Kicking off the spring season on a high note, Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s iconic three-day pop culture convention, announces three days of programming complete with exclusive panels, workshops, meetups and celebrity appearances from Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10.

Awesome Con will take over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with a robust lineup of events. Newly announced top-tier headliners include Rachael Leigh Cook and Tara Reid for a Josie and the Pussycats reunion with the previously announced Rosario Dawson; American Gods actor and MADtv original Orlando Jones; Overwatch and Apex Legends voice actress Anjali Bhimani, Marvel’s Daredevil star Charlie Cox and Marvel’s Echo star Alaqua Cox.

Awesome Con is excited to welcome a brand new feature, Anime Yokocho, a special alleyway dedicated to all things anime. Fans can expect anime-focused shopping, fan clubs, live art installations, free swag, and performances on the Remix Stage @ Anime Yokocho, along with meet and greets with popular anime voice actors nearby. Returning with a larger presence than ever on the show floor, LGBTQ+ focused Pride Alley, in partnership with Geeks OUT, Metro Weekly, and Capital Pride Alliance will spotlight LGBTQ+ artists, creators and fans as DC gears up to host WorldPride 2025. The wildly popular Science Fair is back, celebrating the best of all things sci-fi, technology, engineering, aerospace, astronomy, and more. NASA will be on hand, and the Demo Stage, presented by the National Science Foundation, will feature action packed mind-boggling experiments and demonstrations performed by real scientists from a variety of backgrounds. 

Always a fan favorite, Destination Cosplay will bring the best of cosplay to the Exhibit Hall with exciting new features including a catwalk where fans can show off their best red carpet looks and an Exhibition that will display gorgeous hand-crafted cosplays. Awesome Con’s Book Fair features a variety of acclaimed authors spanning a variety of genres and fandoms like Nnedi Okorafor, Claudia Gray, Kimberly Lemming, and more. Powered by D.C.-based Loyalty Bookstores, guests can enjoy book signings, access to writers and publishers and take a stroll down Author’s Lane to discover independently published authors from a variety of genres. Family-friendly pavilion Awesome Con Jr., presented by ThinkFun and Ravensburger, is back with an abundance of events planned to educate and entertain kids of all ages and parents alike. 

Attendees can start planning their Awesome Con experience and view the full schedule of programming online.

Celebrity and Comic Guests

Hear from some of the biggest leaders from the world of pop culture and comic books at panels, screenings, Q&As and more. For a full lineup of confirmed guests and panels, visit here.

The current main stage lineup includes:

Friday, March 8:

• 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM – Naruto Cast (Yuri Lowenthal,  Tara Platt,  Neil Kaplan,  Kate Higgins,   Michael Yurchak,  Brian Donovan,  Colleen O’Shaugnessey, Steve Blum,  Mary Elizabeth McGlynn)
• 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM – Orlando Jones
• 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM –  Tara Reid and Rachael Leigh Cook
• 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM – Wes Johnson’s Voice-a-palooza 
• 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM – Power Rangers Cast (Walter Jones and Billy Yost) 

Saturday, March 9:

• 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM – Ming Na-Wen
• 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – Bryce Papenbrook
• 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM – Natasha Liu Bordizzo
• 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Awesome Con Cosplay Competition 2024
• 9:00 PM – 9:45 PM –  Hayden Christensen and Rosario Dawson

Sunday, March 10: 

• 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Breaking Bad Cast (Dean Norris, Raymond Cruz, Daniel & Luis Moncada, Steven Michael Quezada, RJ Mitte) 
• 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM – Smallville Cast (Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum) 
• 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM – Tony Todd 

And there will be more guests and more Main Stage panels to be announced! Please note that this schedule is subject to change. 

Anime Yokocho

• Anime themed cosplay meetups all weekend long at the Anime Alliance Booth #1440
• Official Crunchyroll Screenings all weekend long in Room 202 
• The 2024 Anime Trivia Challenge, presented by Fatal Fanatix – Friday, 8:30 PM, Room 207B
• Catch ‘em All Pokémon Cardio Workout with Geeknasium!  – Saturday, 2:30 PM, Remix Stage @ Anime Yokocho
• AniMove: An Interactive Anime & Dance Fitness Experience – Saturday, 6:15 PM, Remix Stage @ Anime Yokocho
• Unlockable Content Presents: Pictionary Airnime – Sunday, 10:15 AM, Room 207A

Pride Alley 

• Presenting Female While Cosplaying – Friday, 7:00 PM, Room 209
• Finding My Queer Voice: Emerging into the Publishing Scene as a Queer Creator featuring: Tana Ford, Josh Trujillo, and Kat Fox – Saturday, 11:00 AM, Room 209
• Cosplay is a Drag (Queen) featuring Logan Stone and D’Manda Martini – Saturday, 5:00 PM, Room 209
• YAS Kids: Celebrating Queer & Diverse Middle Grade/YA Stories  featuring: Jarrett Melendez, Sam Maggs, and Sarah Myer – Sunday, 10:45 AM, Room 209

