VidCon Anaheim is back June 25–27, and it’s a big one: 15 years.

I've been going since the days when the whole thing felt like a YouTube fan meetup that accidentally turned into an industry, and every year someone asks me the same question: "What do I actually DO here?"

So, as I do most years, here's my no-BS guide to working VidCon like a rep, not a tourist.

Where to be, who to find, and which parties actually matter.

Or just have fun. Actually, do that. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You’re great.

Also in this edition:

🎩 Best Panels

💄 Best Parties

🏨 Best Places

🐊 Best People

👑 The Golden Rule

💪🏼 Jobs from Rockwater Industries, Cantina Labs, and The QYOU Media

🎭 …and a dank meme from yours truly!

Let’s get into it.

TLDR:

VidCon is the one event a year where every layer of this business is under one roof at the same time: the creators, the fans who make them, the brands writing the checks, and the platforms changing the rules.

That's the whole pitch, and it's true.

You will not find this density of the right people anywhere else.

But here's the trap most reps fall into: they treat VidCon like a conference.

They camp out in panel rooms taking notes, collect a tote bag of branded junk, and go home with zero relationships.

Don't be that person.

The content on stage is good, and I'll tell you which sessions are worth your time below.

But you already know most of what's getting said up there.

The magic, like I wrote after the Dhar Mann Summit, is always in the hallway.

The 3-minute lobby conversation that turns into a 30-minute coffee that turns into a deal in August.

That's VidCon.

So treat the panels as your anchor points and the spaces between them as the actual work.

Here's where I'm pointing my energy:

The Hall of Fame. This year VidCon is inducting four genuine internet icons: Markiplier, Michelle Phan, Casey Ho, and Philip DeFranco. If you've been in this industry for any length of time, this isn't just a feel-good ceremony, it's a reminder of how young this business still is and how the people who built it are still actively in the room. Go. Bring your team. It's a moment.

The Industry Track keynotes and panels. This is where the business happens: brand marketers, talent agencies, platform reps, and influencer marketing execs talking monetization, partnership strategy, and where the platforms are pushing next. These are the rooms where you'll be sitting next to someone you should know. The panel itself is half the value; your seatmate is the other half.

Anything on platform monetization or AI. Every year there's a session that becomes THE talked-about session for the rest of the summer. Last year it was Creator TV and FAST distribution. This year my money's on something AI-and-creator-economy flavored. When you spot it on the schedule, prioritize it, because it'll be the thing every brand emails you about in July.

And a shameless plug: I'm moderating "Who Manages the Manager?" this year, a panel digging into the blurry lines between agents, managers, and operating partners in the creator economy. If you're a rep, this one's for you.

Come heckle me.

The Industry networking lounges. If you've got a Pro Pass, the dedicated industry spaces are your home base. Industry attendees get dedicated networking lounges and meeting spaces, and they're calmer, quieter, and full of exactly the people you came to meet. Set up shop. Take your calls there. Use it as a meeting point.

The Expo Hall, strategically. There's a ton this year: a new Sport Court, a Gaming Zone, merch drops, and surprise creator moments. It's loud and chaotic and great for a lap to feel the energy and see what brands are activating. But don't try to do business there. Do a walk-through, note who's spending money on big activations (that tells you who has budget), and get back to a quieter space to actually talk.

The hotel lobbies and bars near the Convention Center. This is the real secret. The Anaheim Marriott, the Hilton, the lobby bars within walking distance, that's where the after-hours and between-session deal-making lives. Half my best VidCon conversations have happened on a lobby couch at 11pm. Stay near the Anaheim Convention Center if you can; the closer you are, the more of these you catch.

Coffee, away from the floor. When you want a real conversation, get the person out of the building. A 20-minute walk to a coffee shop beats shouting over an Expo Hall demo every single time.

VidCon 2026's first wave of Featured Creators is already loaded. Names confirmed so far include Anthony Po (Anthpo), Emmy Combs, JT Casey, The Mannii, Haminations, dancers Jasmin and James, plus Caylus, Jeremy Hutchins, Kyland Young, Kelsi Davies, Death Battle, and many more to come. If any of them or their teams are on your target list, the meet-and-greet and main stage schedules tell you exactly where they'll be and when.

My approach to meeting people at VidCon:

Lots of big creators this year: Anthony Po (Anthpo), Emmy Combs, JT Casey, The Mannii, Haminations, dancers Jasmin and James, plus Caylus, Jeremy Hutchins, Kyland Young, Kelsi Davies, Death Battle, and many more to come.

Don’t worry if you don’t know all of them. I made flash cards (seriously).

I won an award for being good at my own game.

I digress.

If any of them or their teams are on your target list, the meet-and-greet and main stage schedules tell you exactly where they'll be and when.

My approach to meeting people at VidCon:

Okay, the part you actually scrolled down for.

Every year, the legend Rob Ryan compiles THE party grid for VidCon: the running master list of every official and unofficial party, happy hour, mixer, and after-hours event across all three days. If you do one piece of prep before the show, it's getting on Rob's grid and mapping your nights.

A few rules I live by on the party circuit:

I'll be out on the circuit all four (!!!) nights.

If you see me, come say hi.

Worst case, you get a bad joke about the death of link-in-bio.

If you take nothing else from this: go to VidCon to start relationships, not to close deals.

Nobody signs a contract on the Expo floor.

What you're building is the warm "great to finally meet you in person" that makes the August email get answered.

Plant seeds, take great notes, follow up within a week while you're still fresh in their mind.

The reps who win VidCon are the ones who treat the follow-up as seriously as the show.

See you in Anaheim. Stay hydrated, wear comfortable shoes, bring earplugs.

SPONSORED: Coordinator, Creator Economy M&A, RockWater

Big companies raised big money to buy smaller companies to…I don’t know…own them I guess. But that’s a huge win for whoever gets this job. You’ll be on the front lines of the biggest deals made in one of the fastest growing industries. And you’ll get to talk to people like me!

Creator Partnerships Manager, Cantina Labs

Cantina Labs is going hard on the ‘talk to your own AI character’ trend. I used to tease it, but it’s like a fun mobile game. I mean, did you ever watch a kid spend 30 minutes tapping on Talking Tom? It’s like that, but with words instead of attacks. I digress. They’re making cool stuff and creators are going to keep leaning further and further into AI.

Manager of Strategy, The QYOU Media

I’ve known the team from The QYOU for more than 10 years, back when they were shooting MTV style television segments with VJs and YouTube content, and I can say with confidence: they’re always ahead of the curve. Now they’re crushing it with creator marketing and brand strategy, and this role will give you a look into very smart people building very cool social stuff.