Blerdcon draws its name from a portmanteau of “Black nerd,” but the unconventional convention isn’t just for Black nerds. And it’s not your typical pop-culture con.
Created as a safe space for people of color and LGBTQ nerds, the annual Arlington gathering is a place where geeks of all stripes can express themselves in a broad way, even if that expression runs counter to canon, says event co-founder Hilton George. While attendees of other cons might look askance at cosplayers who don’t faithfully adhere to their characters as created, in this atmosphere the sky’s the limit.
“They’re throwing that spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks,” George says, referencing the personal stamp attendees put on iconic characters—like the fan who molded his dreadlocks into horns to portray a Black Loki, or another who incorporated kente cloth into a Sailor Moon outfit. For Naomi and Jamal Purvis (pictured), the 2025 gathering was just the occasion to channel their favorite villains from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga series.
Blerdcon has grown considerably since its 2017 debut and now fills two hotel venues—the Hyatt Regency Crystal City and Hilton Arlington National Landing—drawing thousands of enthusiasts to join in costume contests, gaming, panel discussions and concerts. A 21+ zone is where F-bombs fly, comedians go blue and a “Blerdlesque show” features the occasional adult film star, but other programming is family-friendly.
Face time with celebrities is a big draw. Last year’s headliner was Janelle Monae; this year brings comedian Godfrey and Carl Jones, creator of Cartoon Network’s Black Dynamite series, to town. “We provide the atmosphere and maybe some of the accelerant for [participants] to create their own experiences,” George explains.
Creative garb aside, music and food feed the vibe. George says the event boasts what may well be the largest food truck rally of any con in the nation, with nearly 30 vehicles serving grub ranging from banh mi to gumbo. Last year, a vendor hailing from North Carolina squeezed “a whole soul food meal inside of a calzone,” dubbing its gut bomb the “Slap Yo Mama.”
If you obsess over anime or the Marvel universe, but you’ve been hesitant to let your inner nerd show, George says Blerdcon is for you. Maybe it’s especially for you—no matter what color you are or how you roll.
“A lot of people only go to one, maybe two conventions a year,” he reasons, “and they may wear khakis and polos in a corporate environment the other 360 days of the year. This is just an explosion of expression, fandom, enthusiasm and community connection.” Everyone’s invited.
Blerdcon 2026 takes place March 6-8 in National Landing.