Science Fair

• Cool science experiments all weekend long at the Science Fair Demo Stage presented by the NSF 
• Vulcans, Mandalorians, and Time Lords, Oh My! – Friday, 4:30 PM, Room 204
• Wonder Women @ NASA – Saturday, 11:45 AM, Room 204
• Darth Vader Tech: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sith – Saturday, 2:15 PM, Room 204
• Solar Eclipses Through the Eyes of NASA – Sunday, 11:45 AM, Room 204

Destination Cosplay 

• Cosplay meetups all weekend long at the Destination Cosplay Catwalk
• Don’t Hide from the Hide – How to start using leather in cosplay – Friday, 2:00 PM, Room 209
• Getting started with Cosplay Photography – Saturday, 3:00 PM, Room 209
• Nova Labs: Intro to 3D Printing – Sunday, 12:45 PM, Room 209

Book Fair

• The Art of Worldbuilding featuring Peter V. Brett, Leslye Penelope, Andrew Joseph White, Nnedi Okorafor, Kimberly Lemming, Aparna Verma – Friday, 1:30 PM, Room 206  – followed by a signing at the Bookstore
• Spotlight On: Nnedi Okorafor – Saturday, 1:45 PM, Room 206  – followed by a signing at the Bookstore
• Writer vs Author featuring Peter V. Brett, Alix E. Harrow, Bethany C. Morrow, Andrew Joseph White, Leslye Penelope – Sunday, 10:30 AM, Room 206 – followed by a signing at the Bookstore

Awesome Con Jr.

• Animal Stack Art with Mark Mariano – Friday, 3:30 PM, Awesome Con Jr. Workshops
• Kids Cosplay Parade – Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 PM, Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone
• Saber Guild Kids Lightsaber Training (Limited to the first 30 kids) – All weekend long, Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone
• How Comics are Created with Greg Burnham and Marcus Williams – Saturday, 3:00 PM, Awesome Con Jr. Workshops
• Encanto Dance Party with Mirabel – Saturday, 5:30 PM, Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone
• CreArt Jr, Paint-by-Number for Junior Artists – Sunday, 10:15 AM, Awesome Con Jr. Workshops

Additional Programming Highlights: 

• Smallville Nights ft. Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (Separately ticketed event) – Friday, 7:30 PM, Room 207A
• Multiverse Got Talent! Friday, 2:00 PM, Room 207A
• The State of SWANA Representation in Pop Culture – Saturday, 2:30 PM, Room 207B
• Super Art Fight – Saturday, 4:30 PM, Room 207A
• Jack Kirby’s Greatest Comics: An All-Star Tribute to the King featuring Matt Kindt, Jeph Loeb, Joyce Chin – Saturday, 2:45 PM, Room 206
• WMGSO Chamber Group Performances – Sunday, 11:15 AM, Room 207A
• Oh CRIT! The D&D Improv Show – Sunday, 2:15 PM, Room 207A

Make sure to check the mobile app for the most up-to-date schedule as times, dates, and locations are subject to change. 

Awesome Con 2023, the capital region’s premier comic and pop culture convention, is coming back to Washington, D.C.’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18. 

On Friday, June 16th, Awesome Con will hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate Mayor Muriel Bowser’s official proclamation naming June 16th, 2023 as “Awesome Con Day.” Awesome Con will also celebrate the 10th Anniversary with remarks from Greg Topalian, CEO of Leftfield Media and Ben Penrod, Founder of Awesome Con. The ceremony will take place at 12:30pm on L Street outside of the Hall D entrance. 

Awesome Con is commemorating a decade of uniting pop culture fans made up of all ages from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond with a special panel dedicated to celebrating the 10 year milestone anniversary. The wildly popular Science Fair returns with a special Science Fair Demo Stage presented by the National Science Foundation. Fans will have the opportunity to view mind-boggling and eye-catching live demonstrations. The LGBTQ+ focused Pride Alley, in partnership with Geeks OUT and Metro Weekly, returns with its largest slate of programming that spotlight LGBTQ+ artists, creators and fans. Just in time for Father’s Day weekend, the family-friendly Awesome Con Jr. is back with a wide range of events planned to educate and entertain kids of all ages and parents alike. A fan favorite, Destination Cosplay will make its return to the show floor with cosplay demos, meetups and more. Awesome Con’s Book Fair, presented by St. Martin’s Press, is back! Powered by D.C.-based Loyalty Bookstores and Lost City Books, guests can enjoy book signings, access to writers and publishers and take a stroll down Author’s Lane to discover independently published authors from a variety of genres. 

Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s iconic three-day pop culture convention, announces three days of programming complete with exclusive panels, workshops, meetups and celebrity appearances from Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 

Awesome Con is excited to commemorate a decade of uniting pop culture fans made up of all ages from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond with a special panel dedicated to celebrating the 10 year milestone anniversary. The wildly popular Science Fair returns with a special Science Fair Demo Stage presented by the National Science Foundation. Fans will have the opportunity to view mind-boggling and eye-catching live demonstrations. The LGBTQ+ focused Pride Alley, in partnership with Geeks OUT and Metro Weekly, returns with its largest slate of programming that spotlight LGBTQ+ artists, creators and fans. Just in time for Father’s Day weekend, the family-friendly Awesome Con Jr. is back with a wide range of events planned to educate and entertain kids of all ages and parents alike. A fan favorite, Destination Cosplay will make its return to the show floor with cosplay demos, meetups and more. Awesome Con’s Book Fair, presented by St. Martin’s Press, is back! Powered by D.C.-based Loyalty Bookstores and Lost City Books, guests can enjoy book signings, access to writers and publishers and take a stroll down Author’s Lane to discover independently published authors from a variety of genres. 

