VidCon Anaheim 2026 takes place June 25–27, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. VidCon is one of the largest creator-focused conferences in the world, bringing together online creators, fans, platform teams, brands, and industry professionals for panels, meet & greets, expos, workshops, and offsite events.

For first-time attendees, the challenge is not finding things to do. It is navigating packed venues, managing time between sessions, and keeping track of the many people you meet across a very dense schedule.

This guide focuses on practical planning, transportation, and on-the-ground navigation so you can spend less time figuring things out and more time actually enjoying VidCon.

Plan Your Visit: Official VidCon 2026 Details

Before planning anything else, bookmark the official VidCon resources. These are the source of truth for schedules, venues, and updates.

Event

VidCon Anaheim 2026
Dates: June 25–27, 2026
Primary Venue: Anaheim Convention Center
800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802

Official VidCon Links

Event overview: https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/
Schedule at a glance: https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/schedule-at-a-glance/
Tickets and pass types: https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/tickets/
Hotels and travel info: https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/hotels-travel/
Meet & Greet information: https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/meet-greets/

VidCon also includes pre-event activity on Wednesday, June 24, such as registration and select industry events. Most main programming runs Thursday through Saturday.

Understanding the VidCon Venue Layout

VidCon is centered inside the Anaheim Convention Center, one of the largest convention centers on the West Coast. Programming is split across:

Multiple halls and levels inside the Convention Center
Nearby hotels hosting creator and industry events
Outdoor plazas and temporary brand activations

The area is compact, but crowd density is high. Movement slows significantly during session transitions and after large panels end.

Distances are short. Waiting and congestion are the real bottlenecks.

Typical Daily Flow at VidCon

VidCon days tend to follow a predictable rhythm:

Morning arrival surge as doors open
Midday crowd peaks around popular panels and meet & greets
Afternoon congestion between sessions
Evening offsite events, brand activations, and meetups

Lines form early for high-demand sessions and creator meet & greets. If something is important to you, plan to arrive earlier than you think you need to.

Getting to Anaheim

Most attendees fly into Southern California. Common airport options include:

John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Closest airport, about 15 miles from the Convention Center.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
About 35 miles away. Traffic can be unpredictable at any time of day.
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Smaller, sometimes convenient depending on flight availability.

From the airport, most attendees use:

Rideshare services
Rental cars
Hotel shuttles if offered by their hotel

Public transit from LAX to Anaheim exists but is slow and uncommon for VidCon attendees.

Where to Stay and Why Location Matters

Staying within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center makes a noticeable difference.

Benefits of staying nearby:

No reliance on rideshare during peak hours
Ability to step out and return between sessions
Easier access to early morning or late evening events

Hotels directly adjacent to the Convention Center and along Katella Avenue are popular for this reason. If you stay farther away, plan your day in blocks and avoid returning to your hotel midday.

At VidCon, proximity consistently matters more than hotel amenities.

Walking as Your Primary Mode of Movement

Most movement at VidCon happens on foot.

Walking is the fastest and most reliable way to:

Move between halls inside the Convention Center
Reach nearby hotels and plazas
Navigate outdoor brand activations

Crowds slow movement significantly during peak transition windows. Comfortable shoes are not optional.

Rideshare and Transportation Realities

Rideshare services are widely used, especially:

Early morning
Late evening
For offsite events

During the day, rideshare pickup zones near the Convention Center can become congested. Short rides may take longer than expected due to traffic and pedestrian volume.

For short distances during peak hours, walking is usually faster and more predictable.

Parking and Driving Considerations

If you drive or rent a car:

Convention Center parking is available but fills early
Hotel parking fees vary
Traffic increases sharply during panel transitions

Driving works best if you are staying farther away or attending multiple offsite events. Do not assume easy parking near the Convention Center during peak hours.

Anaheim Weather and What to Pack

VidCon takes place in early summer. Expect:

Warm daytime temperatures
Mild evenings
Strong sun exposure outdoors
Cool indoor air conditioning

Bring water, sunscreen, and light layers. Heat and crowds together can cause fatigue faster than expected.

Planning Your Schedule Without Burning Out

One of the most common first-time mistakes at VidCon is overscheduling.

A more sustainable approach:

Choose one or two anchor sessions per time block
Leave buffer time between commitments
Expect lines and delays
Take breaks away from crowds

You will not see everything. That is normal.

Where Time and Energy Are Actually Lost

Most frustration at VidCon comes from:

Standing in long lines
Overlapping sessions
Back-to-back social interactions
Decision fatigue late in the day

Reducing unnecessary transitions improves both enjoyment and focus.

Why many interactions get forgotten

Many of the most meaningful VidCon moments happen outside scheduled sessions. They happen in hallways, while waiting in line, during casual meetups, or at after-hours events.

You will meet a lot of people very quickly. The challenge is not meeting them. It is remembering who they were, where you met, and why the interaction mattered once the event is over.

That is the problem we built Intrstn to solve. Intrstn helps you save context around the people you meet so follow-ups after fast-moving events like VidCon feel natural instead of awkward.

Final Thoughts

Approach VidCon with realistic expectations. Plan loosely, not rigidly. Prioritize proximity and energy management over perfect schedules.

When logistics fade into the background, VidCon becomes far more enjoyable and far more meaningful.

Disclaimer

VidCon® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. This article is informational and not affiliated with or endorsed by VidCon.