(HOUSTON) — After spending two years in Austin, Dream Con announced it will be moving to Houston next year. The announcement comes days after the convention held its three-day event in July. It will be the seventh Dream Con convention since 2018. “I’m excited to show the fans the level of diversity the city brings,” said Jonathan Newton, co-founder of Dream Con, who is a Houston native.
The anime and gaming convention draws people from all over the country to connect with others through their love of pop culture including anime, gaming, comics, sports, and more. Here you’ll find people cosplaying or dressed as their favorite anime characters, sports athletes, or simply wanting to display their unique fashion sense. The three-day gathering features various activities such as gaming and sporting tournaments, cosplay shows, and panels featuring popular social media influencers. But what sets this particular comic con apart from others is that it’s Black-owned.
RDCWorld, which stands for Real Dreamers Change the World, founded Dream Con. The group consists of seven men in their mid-to-late 20s, including six Black men. They are known for viral comedic parody skits about all things in pop culture. Most notably, their NBA locker room skits and their recently released “Hood Olympics” skit, which already amassed over 1 million views in one day. According to Blerd and Powerful, Dream Con is the only Black-owned entertainment convention in Texas. It is also one of 31 Black-owned entertainment conventions nationwide. The group created Dream Con to connect with their fans outside of social media.
Over the years, RDCWorld, led by Mark Phillips and Affiong Harris, has garnered millions of followers across all social media platforms. Almost 7 million of those followers come from YouTube. For the first Dream Con in 2018, 1,000 attendees came to the convention. For Dream Con 2023, there were 25,000 attendees, according to Dream Con’s press release. The growth in attendance reflects the group’s growth in popularity. Dream Con is RDCWorld’s way of reciprocating the support they get from their fans. “We want to show our love and appreciation for everything you have done for us,” RDCWorld said in their founder’s message.The convention has seen tremendous growth since its inception. For Dream Con 2025, it will look to continue that trend in Houston. “With this move, Dream Con is looking forward to welcoming new attendees, expanding its programming and partnerships, and bringing its unique experiences to life,” Dream Con said. The convention will take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center on May 30-June 1. Early ticket sales begin on Aug. 23, with information available here.