Attendees can start planning their Awesome Con experience and view the full schedule of programming online at awesome-con.com/programming. 

Celebrity and Comic Guests

Hear from some of the biggest leaders from the world of pop culture and comic books at panels, screenings, Q&As and more. For a full lineup of confirmed guests and panels, visit here. 

The full main stage lineup includes:

Friday, June 16:

• 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: Phil LaMarr
• 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM: Attack on Titan Cast – Jason Liebrecht, Elizabeth Maxwell, David Matranga, and Lindsay Seidel
• 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM: Billy Dee Williams
• 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM: Travis & Griffin McElroy
• 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Wes Johnson’s Voice-A-Palooza ft. Maurice LaMarche, Rob Paulsen & others

Saturday, June 17: 

• 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM: Next Gen Geeks with Travis McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Felicia Day & others
• 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Chris Eccleston
• 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM: Karen Gillan
• 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: Lord of the Rings Cast – Sean Astin, Elijah Wood & Andy Serkis
• 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: My Hero Academia Cast – Christopher Sabat, Austin Tindle, Clifford Chapin, Monica Rial, Jason Liebrecht, Elizabeth Maxwell, David Matranga, Lindsay Seidel, Caitin Glass, Justin Briner, Leah Clark
• 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM: Danny Trejo
• 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM: Diane Guerrero

Sunday, June 18:

• 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM: Billie Piper
• 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Doctor Who Cast: Jodie Whitaker and Mandip Gill
• 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM: Clone Wars 15th Anniversary Panel with Ashley Eckstein / Matt Lanter / James Arnold Taylor
• 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: LeVar Burton
• 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Tokyo Ghoul Cast – Austin Tindle, Clifford Chapin, Monica Rial

Celebrities are also appearing on the Bot Stage in Room 202:

Friday, June 16:

• 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM: Bootleg Safari with Aaron Reynolds and Christopher Sabat

Saturday, June 17: 

• 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM: Maurice LaMarche & Rob Paulsen
• 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: David Barclay & Mike Quinn
• 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Amy Jo Johnson

Sunday, June 18:

• 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM: Colleen Clinkenbeard
• 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM: Felicia Day

Main Stage panels are being moderated by Tony Kim and Bot Stage celebrity panels are being moderated by Aaron Reynolds, Fantastic Frankey and Wes Johnson. Also please note that the final schedule may be subject to change and it is best to download the Awesome Con mobile app or check the programming page on the website for the most up-to-date schedule.

Pride Alley 

• Drag Bingo with Logan Stone and D’Manda Martini (Saturday at 6:00 PM on the Bot Stage – Room 202

Join Logan Stone and D’Manda Martini for Drag Bingo at Awesome Con! Come play some rounds of bingo with your drag hosts to win some fabulous prizes! Please arrive as early as 30 minutes ahead of the start time for sign ups. Contestants will be playing as individuals and not as teams. 

• Memory Lane: How Comics Helped Me Come out of the Closet (Saturday at 3:15 p.m., Room 206)

How Comics Helped Me Come Out of the Closet Every LGBTQ+ comic fan has that one story that sparked their journey, and it will always hold a special place in their heart. Reminisce with creators Tana Ford, Cat Staggs, Amanda Deibert and Dan Parent of the fan favorites that helped us feel more accepted, loved and comfortable in our own skin. These are the tropes we return to time and again because of their personal meaning and because they’re just awesome!

• Falling for the Queer Femme Fatale (Sunday at 1:00 PM, Room 206)

Geeks OUT gathers a few of our favorite creators and artists including Tana Ford, Cat Staggs, and Amanda Deibert to discuss some of the dangerous queer femme characters in comics including Harley & Ivy, Mystique & Destiny and why we love them.

Science Fair

• NASA’s Roman Space Telescope, “Planet Hunter” (Saturday at 10:45 a.m., Room 204)

With a field of view at least 100 times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope, Roman will survey the sky 1,000 times faster than Hubble while maintaining similar sensitivity and resolution, capturing more of the sky with less observing time. Come hear from NASA scientists about how Roman will hunt for planets like never before.

• Nerd Nite DC: Live! (Saturday at 7:45 p.m., Room 204)

Nerd Nite DC excitedly brings its live show to Awesome Con 2023. Join us for three fun-yet-informative presentations about thumb-splitting shrimp (yikes!), the science of comedy (ha!), and the (r)evolution of the synthesizer.

• Wonder Women of NASA (Sunday at 11:30 a.m., Room 204)

From Mission Operations to Public Engagement, come meet just a few of the wonder women who work at NASA. Hear about what led them to the space agency, the sometimes twisty paths they took to get where they are today and the challenges they’ve faced.

