It’s been a few weeks since Dragon Con but I wanted to share some great experiences and encourage anyone and everyone to attend it at some point. It really is a magical experience. 2026 had its share of troubles, as any event with 75,000 people in the heat and humidity of downtown Atlanta will, but the spirit of Dragon Con is unlike anything else.
I participated on a handful of panels and went to many more as an audience member. I couldn’t get into a few that sounded really interesting, including one where you had to guess if a storyline was from Jane Austen novels or a “Florida man” news item, one where you learned Hobbit drinking songs, and one called “Entertainment to Die For: Media in North Korea.” I’m sure everyone who did make it into the rooms before they reached capacity had an awesome time. I turned around and decided which of the other dozen options on my schedule to do, or more often than not just found a place to sit or lean and people watch.
The cosplay scene is a constant reminder of fan creativity, especially the mash-ups. A favorite was Tom Holland’s recent two characters – a Spider-Man / Telemachus combo. There was more Saturday Night Live character cosplay than I expected to see. When you think about it, these references have at most minutes of screen time total. I love seeing such niche characters inspire people enough to put together costumes. Many people interact in character, tossing you their best one-liners if you recognize the reference, some even hand out badge ribbons or stickers too.
The PBS photoshoot contained basically my entire childhood in one photo – Sesame Street, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Bob Ross, The Magic School Bus, and more! I witnessed many batches of people recreating the Spider-Man pointing meme, favorites included a group of Ms. Frizzles and another of Sarah from the Labyrinth in her bubble dress.
I attended a few of the Star Wars photoshoots (there were nine total!), including the inspiring Women of Star Wars one. It was great to hear how much it’s grown over the years. They took a group photo and then split into smaller groups – Leias, Padmes, Reys, animated characters, Holdos, and characters from Andor and Rebels. In true Dragon Con fashion, there was an inflatable T-rex in the crowd, this one dressed in the Hutt-slayer Leia metal bikini. Delightful.
The other Star Wars photoshoot I made it to was for Matt the Radar Tech. Again, an SNL character with mere minutes of screen time but a lasting legacy. This time it was an inflatable Hutt that joined, dressed in their Undercover Boss-best radar tech garb.
I got to share the stage with creatives who have worked on Star Wars movies, books, and other projects. I had exciting conversations about science in pop culture. I learned. I wondered. I danced at the Star Wars track’s late-night “Last Party on Alderaan.” No matter where you are at Dragon Con, you’re surrounded by people celebrating what they love. Even when you’re just in line for the bathroom, you’re among friends. I can’t wait to go back!