Updates

For our fans 18 years and older, proof of vaccination can be shown either on a smartphone or through a physical copy of the vaccination card, along with an appropriate ID matching the name on the documentation. This will need to be shown when picking up your Dragon Con 2021 badge.

If you are not vaccinated, if you are a minor under the age of 12, or if you choose not to show proof of vaccination, you will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours, in order to pick up your Dragon Con badge, or complimentary kids wristband if under 7. Any adult who purchased their children’s memberships in the same transaction as their own will be authorized to show a negative covid test on their child’s behalf and pick up their badge.

In line with CDC recommendations, you can use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria:

• The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription.
• The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that includes:
  • Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test)
  • Entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)
  • Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the 3 days before the badge pick up. A positive test result for documentation of recovery from COVID-19 must show the specimen was collected within the 3 months before the badge pick up.
  • Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number)
  • Test Result

First off – yay for taking this important step to protect your health by getting vaccinated.  We are so happy for you.  Unfortunately, in order to show only proof of vaccination, we are going by the CDC guidelines that full vaccination is only achieved 2 weeks after your final shot.  With this, you would need to have a negative COVID test to receive your Dragon Con badge.

Ultimately, we expect our folks to do the right thing and wear their mask.  Hotel employees and our Dragon Con volunteers will be working together to ensure that the mandate is followed.

We will allow an exemption to the mask mandate for those who have been informed by a licensed healthcare provider that wearing a facial covering or mask will cause or aggravate a health condition for the individual once documentation is provided to our Disability Services department. Documentation (including the name of the person requesting the exemption) needs to be submitted to our Disability Services department located on the first floor of the Sheraton Atlanta.  Please contact Disability Services with specific questions on the mask exemption.

Children over the age of two are expected to wear a mask. Any child unable to wear the mask due to a medical condition will need documentation provided to Disability Services.

Masks should adhere to the recommendations of the CDC to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets and reduce the risk of COVID 19.

While we don’t expect you to wear a mask and drink/eat at the same time, we do expect that you be considerate of your fellow fans and wear the mask when not actively eating or drinking.  There will be designated areas that are cleaned more frequently than others for eating and drinking to help keep everyone safe.

We will leave this up to the guests’ discretion depending on their comfort level.  Fans would be allowed to remove their mask for seconds during the photo op of either type if the guest grants permission.  Once the photo is completed, the mask will be expected to be put back in place.

Fans should plan to bring their own masks.  If there is anything we know, it’s that Dragon Con fans like to dress for the occasion and we really look forward to seeing our fan’s creativity on display!  If somebody forgets a mask, however, disposable masks will be available throughout the event at the Information Services desks and Safety offices, as well as in all programming spaces throughout the event.

Any adult who purchased their children’s memberships in the same transaction as their own will be authorized to pick up their child’s badges at the same time without the child being present as long as they have proof of negative COVID test within 72 hours or vaccination for all badges being picked up.

If the show is sold out, we will not be able to sell an additional membership in the event of a lost badge.  We encourage our members to do all possible to hold onto their badge.  We have placed a lot of focus on streamlining our process for collecting lost badges at the show so we can more quickly locate and get the badge back to the member who may have lost it.

If you have lost your badge, please report to the Solutions Desk in Registration, located on the bottom floor of the Sheraton.

Yes, they will be open throughout the show.  We encourage anyone able to utilize the outdoors to help keep crowding down to allow for accessibility and spacing.

The number of tables on the Walk of Fame have been reduced to accommodate the lower number of guests and provide more space for lines and flow of traffic.  Guests are able to set their own signing hours within the open hours (Friday 1p – 7p, Saturday/Sunday 10a – 7p, Monday 10a – 5p), but there is no change to the business hours of the Walk of Fame.

Yes.  The Vendor Hall will adhere to the ⅔ capacity.  Additionally, the Vendor Halls and Comic and Pop Artist Alley have undergone a reduction in booths to allow for better spacing and flow.