• Sulfer Hexafluoride Voice Demo: Balloon in the Bottle, Liquid Nitrogen Demo, Elephant’s Toothpaste Demo and more on the Science Fair Demo Stage presented by the National Science Foundation in Aisle 100 on the Show Floor, every day at the top of the hour

• How Star Trek inspired me to be a scientist! (Sunday at 10:30 AM in Room 204)

The Nichelle Nichols Foundation, is excited to continue her legacy of inspiring the next generation. Please join three of the foundations board of advisors, as they discuss black holes, the search for aliens, and genetics. This is a family friendly panel and there will be a Q&A after their presentation. Our panelists love getting questions from young people who are curious and are interested in a career in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). If you are a Star Trek Fan or interested in learning more about the universe and DNA, please beam into our panel.

Book Fair, presented by St. Martin’s Press

• All Grown Up (Friday at 1:15 p.m., Room 209)

Authors David Ebenbach, EK Johnston, and Mia Tsai discuss the science fiction, fantasy, and pop culture that shaped their childhoods and made them into the writers they are today.

• Ask an Author (Friday at 4:45 p.m., Room 209)

Interested in the approach that well-known authors took when they were learning to write? What resources did they use to get from where they began to now? This conversation between David Ebenbach, Mia Tsai, Justina Ireland, and EK Johnston and moderated by Terry Brooks, will help you in your quest to write, whether you’re just starting out, an experienced writer, or a published author.

• Other Worlds (Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Room 209)

How do you first create a world? What are the building blocks needed to withstand the twists and turns authors put their characters through? What’s it like diving into a previously established universe and making it your own? Join authors Terry Brooks, TJ Klune, EK Johnston, David Ebenbach, and Justina Ireland as they discuss the creation and destruction of fantasy and science fiction worlds.

Awesome Con Jr. 

Movement Zone: 

• Kids Costume Parade hosted by Shady Haze & friends
• Saber Guild Kids Lightsaber Training hosted by Saber Guild Dathomir Temple
• Father’s Day Superhero Training hosted by Hellspawned Cosplay
• Kids Superhero Yoga hosted by the Cosplayin Yogis
• Story times hosted by the DC Public Library

Workshops: 

• Make a Pokemon with John Gallagher
• Potions Class for Young Witches and Wizards
• Alien Invasion with Dawn Griffin 

Destination Cosplay

• The Elephant in the Room: Mental Health and Cosplay (Friday at 3:45 p.m., Room 207A)

No matter when we are or where you are in life, that can be affected at any time. We as Cosplayers wear so many masks. For some, to hide our individual pain. For others to escape an otherwise basic existence. We’ll cover how we work toward mentorship, and collaborating with others to promote a peaceful and united cosplay community. 

• Super Slay: Part Trois – the Redieux (Friday at 6:45 p.m., Room 207A)

The Super Slay crew is back again to continue discussing how fashion and cosplay intermingle and mix with one another, usually through blurred lines.

• Mando Mercs-This is the Way and the Way is good! (Saturday at 4:15 p.m., Room 207A)

Take your first steps into a larger Galaxy! Meet the Kyrimorut Clan and learn how to make your own unique Mandalorian armour and provide charitable contributions to your community. 

Additional Programming Highlights: 

• The Geek Comedy Tour: Return to Awesome Con (Saturday at 7:15 pm on the Bot Stage – Room 202

The Geek Comedy Tour has returned for Awesome Con 2023, and has brought some of the nerdiest, best, and most comic book, tabletop gaming, RPG, anime, video game, sci-fi, and pop culture-obsessed stand up comics in the DMV with it. 

• Super Art Fight (Friday at 6:45 p.m. on the Bot Stage – Room 202)

Super Art Fight is the greatest live art competition in the known universe, a live-action performance where two or more artists battle against each other on a giant canvas. With the help of two quipping hosts and the Wheel of Death, they compete for the audience’s affection in order to score the win. 

• OTP or NOTP: A Tournament of Cosplay Pairings (Friday at 5:00 pm on the Bot Stage – Room 202)

Cosplayers of all levels are welcome and encouraged to sign up, show off, and square up in random pairings to determine the ultimate OTP. 

• Learn to Geeky Bellydance: My Hero Academia Style (Saturday at 3:45 p.m., Room 207B)

The performers of Antipode dance have been belly dancing for over 10 years; If you are willing to learn, we’re willing to teach! Come drag your friends to dance to some of your favorite geeky tunes. Everyone is welcome in this judgment free class, no experience required! 

Over 50,000 fans of comic books, television and film, science and tech, and over-the-top cosplay will gather to kick off the milestone 10th anniversary celebration of geek culture at Awesome Con presented by LeftField Media. The premiere three-day pop culture convention returns to its home at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18, 2023. The convention will feature hundreds of hours of programming including: celebrities and experts hosting panels, signings and exclusive reveals; cosplay fashion shows; gaming tournaments; fan meetups; acclaimed pop culture memorabilia collections; and as always, a diverse lineup of activities for the entire family. 

