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DRAGON CON CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF GAMING WITH LEGENDARY CREATORS,
TALENTED VOICE ACTORS, AND THOUSANDS OF WAYS TO PLAY
More Than Three Acres of Gaming Lets Gamers Do It All
ATLANTA – July 22, 2026 – Dragon Con, celebrating its 40th year as one of the nation’s largest gaming conventions, brings together game designers, voice actors, and streaming stars for panels and live events alongside one of the Southeast’s largest collections of playable games.
Highlights of this year’s programming include:
- Game designer and astronaut Richard Garriott, a guest at Dragon Con’s first convention in 1987, will discuss his efforts to regain control of his pioneering video game Ultima.
- Celebrity Dungeon Master Mark Meer will lead a new D&D Live with the cast of Hades II, including Amelia Tyler, Erin Yvette, Jason Marnocha, Judy Alice Lee, Becca Q. Co, and Ashley Barrett.
- Game designer and Origins Hall of Famer David “Zeb” Cook will draw on his 18 years’ of designing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns to lead fans on discussions of game design.
- Peter Bramhill, Sena Bryer, and Javier Prusky, voice actors from Final Fantasy XIV, will be on hand to talk about their experiences creating the game.
- Popular Twitch streamer AnEternalEnigma returns to perform his Silent Hill speedrun showcase.
An estimated 75,000 attendees are expected to descend on downtown Atlanta for the five-day convention held over Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 3 – Sept. 7), filling the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree Plaza, and Courtland Grand Hotel, as well as AmericasMart Buildings Two and Three.
Covering more than three acres in AmericasMart Building Three, Dragon Con’s gaming floor offers something for every kind of gamer, latest hit video games and international arcade cabinets to rarely seen board games and fan-favorite tabletop titles. “Every corner of Dragon Con’s gaming hall offers a new adventure,” said David Cody, senior director of Gaming and IT. “You can challenge friends in a tournament, try a game you’ve never heard of, meet the people who helped create the games you love, or join an epic tabletop campaign. Whatever kind of gamer you are, there’s a place for you here.”
As always, Dragon Con offers a place to connect, learn, and play. Panels and discussions led by some of gaming’s most influential designers, developers, and voice actors take fans and gamers alike inside the games they love to play.
New this year, Dragon Con will feature an expanded footprint of Virtual Reality equipment that supports multiplayer games, giving gamers an only-at-Dragon Con VR experience.
At the same time, the convention’s gaming volunteers will host sessions to teach new board and collectible card game players the most popular, award-winning games introduced over the last few years, including the highly interactive games Terraforming Mars, Wingspan, Wyrmspan, Galactic Cruise, The Gang, and World Order. On the collectible card game side, Dragon Con will continue to lead sessions to help players master Disney’s Lorcana, an easy-to-learn game for hardcore gamers and casual Disney fans alike.
After the sun goes down, the Heroes & Villains Ball and the 8-Bit Bash give gamers a chance to unwind and celebrate their favorite fandoms.
Fans can explore traditional arcade cabinet favorites and from across the Pacific in the ever-popular Japanese and Asian arcade game section, all free to play for convention members. Atlanta’s own Joystick Game Bar returns with a pop-up version of its retro arcade in Peachtree Center Mall.
Werewolf and other social deception games will once again claim a central spot in late-night gaming. Known for its accessibility and high energy, Werewolf is often an entry point for the gaming curious while retaining its appeal among veterans.
About Dragon Con
Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3 – Sept. 7, 2026) in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over five days. For more information, please visit http://www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.
