VidCon

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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.

History

VidCon founders Hank and John Green at VidCon 2014

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,[1] with over 1,400 people attending.[2] On August 29, 2017, Jim Louderback was named as CEO of the convention, replacing Hank Green.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5][6] 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[7] was a positive development that would help the convention's growth.[5][6]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11] VidCon also announced that TikTok would be the top sponsor of the 2021 event, replacing YouTube who had been the main sponsor since 2013.[12] 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."[13] The convention was rescheduled to June 22–25, 2022 in Anaheim.[13] The 2023 event was held between June 21–24, with YouTube returning as the sponsor.[14]

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.[15]

Fan Expo acquisition

In April 2024, Viacom's successor Paramount Global hired Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips to locate a buyer for VidCon.[16] In August 2024, Paramount completed the sale of VidCon to Informa, with the convention being moved under its Fan Expo HQ unit.[17][18][19] 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.[20]

Events

Event Date Venue City Country Attendance Ref.
VidCon 2010 July 9–11, 2010 Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Anaheim, California  United States 1,400 [2]
VidCon 2011 July 28–30, 2011 2,500 [21]
VidCon 2012 June 29–30, 2012 Anaheim Convention Center 7,000 [22]
VidCon 2013 August 1–3, 2013 12,000 [23]
VidCon 2014 June 26–28, 2014 18,000 [24]
VidCon 2015 July 23–25, 2015 20,000 [25]
VidCon 2016 June 23–25, 2016 26,400 [26]
VidCon Europe 2017 April 8–9, 2017 RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre Amsterdam, North Holland  Netherlands 3,500 [27]
VidCon 2017 June 22–24, 2017 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California  United States 31,000 [28]
VidCon Australia 2017 September 9–10, 2017 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, Victoria  Australia [29]
VidCon Europe 2018 March 22–24, 2018 Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam Amsterdam, North Holland  Netherlands
VidCon 2018 June 20–23, 2018 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California  United States 75,000 [30]
VidCon Australia 2018 August 31–September 2, 2018 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 7,000+ [31][32]
VidCon London 2019 February 14–17, 2019 ExCeL London London, England  United Kingdom 13,000 [33][34]
VidCon 2019 July 10–13, 2019 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California  United States 75,000 [35]
VidCon Australia 2019 September 19–22, 2019 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, Victoria  Australia [36]
VidCon Asia Dec 3, 2019 – Dec 4, 2019 Raffles City Convention Center Downtown Core  Singapore 600+ [37][38]
VidCon London 2020 February 20–23, 2020 ExCeL London London, England  United Kingdom [39]
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 [40]
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 [41]
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 [42]
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