Awesome Con is excited to celebrate a decade of uniting pop culture fans made up of all ages from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Over the last ten years, the iconic convention has hosted over 200 special guests, 2,500 unique panels and special events, 1,500 exhibitors, and 2,000 creators. In 2013, Ben Penrod and Steve Anderson set out on a mission to run a comic convention of their own. They started Annapolis Comic Con, and after that, Awesome Con was quickly born. At the time, the dynamic duo never imagined that ten years later it would grow to become one of the largest fan conventions on the East Coast. 

“I started Awesome Con on April 20, 2013 to provide a space for comic and pop culture fans in the DC area to celebrate who they are and the things they love,” shared Penrod. “I’m so grateful to everyone who has participated in Awesome Con as attendees, exhibitors, guests, crew, and staff for the past ten years and I’m thrilled to see where the next ten years take us.” 

To celebrate this year’s 10th edition, Awesome Con is excited to announce a lineup of top-tier celebrity guests including: Amy Jo Johnson (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Ashley Eckstein, James Arnold Taylor, and Matt Lanter (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars) Danny Trejo (Spy Kids, Breaking Bad), Diane Guerrero (Encanto, Orange is the New Black), Elijah Wood and Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), Felicia Day (The Guild, Supernatural), Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Christopher Eccleston, and Billie Piper (Doctor Who), Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy), LeVar Burton (Star Trek), Phil LaMarr (Justice League, Samurai Jack), and many more.

Anime fans are in for a special treat as Awesome Con welcomes 12 of the voice actors from My Hero Academia including: Austin Tindle, Caitlin Glass, Christopher Sabat, Clifford Chapin, Colleen Clickenbeard, David Matranga, Elizabeth Maxwell, Jason Liebrecht, Justin Briner, Leah Clark, Lindsay Seidel, and Monica Rial. 

In celebration of Pride Month, the fan-favorite Pride Alley—presented in partnership with Geeks OUT and Metro Weekly—returns once again to celebrate LGBTQ+ artists and creators. The wildly popular Science Fair will also include a brand new Science Demo Stage presented by the National Science Foundation that will allow fans to get up close and personal with mind-boggling live science experiments and demonstrations. Other science programming tracks feature content related to NASA’s Roman Space Telescope, the wonder women of NASA, and the exploration of the Moon. 

Family-friendly programs take over Awesome Con Jr., which returns with playful events planned to educate and entertain both the young and the young at heart. Back by popular demand is the Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone, where Awesome Con’s littlest fans can shake a leg during Saber Guild Kid’s Lightsaber Training, Kids Superhero Yoga, and the Kids Costume Parade. Young aspiring artists can also engage with and learn from professional artists in Awesome Con  Jr. Workshops, where creativity is highly encouraged. 

The Awesome Con Book Fair is also back with exciting new bookseller partners, Loyalty Bookstores and Lost City Books. 23-time New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks will headline the feature along with fellow accomplished authors TJ Klune, Mia Tsai, Emily Whitten, E.K. Johnston, and more. The Awesome Con Short Film Festival, which debuted eight years ago by local filmmaker Joe Carabeo will showcase indie short films from around the world.

Fans can take a look back at the history and the ten awesome years of memories and moments by visiting a special webpage dedicated to Awesome Con’s 10th anniversary. Fans are encouraged to share their experience by using the hashtag #10YearsofAwesome.

Admission to Awesome Con is required to get an autograph and/or photo op with guests and each badge must be valid for the same day as the session. Fans can purchase autograph and/or photo op tickets by visiting here. Sunday of Awesome Con is also Father’s Day—the perfect opportunity for fans to celebrate their super dads. The first 500 dads at the show on Sunday will get a free “Dad Bot” t-shirt.

WHEN:

• Friday, June 16; exhibit hall hours 1pm – 8pm, programming until 10pm
• Saturday, June 17; exhibit hall hours 10am – 7pm, programming until 10pm
• Sunday, June 18; exhibit hall hours 10am – 5pm, programming until 5pm

WHERE: 

Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Pl, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Celebrity Guests:

