Dragon Con begins Thursday, with tens of thousands of people from around the world expected to attend the annual pop culture convention in downtown Atlanta.
One of the convention’s biggest draws is Saturday’s parade. The route begins on Peachtree Street near Pine Street and ends near the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
Over the next several days, heroes, villains and monsters will take over Atlanta for Dragon Con’s 40th celebration. Each year, spectators line the streets, many dressed as their favorite characters.
Brian Richardson has hosted the parade for nearly 20 years. He shared what spectators can expect this year.
“A lot of Disney characters, a lot of stuff that you’ve seen looking over your kid’s shoulder when they’re playing Roblox or Minecraft,” Richardson said. “You’ll find out where the characters in Fortnite came from. You get ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Star Trek,’ and we always end the parade with Santa Claus.”
CBS News Atlanta anchor Alexa Liacko will co-host the Dragon Con parade with Richardson.
Here is what to know before heading downtown.
When is Dragon Con 2026?
Dragon Con runs from Thursday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 7.
The convention opens at 5 p.m. Thursday and continues around the clock until 5 p.m. Monday. Organizers recommend checking the official Dragon Con app for individual event times and schedule changes.
Where is Dragon Con held?
Events will take place across five host hotels in downtown Atlanta:
- Hyatt Regency Atlanta
- Hilton Atlanta
- Courtland Grand Hotel
- Atlanta Marriott Marquis
- Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel
AmericasMart Buildings 2 and 3 will house gaming, vendors and the Comic and Pop Artist Alley.
Who are the featured Dragon Con guests?
The 2026 guest list includes actors, writers, artists, game designers, voice actors and other creators.
- Nathan Fillion
- Alan Tudyk
- Sean Astin
- Lena Headey
- Jack Quaid
- Gina Torres
- Tom Welling
- Erica Durance
- Katee Sackhoff
- Edward James Olmos
- Mary McDonnell
- Tricia Helfer
- Summer Glau
- Denise Richards
- Ross Marquand
- Anson Mount
- Tawny Newsome
- Richard Dean Anderson
- Michael Shanks
- Jim Butcher
- Timothy Zahn
Dragon Con said guests continue to be announced, and appearances may change. Visitors should check the convention’s website or app before attending a specific panel or signing.
What performances and events are planned?
Dragon Con’s performer lineup includes Galactic Empire, The Cybertronic Spree, Cruxshadows, Psychostick, Bit Brigade, Dad’s Garage Theatre Co., Atlanta Radio Theatre Company and Aurelio Voltaire.
Late-night dances featuring DJs are planned Friday, Saturday and Sunday after the final concerts, with events continuing until dawn. Late-night science fiction and fantasy folk singing, known as “filking,” begins at midnight on those nights.
Other highlighted events include: Dragon Con Wrestling, Gatsby & Daisy Champagne Ball, Pin-Ups by the Pool Party, Dragon Con Night at the Aquarium and the Late Night Puppet Slam.
The Gatsby & Daisy Champagne Ball requires a separate ticket. General admission costs $40, while the VIP ticket costs $100.
Dragon Con Night at the Aquarium also requires separate admission. A Dragon Con badge does not provide entry. The food court will operate from 7 to 9 p.m., and cash bars will be open from 7 to 10 p.m.
When and where is the Dragon Con parade?
The free Dragon Con parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5.
The parade starts at Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue before traveling south on Peachtree Street. It will turn east onto Andrew Young International Boulevard and then north onto Peachtree Center Avenue.
The route ends on Peachtree Center Avenue between John Portman Boulevard and Baker Street, in front of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
CBS News Atlanta will televise the parade live beginning at 10 a.m. DCTV will show it inside the convention’s host hotels and rebroadcast it during the weekend. A subscription is required to stream the parade on DragonCon.tv.
What roads will be affected by the parade?
Drivers should expect barricades and street closures Saturday along the parade route, including portions of:
- Peachtree Street
- Linden Avenue
- Andrew Young International Boulevard
- Peachtree Center Avenue
- Streets crossing the parade route
Dragon Con says the closures will affect some of its hotel shuttle service from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The regular Blue, Green and Purple shuttle routes will not operate during the parade but will resume afterward. A dedicated parade shuttle will run between the Atlanta Marriott Marquis area and North Avenue at Courtland Street, according to the Dragon Con shuttle schedule.
Is MARTA offering additional service?
MARTA will provide additional rail service Saturday for the Dragon Con parade and the Aflac Kickoff Game.
Rail service is scheduled to begin around 5 a.m. Saturday. Trains will run every 12 minutes until 3 p.m., with more frequent service along portions of the North-South and East-West lines
The closest stations for the parade are:
- North Avenue
- Civic Center
- Peachtree Center
Dragon Con organizers expect downtown parking to be limited and are encouraging parade spectators to take MARTA.
What are the vendor, art and autograph hours?
The Vendor Hall and Comic and Pop Artist Alley will operate:
- Friday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Monday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Walk of Fame and Art Show will operate:
- Friday: 1-7 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Monday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
What costume contests are planned?
Dragon Con will hold 10 costume competitions, including the Dragon Con Masquerade, Friday Night Costume Contest and fan-voted Hallway Costume Contest.
Costumed fans will also gather throughout the host hotels and downtown Atlanta during the convention.
Which charity does Dragon Con support?
Hope Atlanta, a nonprofit that works to prevent and end homelessness, is Dragon Con’s official 2026 charity.
Dragon Con raised $325,000 for NAMI Georgia in 2025 through auctions, merchandise, special events and a dollar-for-dollar convention match. Organizers said the convention has raised more than $2 million for Atlanta-area charities since 2012.
Dragon Con will also hold its annual Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” blood drive for LifeSouth. Organizers said about 3,000 fans donate more than 6,000 units of blood and blood products each year.