References

  1. ↑ "Twitter / VidCon 2010". https://twitter.com/vidcon/status/17442001779. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pham, Alex (July 10, 2010). "Vidcon conference celebrates YouTube culture". Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-10-la-fi-ct-youtube-20100710-story.html. 
  3. ↑ Liz Gannes (2017-08-29). "VidCon Names Jim Louderback as CEO (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vidcon-names-jim-louderback-as-ceo-1033559. Retrieved 2017-08-30. 
  4. ↑ "What types of assistance are provided for attendees with disabilities at VidCon US? : VidCon US 2017" (in en). http://help.vidcon.com/support/solutions/articles/19000005365-what-types-of-assistance-are-provided-for-attendees-with-disabilities-at-vidcon-us-. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lopez, Ricardo (February 5, 2018). "Viacom Acquiring VidCon (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/viacom-acquiring-vidcon-exclusive-1202687868/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Spangler, Todd (February 7, 2018). "Viacom Announces Acquisition of VidCon Internet-Video Conference". Variety. https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/viacom-acquires-vidcon-conference-official-1202690303/. 
  7. ↑ Spangler, Todd (February 9, 2018). "YouTubers React to Viacom's VidCon Acquisition". Variety. https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/viacom-vidcon-acquisition-youtube-creators-react-1202693569/. 
  8. ↑ Spangler, Todd (June 15, 2020). "VidCon Isn't Happening in Anaheim, So It's Launching a Free Series of Online Programming All Summer". https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/vidcon-isnt-happening-in-anaheim-so-its-launching-a-weekly-series-of-online-programming-1234633925/. 
  9. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2020-03-23). "VidCon 2020 Canceled Because of Coronavirus Pandemic". Variety. https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/vidcon-2020-canceled-coronavirus-1203542416/. Retrieved 2026-04-07. 
  10. ↑ https://x.com/VidCon/status/1254908074936143878
  11. ↑ Spangler, Todd (March 23, 2021). "VidCon 2021 Sets Dates, Featured Creators for Return to Anaheim Convention Center". Variety. https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vidcon-2021-dates-featured-creators-announced-for-return-to-anaheim-convention-center-1234934765/. 
  12. ↑ Lorenz, Taylor (2021-06-16). "TikTok takes over the top sponsor spot at VidCon, edging out YouTube." (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/business/tiktok-vidcon.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Spangler, Todd (2021-08-20). "VidCon 2021 Canceled After Rise in COVID Cases" (in en-US). Variety. https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vidcon-2021-canceled-covid-1235045583/. Retrieved 2021-08-20. 
  14. ↑ Hamedy, Saba (2023-01-18). "YouTube returns as the title sponsor of VidCon after TikTok's one-year stint". NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/youtube-returns-title-sponsor-vidcon-tiktoks-one-year-stint-rcna66140. 
  15. ↑ https://get.pop.store/press/pop-store-signs-as-vidcon-anaheim-2026-title-sponsor-to-launch-agentic-ai-commerce-platform
  16. ↑ Stenberg, Mark; Perloff, Catherine (2024-04-11). "Paramount Hires a Bank to Explore the Sale of VidCon". https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/paramount-vidcon-sale/. 
  17. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2025-06-12). "VidCon’s New Owner Has Big Plans for the Creator Economy’s Flagship Convention" (in en-US). https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/2025-vidcon-expansion-plans-new-owner-fan-expo-1236257578/. 
  18. ↑ Perelli, Amanda; Whateley, Dan; Bradley, Sydney (2024-08-30). "Paramount is selling its creator conference VidCon to the owner of Fan Expo". https://www.businessinsider.com/paramount-selling-creator-conference-vidcon-informa-owner-fan-expo-2024-8. 
  19. ↑ Knolle, Sharon (September 2, 2024). "Paramount Sells VidCon Creator Conference to UK Firm Informa". https://www.thewrap.com/paramount-sells-vidcon-convention-informa/. 
  20. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2025-06-12). "VidCon’s New Owner Has Big Plans for the Creator Economy’s Flagship Convention". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/2025-vidcon-expansion-plans-new-owner-fan-expo-1236257578/. 
  21. ↑ Wallenstein, Andrew (August 1, 2011). "VidCon revels in YouTube". Variety. https://variety.com/2011/digital/news/vidcon-revels-in-youtube-1118040686/. 