• Amy Jo Johnson (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Tammy’s Always Dying)
• Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sofia the First, DC Superhero Girls)
• Austin Tindle (My Hero Academia, Tokyo Ghoul, Assassination Classroom, Black Clover)
• Billie Piper (Doctor Who, Penny Dreadful, Catherine Called Birdy, I Hate Suzie Too.)
• Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars, Batman, Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman) 
• Caitlin Glass (My Hero Academia, Fullmetal Alchemist, Fire Force, Ouran High School Host Club)
• Christopher Sabat (My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Black Clover)
• Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, Thor: The Dark World, The Leftovers, 28 Days Later)
• Clifford Chapin (My Hero Academia, Black Clover, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul)
• Colleen Clinkenbeard (My Hero Academia, One Piece, Fairy Tail, Fullmetal Alchemist)
• Danny Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Heat, Predators, Spy Kids, Breaking Bad)
• Dave Barclay (Star Wars)
• David Matranga (My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Dropa, Wolf Children)
• Diane Guerrero (Doom Patrol, Encanto, Orange is the New Black, Jane the Virgin)
• Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings, Wilfred, Over the Garden Wall, Happy Feet)
• Elizabeth Maxwell (My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Super, Attack on Titan, RWBY)
• Felicia Day (The Guild, The Magicians, Supernatural, MST3K)
• James Arnold Taylor (Star Wars: The Clone War, TMNT, Ratchet & Clank, Young Justice)
• Jason Liebrecht (My Hero Academia, Black Clover, Attack on Titan, Fire Force)
• Jodie Whitaker (Doctor Who, Attack the Block, Broadchurch, Black Mirror)
• Justin Briner (My Hero Academia, Trickster, Black Clover, Fire Force)
• Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, Doctor Who, Jumanji, Dual)
• Leah Clark (My Hero Academia, Fairy Tail, Darling in the Franxx, Soul Eater)
• Levar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard, Reading Rainbow, Roots, Levar Burton Reads)
• Lindsey Seidel (My Hero Academia, Chainsaw Man, Attack on Titan, Assassination Classroom)
• Mandip Gill (Doctor Who, Hollyoaks, Suspicion, Love, Lies and Records)
• Matt Lanter (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, 90210, Timeless, Ultimate Spider-Man)
• Maurice Lamarche (Pinky and the Brain, Futurama, Looney Tunes, Evil Con Carne)
• Mike Quinn (Star Wars)
• Monica Rial (My Hero Academia, Soul Eater, Dragon Ball Super, Fairy Tail)
• Phil Lamarr (Justice League, Static Shock, Samurai Jack, Futurama, Family Guy)
• Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain, Animaniacs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
• Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, The Goonies, Stranger Things, Rudy, Toy Soldiers) 
• Tony B Kim (Crazy4ComicCon) 
• Wes Johnson (The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim)

Comic Guests:

• Aaron Reynolds 
• Amanda Deibert 
• Arsia Rozegar
• Arthur Adams 
• Bryan Tillman
• Cat Staggs 
• Chrissie Zullo Uminga
• Christian DiBari 
• Christoper Uminga
• Clay McCormack
• Corin Howell 
• Dan Parent 
• David Finch
• Dawn Griffin
• Greg Burnhan
• Harold Buchholz
• Humberto Ramos 
• John Gallagher
• Joseph Schmalke
• Joyce Chin
• Katie Cook
• Marcus Williams
• Sean Gordon Murphy
• Simon Bisley
• Sorah Suhng
• Tana Ford 
• Terry Brooks
• The Mariano Brothers
• Tracie Ching 

Book Fair Guests:

• David Ebenbach
• E.K. Johnston
• Emily Whitten
• Mia Tsai
• Terry Brooks
• TJ Klune

Cosplay Guests:

• Charlie Rocket Cosplay
• Hellspawned Cosplay
• Lady Cels Cosplay
• Lena Volkova
• Mighty Morfin Cosplay
• Sam Apple Cosplay
• Shady Haze

Special Guests:

• Antipode Geek Belly Dance
• Super Art Fight

TICKETS: Daily and full weekend passes are available. 

• Friday Only Admission: $45
• Saturday Only Admission: $58
• Sunday Only Admission: $50
• 3-Day Weekend Pass: $95
• Premium 3-Day Pass: $170
• Kids Admission: $15. Valid for kids ages 3-10. Valid for full weekend or any day individually.
• VIP passes & experiences range from the Premium 3-Day ($170) to 3-Day, limited quantity Club Awesome Membership ($415), which offers access to various celebrity appearances, reserved Main Stage seating, ‘Jump the Line’ cards and exclusive Club Awesome merchandise items.

Awesome Con’s wildly popular science-centric pavilion, Science Fair, returns to the region’s premier comic and pop culture convention, Friday, June 3 to Sunday, June 5  at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Astronauts, scientists and entertainers will come together at the themed pavilion to connect science and technology with science-fiction and fantasy. Science Fair presents three days of special programming, where science meets science-fiction, celebrating technology, engineering, aerospace, astronomy and more. This year’s Science Fair is back with not one but two full programming tracks exploring the Earth and the heavens: TERRA for Earth-based panels and COSMOS for Space-based panels. Science Fair: TERRA will explore Earth-based adventures from the icy Antarctic, to the murky depths of the ocean and back to the prehistoric times of the dinosaurs. Science Fair: COSMOS will venture to outer space where experts in the field will chat about dark matter, alien invasions and their journeys to the moon.

Awesome Con, now in its ninth year, is thrilled to welcome a range of leaders and experts from organizations that represent scientific advancement and education across numerous industries. Representatives from the National Science Foundation, NASA Space and Flight Center and Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit will lead programs and discussions throughout the weekend. Attendees of all ages will be able to engage at Q&A panels as well as hands-on tech demos and workshops, all focused on fostering awareness and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Among highlights of this year’s Science Fair programming is The Science Behind the Mandalorian (June 3 – Room 207B – Science Fair: COSMOS). The National Science Foundation brings together a team of experts to separate fact from fiction, examine the culture and learn about the mysterious warriors inside the helmet. For fans of Marvel’s Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a special panel, The Science Behind the Ten Rings (June 4 – Room 207B – Science Fair: COSMOS), will dive deep into the science and significance behind the cultural phenomenon. 

