VidCon is an annual convention forinfluencers, fans, executives, and online brands. The event primarily features prominent video stars from across the internet. It was founded by veteran YouTube creatorsJohn andHank Green (Vlogbrothers), and was later acquired byViacom (nowParamount Skydance) in 2018 and later acquired byInforma in 2024. Its offices remain inMissoula, Montana, sharing a building withComplexly. 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.
The first VidCon was held on July 9–11, 2010, at theHyatt 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 theViacom Media Networks and film studioParamount Pictures) announced that they were acquiring VidCon, as part of its efforts to expand its live events business and expand from TV programming to next-generation entertainment platforms. Jim Louderback will remain the CEO of the convention, and co-founderHank Green will continue to be involved and work closely with the team. Its offices will also exist inMissoula, Montana.[4][5] Internet reception to this acquisition was mixed, with some noting the irony of Viacom acquiring VidCon a decade aftertheir lawsuit against Google and YouTube for copyright infringement. Hank Green reassured fans that Viacom's acquisition[6] would allow the convention to flourish.[7][8] Three conferences were cancelled in 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, and a series of online programming, VidCon Now, became available for registration.[9]
In March 2021, VidCon announced that it would host its next U.S. conference at theAnaheim 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.[10] VidCon also announced thatTikTok would be the top sponsor of the 2021 event, replacingYouTube who had been the main sponsor since 2013.[11] 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." The convention was rescheduled to June 22–25, 2022 in Anaheim.[12] The 2023 event was held between June 21–24 and was sponsored by YouTube for the first time since 2019. In September 2024, Viacom's successorParamount Global sold VidCon toInforma.[13]
In 2020, all international VidCon events were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the flagship convention in Anaheim, California resumed in 2022, international editions such as VidCon London, VidCon Australia, and VidCon Asia have not returned. A limited expansion has continued in Mexico City, but no other international locations have been announced. In August 2024, Paramount Global sold VidCon to Informa, the UK-based company behind Fan Expo. 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.
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Netherlands(2017–18)
United Kingdom(2019–2020)
Australia
Singapore
United Arab Emirates
Mexico
Media related toVidCon at Wikimedia Commons
