BlerDCon 2026: 5 Reasons This Black Geek Culture Convention Is a Must-Attend Experience
Atlantic City Focus Arts & Entertainment Editor Raymond Tyler shares why BlerDCon — featuring Janelle Monáe, cosplay, gaming, and nonstop panels — is one of the most exciting fan conventions in the country.
What Is Blerdcon?
BlerDCon 2026, themed "Geek-Nik: Cars & Bars" will be held March 6–8, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City and Hilton Arlington National Landing in Virginia. The 3-day, 24-hour convention celebrates international geek culture through panels, gaming, cosplay, and concerts, featuring special guest Janelle Monáe.
I attended last year with the intention on covering Blerdcon as the Arts and Entertainment Editor of Atlantic City Focus. It was on day two, around 1:30 a.m. and I was still playing games, and meeting people when I realized..."I'm not just reporting... I am a fan...loving the Blerdcon experience."
So as a fan, here's a list of my Top 5 Reasons to attend Blerdcon 2026.
Mark Tyler
5.Meeting New Creators
Blerdcon offers the chance to meet and talk with creators of books, and art that is one of a kind.
Here are video clips of two great writers and an artist I met last year!
T. L Price takes people of color to her world of science fiction. Rich puts her young heroes in the middle of a science fiction/magic gathering. Price as a writer changed Washington DC to a place of sci-fi and fantasy and created a group of young people that find themselves gifted or cursed with dynamic powers.
The series is called Exiled Elementals.
Welcome To Brick Falls
Tyrience Green and his comic book series Welcome To Brick Falls, is Green's look at his own real-life ability to dance. Green used his real-life skills to fuel his series. He distributes the work through his website One and Only Comics.
Raymond Tyler
4. Art
I have several sketch books of commissioned art. I love going to cons and getting exclusive art of some of my favorite sci-fi and comic book characters.
3.Workshops, Panels and Seminars.
Last year, I went into the nearest convention panel just to get a seat. As chance would have it the panel was on Sexual education. This year I am looking forward to catching another panel with panelist/instructor Candice Cherry.
This time around Miss Cherry and friends will be doing a class on the art form of Burlesque (I will be attending to support and for information purposes.)
Miss Cherry, took a few minutes to discuss her panels at Blerdcon with me.
- Gaming
The gaming area is a Blerd dream come true. Blercon offers a 50-unit free arcade from pin ball to Super Nintendo to full gaming consoles which last year included Street Fight and Dragon's Layer. This year's arcade promises 72 hours of access...Editor's tip-bring hand sanitizer.
1. The Cos-Play
Nothing brings my heart joy like seeing the joy in the people who Cos-Play at cons. It reminds me of when I used to find that perfect Halloween Costume and then my mom made me where a winter coat and no one could see my Planet Of The Apes costume. I do really get happy by seeing other people have fun. Being around people who enjoy dressing as their favorite characters and having nailed their costumes is my number one thing that excites me about Blerdcon.
If you want to check out Blerdcon (and you should) you can get tickets and more information www.Blerdcon.org
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