Dr. Mohamed Noor will give attendees a primer lesson on basic transmission and genetic ancestry testing, Genetics, Ancestry Testing, Race, and Star Trek (June 5 – Room 207B – Science Fair: TERRA). Fans can learn many of the fundamental underlying science concepts, and see how these concepts connect with each other and get applied in the Star Trek universe across the various series. 

Four divisions of NASA will be represented at Science Fair and attendees can meet some of the talented women who work at NASA including Dawn Myers, Nayi Castro, Staci Tiedeken, Yasmina Martos and Sabrina Thompson. From mission operations to public engagement, these women will host a special panel Women at NASA (June 4 –  11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Room 207B – Science Fair COSMOS) and dive into what led them to the space agency, the sometimes crazy paths they took to get where they are today and the challenges they’ve faced. 

Pop culture enthusiasts will enjoy a special panel on pop culture history in partnership with Smithsonian’s highly anticipated upcoming exhibit Entertainment Nation. This can’t-miss panel Pop Culture is History: Entertainment Nation at the Smithsonian (June 4 – 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM – Room 207A – Science Fair TERRA), will provide audiences with a sneak peek into the museum’s pop cultural extravaganza. 

Science Fair will take place during Awesome Con 2022 with no separate ticket required to attend events. Admission to Awesome Con includes access to attend Science Fair’s panels, exhibits and events.

Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s iconic three-day pop culture convention, announces three days of programming complete with exclusive panels, workshops, meetups and celebrity appearances from Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June 5. Awesome Con will take over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with a robust lineup of events. LGBTQ+ focused Pride Alley, in partnership with Geeks OUT and Metro Weekly, returns with its largest slate of programming that spotlight LGBTQ+ artists, creators and fans. The wildly popular Science Fair is back with not one but two full programming tracks: TERRA for Earth-based panels and COSMOS: for Space-based panels. Science Fair has four divisions of NASA represented, along with a special program on pop culture history in partnership with Smithsonian’s highly anticipated upcoming exhibit Entertainment Nation. Family-friendly pavilion Awesome Con Jr. is back with even more events planned to educate and entertain kids of all ages and parents alike. After debuting last year, Destination Cosplay will make its return to the show floor with cosplay demos, meetups and more. Awesome Con’s Book Fair is back! Powered by D.C.-based Solid State Books, guests can enjoy book signings, access to writers and publishers and take a stroll down Author’s Lane to discover independently published authors from a variety of genres. Attendees can start planning their Awesome Con experience and view the full program schedule. 

In addition to the return of these great show features, Awesome Con is introducing two new programming areas: 

• Awesome Con Remix Stage located in Destination Cosplay – Boogie down and shake your groove thang at Awesome Con’s Remix Stage! Fandom-inspired tunes, games, trivia, singalongs, and of course, dancing, are happening all weekend long right here!
• The Movement Room located in Room 208 – Tired of sitting in a panel room? Wanna do something a little more active? Activities in this room require you to get up and get moving! 

Celebrity and Comic Guests

Hear from some of the biggest influencers from the world of pop culture and comic books at panels, screenings, Q&As and more. For a full lineup of confirmed guests visit here. 

 The full main stage lineup includes:

June 3: 

• Question the Doctor! Get to know Sylvester McCoy (2:00 p.m.)
• Who loves Kel Mitchell? We love Kel Mitchell! (4:30 p.m.)
• Voice-A-Palooza ft. Wes Johnson (7:00 p.m.)
• Meet the Cosplay Competition Judges ft. Plexi Cosplay, Bishop Cosplay, and Woman of Wonders (8:15 p.m.)

June 4: 

• Spotlight on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast: Simu Liu, Meng’er Zhang, and Florian Munteanu (10:30 a.m.)
• Out in space with Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz (11:45 a.m.)
• A Bewitching Sabrina the Teenage Witch Cast Reunion (1:00 p.m.)
• Oh dear! It’s Anthony Daniels! (3:30 p.m.)
• Awesome Con 2022 Cosplay Competition ft. Logan Stone Drag Halftime Show (7:00 p.m.)

June 5: 

• The Many Roles of Giancarlo Esposito (11:00 a.m.)
• Growing up a Nick Kid with Melissa Joan Hart and Kel Mitchell (12:15 p.m.)
• Second Breakfast with Sean Astin (1:30 p.m.)
• Hang with Vegeta and Goku! It’s Christopher Sabat and Sean Schemmel (2:45 p.m.)

Pride Alley 

• LGBTQIA+ Table Talk: This is Me Q&A Geekdom (June 4 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Room 204) Join the round table discussion with host Shady Haze and LGBTQ+ creators as they discuss LGBTQ+ representation in pop culture and their coming out story, how the geek/comic world shaped who they are today and what pride means to them. 

• For All Humankind: Fueling the Space Race to Diversity and Inclusion (June 5 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Room 207B – Science Fair COSMOS)

Where the Science Fair and Pride Alley collide! Join this discussion with some of the trailblazing minds at NASA about the diverse pioneers of space travel, the efforts being made to increase representation, and what the future holds as we look to the stars.

• Queerly Femtastic: Celebrating Queer Female Representation in Comics (June 4 – 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – Room 206)

Geeks OUT presents a sit down with queer & ally artists/creators to discuss the importance of queer female representation in comics. We’ll explore our panelists’ influences, what draws them to Strong Female Characters, and why intersectionality is paramount to the future of comics. 

