Dragon Con Atlanta 2027

Dragon Con Atlanta 2027

Dragon Con Atlanta is the city’s perfect excuse to dress as their favorite superheroes and animated princesses during the Labor Day Weekend attracting over 80,000 visitors.

• Visiting for Dargon Con? Stay in one of the host hotels, The Hyatt Regency Atlanta, featuring spacious rooms, an outdoor pool and perfect location, close to all the confrence activities.

Dragon Con

• Next Edition: Thursday, September 2, 2027 To Monday, September 6, 2027.
• Dragon Con takes over Downtown Atlanta for five days across Labor Day Weekend, bringing together science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, film, television, art, cosplay and pop culture.
• This is a city-centre convention rather than an event contained inside one exhibition hall. Programming spreads across five host hotels and AmericasMart, with tens of thousands of attendees moving between venues throughout the weekend.
• Dragon Con drew around 75,000 attendees in 2026, so book accommodation early and expect Downtown Atlanta to feel completely taken over by the convention.
• Cosplay is central to the experience. You’ll see everything from elaborate competition-level costumes to groups taking over hotel lobbies dressed as characters from the same franchise.
• Your Dragon Con membership covers the five convention days, panels, performances, contests and most official programming. Selected events, including Dragon Con Night at the Georgia Aquarium, require separate admission.
• The convention runs well beyond daytime panels. Hotel bars become gathering points after dark, with themed parties, live performances and late-night events continuing across the host hotels.
• Buy Dragon Con 2027 Membership

The 2027 Host Hotels

Dragon Con revolves around five Downtown hotels rather than a conventional convention centre. The Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis and Hilton are connected by skybridges, making them particularly useful when Atlanta is hot or the streets are packed.

• Hyatt Regency Atlanta – 265 Peachtree Street NE. One of the principal Dragon Con hubs, hosting panels, parties and events throughout the weekend.
• Atlanta Marriott Marquis – 265 Peachtree Center Avenue. The huge atrium becomes one of the defining sights of Dragon Con, packed with cosplayers, photographers and convention guests.
• Hilton Atlanta – 255 Courtland Street NE. Another major programming hotel, connected into the central convention complex.
• Courtland Grand Hotel – 165 Courtland Street. Hosts further programming and convention services.
• The Westin Peachtree Plaza – 210 Peachtree Street. The cylindrical Downtown landmark completes Dragon Con’s five-hotel core.

Dragon Con Parade

• The Dragon Con Parade takes over central Atlanta on Saturday morning and is the one major part of the convention you can experience without buying a membership.
• Thousands of costumed participants represent the convention’s fan groups, with superheroes, science-fiction characters, fantasy costumes, gaming groups and elaborate creations moving through Downtown.
• The parade kicks off at 10 am from Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue, continues south along Peachtree and finishes near the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
• Arrive early if you want a decent viewing position. This is one of the weekend’s largest public events and the sidewalks fill quickly.
• Several Downtown streets close during the parade, which affects both traffic and Dragon Con’s regular courtesy bus routes.

Dragon Con Night at the Georgia Aquarium

• Dragon Con Night at the Georgia Aquarium is a separate after-hours event at one of Atlanta’s biggest attractions.
• The event takes place on the Saturday night of the Dragon Con celebrations.
• Ticketholders gain access to the aquarium galleries after normal opening hours, with music, drinks and food available during the evening.
• General admission and a separate VIP experience are available.
• Your Dragon Con membership does not include aquarium admission. A separate ticket is required.
• Dragon Con operates a dedicated shuttle between the convention hotels and the aquarium during the event.
• Perfect for those who want one night away from the crowded hotel parties without leaving the Dragon Con atmosphere behind.

What to Expect

• Dragon Con works differently from many large fan conventions. Don’t plan the weekend around a single exhibition hall.
• Panels & Guests – Actors, writers, artists, game designers, creators and industry guests appear throughout the five days.
• Cosplay – From casual costumes to serious craftsmanship, cosplay spills through hotel lobbies, bars and Downtown Atlanta.
• Gaming – Tabletop, role-playing, console, arcade and other gaming runs across dedicated convention areas.
• Parties – Themed dances and late-night events run across several host hotels.
• Vendor Halls – AmericasMart hosts the major shopping areas, artists and exhibitors.
• Performances – Live music, burlesque, comedy and fan productions form a substantial part of the evening program.
• Hotel Lobbies – Some of the best people-watching happens between scheduled events. The Marriott Marquis atrium is particularly busy after dark.

Gay Atlanta During Dragon Con

• Dragon Con itself has a large LGBTQ+ presence, but Atlanta’s principal gay nightlife is in Midtown and around Piedmont Avenue, away from the Downtown convention hotels.
• Blake’s On The Park – 227 10th Street NE. Long-running Midtown gay bar with DJs, drag and a busy weekend crowd. A good starting point if you’re taking a night away from the convention hotels.
• Bulldogs – 893 Peachtree Street NE. Atlanta gay institution with a strong Black LGBTQ+ following and late-night weekend hours.
• Atlanta Eagle – 1492 Piedmont Avenue NE. Leather and fetish bar with a strong bear following, DJs and regular themed nights.
• Woofs Sports Bar – 494 Plasters Avenue NE. Gay sports bar popular for daytime drinks, games and a more relaxed break from the convention.
• The Heretic Atlanta – 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road NE. Large gay nightclub with DJs, circuit parties, bear events and a substantial dance floor.
• Mary’s – 1287 Glenwood Avenue SE. East Atlanta gay bar with a smaller neighbourhood feel, karaoke, DJs and a crowd that feels quite different from Midtown.
• If Dragon Con is your main reason for travelling, stay Downtown and visit Midtown for a night out, rather than booking your hotel around the gay bars. The convention runs late and moving back and forth across Atlanta several times a day quickly becomes tedious.

Where to Stay

• For Dragon Con, location matters far more than almost any other Atlanta event. Being inside the convention zone lets you return to your room between panels, change costumes and avoid late-night transport.
• Browse hotels in Downtown Atlanta – Prioritise walking distance to Peachtree Center over saving a small amount by staying farther away.

Getting Around Dragon Con

• The central convention area is walkable, but you’ll cover a surprising amount of ground during five days.
• Dragon Con operates courtesy buses approximately every 30 to 45 minutes between its principal convention locations and selected hotels. The Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton skybridges make moving between those three particularly easy.

Planning Your Visit

• Arrive on Wednesday 1st September if possible. It gives you time to check in and get settled before the five-day programme begins on Thursday.
• Don’t attempt to schedule every hour. Dragon Con publishes thousands of hours of programming, and moving between hotels takes longer once the buildings become busy.
• Pick a few events each day that you genuinely don’t want to miss, then leave room for discovering costumes, parties and unexpected panels.
• For gay visitors, Saturday is likely to be the key day: the parade dominates the morning, the convention runs throughout the afternoon.
• The 2027 guest list is already being built, with new names being added by Dragon Con over the coming months. Check the official Dragon Con guest list closer to September rather than building your trip around an incomplete early lineup.