We have worked with our hotel partners to ensure all dining outlets are open and ready for our Dragon Con Family.  The only exception at this time is the Polaris at the Hyatt Regency.  The additional outlets you have grown to know and love including pop ups throughout our convention space and the Sheraton food trucks will also be open and available to attendees.  The Peachtree Center food court and many of the SunTrust Plaza restaurants will be open and ready to welcome us.  It will not be the same as in previous years, but you will have options.  We do ask that you be kind and patient with the venues, as they are working very hard to increase staffing for the weekend and are as excited as we are to be together again.

Absolutely.  We are working with our venue partners to ensure that there are additional hand sanitizers readily available throughout the facilities.  In addition, we are providing hand sanitizer, and additional cleaning supplies, to all areas of the show as an extra precaution.

At this point, our anticipated attendance is approximately a 50% reduction from our 2019 numbers.  We continue to make changes to lower the attendance cap with the change in information related to COVID and the increasing numbers and believe that promising a number is not a viable option at this time in order to remain flexible and able to adjust to changes with the state of the pandemic.

Factually, yes. Most likely, no.  Having knowledge of the cap, we anticipate selling out before the convention.  We are attempting to be as transparent as possible with providing notifications on the percent of sell out, however, we reserve the right to adjust and stop selling memberships at any time based on what we believe is in the best interest of the convention.

No. Our current policy allows for fans to pick up badges for others as long as they have their QR code, a copy of a valid form of identification, proof of vaccination or negative test result, and a letter giving permission for the person doing pick up.  We believe that the policy, along with the reduced attendance and elimination of onsite purchases, provide flexibility and lowers the numbers to effectively and safely process registration.

Some things need not be shared.  We have worked with the city of Atlanta and the APD on the plan to safely hold a parade in these times, including the need and plan to not allow spectators outside of Dragon Con members.  The city and police have had experience with events operating in a similar manner.  While we are sad to not be able to allow the public to join us to watch the parade, we will provide several ways for them to enjoy it streaming to dragoncon.tv, our social media platforms,  and on the CW.

No, unfortunately not.  As an exception to our longstanding no refund policy, we allowed the opportunity for folks with a 2020 membership to either refund or rollover to 2021.  As a part of the rollover to 2021, came a thank you gift with a 2020 membership badge, face mask, and lanyard and the largest show of virtual programming of any convention around made public to everyone free of charge.  We are unfortunately not able to extend additional flexibility to memberships at this time.  We will, however, be providing free streaming memberships to anyone with a current membership who is unable to attend the in-person event.  To take advantage of this, simply email the office.  Please note, the office will be closed for requests from August 30th to September 9th.  Requests will again be processed from September 10th – September 17th.

We will add that everything, especially during this COVID-19 era, is rapidly evolving. We are actively monitoring the situation and working with public health experts to ensure we provide the same level of safety for Dragon Con fans that we always have. Should we need to make any policy changes, you all will be the first to know.

If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to private message us or reach out to the office directly.

International fans with governmental travel restrictions are encouraged to contact the office directly.

This year we will be offering a low price streaming membership of $10 to access all virtual content.  This will provide access to the live streams which will have a mix of content from the in-person event and a virtual only fan track channel for panels from your favorite track.  Additionally, we will host the virtual marketplace with any Dragon Con vendors and artists that choose to participate.  Last year we (and they) were blown away by your support and we received so much positive fan feedback, that we decided to make it part of our hybrid event so you can get your shop on from home.  We will also have several events, including some interactive, hosted across our social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Discord.

The policy of the hotels are owned by each individual property.  Since we are hosting an in-person event, the policies on our hotel contracts stand and refunds and rollovers cannot be extended as a new policy, however we have been in discussions with the hotels and understand they are handling individual cases based on their corporate policies during this pandemic.  Please reach out to the hotel directly to ask any specific questions on flexible options.

First and foremost is taking care of yourself.  Make sure you follow CDC guidelines and continue good, healthy habits.  Get vaccinated when you can.  Science is amazing and we believe strongly in it and encourage everyone who is able to take the step and protect themselves, helping us get back to normalcy one shot and step at a time. And finally, finish up those cosplays, get with friends and plan your journey, and keep an eye on all of our social channels for the most updated information available.