Science Fair

• The Science Behind the Mandalorian (June 3 – Room 207B – Science Fair: COSMOS)

Mandalorians have captured the imagination of fans around the world. The National Science Foundation brings together a team of experts to discuss the science behind the Mandalorian. 

• The Science Behind the Ten Rings (June 4 – Room 207B – Science Fair: COSMOS)

Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings captivates the imagination of audiences around the world. Come join the National Science Foundation as it brings together a panel of experts to discuss the science behind the Ten Rings.

• Genetics, Ancestry Testing, Race, and Star Trek (June 5 – Room 207B – Science Fair: TERRA)

A primer on basic transmission and genetic ancestry testing with Dr. Mohamed Noor. Learn many of the fundamental underlying science concepts, and see how these concepts connect with each other and get applied in the Star Trek universe across the various series. 

• Women at NASA (June 4 –  11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Room 207B – Science Fair COSMOS)

From Mission Operations to Public Engagement, come meet just a few of the talented women who work at NASA. Hear about what led them to the space agency, the sometimes crazy paths they took to get where they are today and the challenges they’ve faced. 

Book Fair 

• Creative Worldbuilding in Fiction (June 3 – 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM – Room 204)

Building a fully fleshed out world is the first step in making your creation real to the reader. Let’s explore how a fictitious world can seem completely real while overwhelmingly magical through excellent writing. 

• Timothy Zahn Spotlight (June 4 – 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM – Room 204)

Get to know the talented science fiction author Timothy Zahn. Known for his prolific collection of Star Wars books, chiefly the Thrawn series, he’ll be taking the stage to answer your burning questions. 

• SFF Authors and Real World Ideas (June 5 – 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM – Room 204)

How do real world religious beliefs, political doctrines, and views on society impact science fiction/fantasy writers, and the direction they take in their novels? This panel will explore how personal beliefs and reality can become subtly infused into science fiction/fantasy works.

Awesome Con Jr. 

• Saber Guild Kids Lightsaber Training (All weekend – Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone – Hall C)

Younglings will take their first steps into a larger world virtually with Saber Guild’s Kids Lightsaber Training. Saber Guild’s elite costumed Jedi will interact and walk kids through an introductory course to lightsabers and The Force.

• Interactive Storytime presented by the DC Public Library (June 3 & 5 – Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone)

Get your imagination in gear for a story time with the DC Public Library, all about the joy of pretending! 

• Kids Costume Parade (Open to first 30 kids – Saturday & Sunday – Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone)

Awesome Con is excited to welcome kids of all cosplay levels to the Kids Costume Parade! Registration is limited to the first 30 kids (and their parents).

Destination Cosplay

• Costuming with the 501st Legion (June 3 – 1:30 PM –  3:30 PM – Cosplay Demos – Destination Cosplay – Hall B)

Ever wonder how stormtrooper armor is built? Join the 501st Legion, the premier Star Wars costuming club, and learn the process of becoming a stormtrooper.

• Awesome Con 2022 Cosplay Competition featuring Logan Stone Drag Halftime Show (June 4 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Main Stage)

This year’s Cosplay Competition Halftime Show is where Pride Alley and Destination Cosplay collide! The Halftime Show will feature Queens Logan Stone (D.C. Drag Performer), Dax ExclamationPoint (RuPaul’s Drag Race), D’Manda Martini (Drag Performer), and Crimsyn (Painted with Raven). 

• Beauty, Blood & Bruises SFX Makeup with Black Crystal Cosplay (June 5 – 3:00 PM  – 5:00 PM – Cosplay Demos – Destination Cosplay – Hall B) 

Everyone loves a good glitz and glam makeup, but have you ever thought of glitz AND gore? Black Crystal Cosplay will show you a great way to mix the two in order to showcase a different approach to making cosplay makeup even more fun, fabulous and interesting this con season.

Additional Programming Highlights: 

• Star Wars Dance Party & Trivia (June 3 – 4:15 PM  – 4:45 PM – Remix Stage) 

Flaunt your dark side at this Star Wars gathering! All lightsabers are encouraged.

• Saber Guild Lightsaber Stage Performance (June 4 – 11:30 AM  – 12:30 PM – Room 209)

Saber Guild Dathomir Temple presents a production made just for Awesome Con 2022. The continuation of the story from AwesomeCon 2021. Saber Guild is a non-profit, all-volunteer, international organization that specializes in lightsaber stage choreography and education.

• The Geek Comedy Tour: Feeding Grogu Snacks Edition (June 4 – 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM – Room 209)

The Geek Comedy Tour is a collective of the funniest stand-up comedians from the Washington D.C. area. Each one is an experienced comic, having performed at bars, clubs, and colleges all over the East Coast.

• The K-Pop Random Dance Party (June 3 & 4 – Room 208 – Movement Room)

Royal Kourt Crew presents a multi-generation KPOP random dance play!

• Disney Family Singalong (June 5 – 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Remix Stage)

Bring everyone you know to sing all of your favorite Disney songs.