  22. ↑ Miller, Liz Shannon (July 1, 2012). "VidCon 2012: love, respect and double rainbows". GigaOM. http://gigaom.com/video/vidcon-2012-love-respect-and-double-rainbows/. 
  23. ↑ Graham, Jefferson (August 4, 2013). "VidCon brings out YouTube fans". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2013/08/04/vidcon-brings-out-youtube-fans/2616897/. 
  24. ↑ Hamedy, Saba (June 29, 2014). "VidCon 2014: 5 things you may have missed (picture 4 caption)". https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ct-vidcon-2014-five-things-you-may-have-missed-20140629-htmlstory.html. 
  25. ↑ America, Kia Motors. "Kia Motors Engages and Empowers Fans at VidCon 2015". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  26. ↑ "28 Reasons Why VidCon 2017 is a Must-Attend Event for Publishers, Brands, & Marketers" (in en-US). 2017-06-13. https://tubularinsights.com/vidcon-2017/. 
  27. ↑ Biddle, Jo (2017-04-09). "Thousands pack Europe's first VidCon for online stars". GMA News Online. Agence France-Presse. Template:NewsBank. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/606495/thousands-pack-europe-s-first-vidcon-for-online-stars/story/. 
  28. ↑ "VidCon, World's Largest Online Video Conference, Set for Return to Melbourne" (in en-us). 2018-02-21. https://www.melbournecb.com.au/articles/post/vidcon-worlds-largest-online-video-conference-set-for-return-to-melbourne/. 
  29. ↑ Ritche, Emily (2017-09-09). "A new career that comes out of a (You)Tube". The Australian: p. 3. Template:NewsBank. 
  30. ↑ Bloom, David. "A Decade After The Basement Ballroom, VidCon Has Become Essential In Influencer World" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/dbloom/2019/07/09/a-decade-after-the-basement-ballroom-vidcon-has-become-essential-in-influencer-world/. 
  31. ↑ Lancaster, Brodie (2018-09-04). "VidCon Australia, where YouTube celebrities and fans bank on their luck". The Guardian. Gale A552882283. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/04/vidcon-australia-where-youtube-celebrities-and-fans-bank-on-their-luck?via=indexdotco. 
  32. ↑ Alison, Genevieve; Rose, Tasmin (2019-02-23). "Alive & clicking". Herald Sun. Template:NewsBank. "When the world’s largest online video conference, VidCon, came to Melbourne for its second year, more than 7000 fans showed up to meet their online idols." 
  33. ↑ Szalai, George (2019-02-11). "VidCon London to Put Spotlight on U.K. YouTube Stars". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/vidcon-london-put-spotlight-uk-youtube-stars-1182792/. 
  34. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2019-07-11). "VidCon Sets First Move Into Asia With Singapore Summit in December 2019". Variety. https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/vidcon-asia-singapore-summit-2019-1203264467/. Retrieved 2026-04-07. 
  35. ↑ Yurieff, Kaya (July 15, 2019). "Teens, screams and celebrity YouTubers: This is VidCon 2019". https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/15/tech/vidcon-2019-fans/index.html. 
  36. ↑ "What you can expect from the jaw-dropping VidCon Australia program". 2019-09-06. https://beat.com.au/what-you-can-expect-from-the-jaw-dropping-vidcon-australia-program/. 
  37. ↑ "VidCon Asia Summit, Ajang Berbagi Pengetahuan Para Pakar Industri Digital Dunia" (in id). Asia Today. 2019-12-26. https://asiatoday.id/read/vidcon-asia-summit-ajang-berbagi-pengetahuan-para-pakar-industri-digital-dunia. 
  38. ↑ "Announcements — Recap: VidCon Asia". 2020-01-24. https://creators.facebook.com/vidcon-asia/. 
  39. ↑ Griffin, Louise (2020-02-14). "Everything you need to know about VidCon London as Tana Mongeau and JackSepticEye attend for first time". Metro. https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/14/everything-need-know-vidcon-london-tana-mongeau-jacksepticeye-attend-first-time-12240857/. 
  40. ↑ Chan, J. Clara (June 28, 2022). "Even Top Creators Find That Star Power Is Fleeting". Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/vidcon-2022-creators-star-power-1235172640/.  and Dickson, E. J. (June 29, 2022). "VidCon 2022 Was a Candy-Colored, Covid-Spreading, Content-Creating Extravaganza". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/vidcon-youtube-tiktok-charli-damelio-khaby-lame-mrbeast-1375451/. Retrieved October 18, 2022. 
  41. ↑ Hoffman, Claire. "VidCon 2023: All the Eclectic Booths and Lounges That Caught Our Eye This Year". https://www.bizbash.com/production-strategy/experiential-marketing-activations-sponsorships/media-gallery/22866444/highlights-from-vidcon-2023-activations. 
  42. ↑ "About | VidCon Anaheim 2024". https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/about/. 
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