatives, marketers, tech experts, and other industry speakers. (Mashable will host its own tip session, titled “PITCH, PLEASE: Mistakes Creators Make in Their Pitches and How to Fix Them,” Saturday, June 27, at 10:30 a.m. PT.)

There’s also the Brand Match Accelerator, an invitation-only program for brands, agencies, and sponsors that connects them with a select group of 200 creatives. Accepted participants get access to the network app and are guaranteed four on-site meetings with featured creators.

Fifteen years on, opportunities like this are still what make VidCon interesting: it’s one of the few places where fans, creators, platforms, and brands all come together to see what internet culture looks like…but off the screen.