Vidcon Now

VIDCON ANNOUNCES VIDCON NOW, ITS FIRST VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE FEATURING ONGOING WEEKLY PROGRAMMING ACROSS TRACKS TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE VOICES OF THE ONLINE VIDEO COMMUNITY AND UNITE GLOBAL FANS, TOP CREATORS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS

Sponsored by YouTube, Initial Speakers for the Summer-Long Programming Include VidCon Co-Founders John and Hank Green, Nathan Davis Jr, James Charles, Eugene Lee Yang, Jasmine Gonzalez, Gigi Gorgeous, Ambers Closet, Miles McKenna, Vanessa Brasfield, Jacksepticeye, Calle & Poché, Brent Rivera, Emma Chamberlain, and Snap Inc.’s CMO Kenny Mitchell, Among Others

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 15, 2020) – VidCon, the world’s largest celebration of online video and digital creators, announced today that the global convention is going virtual. VidCon Now kicks off on Saturday, June 20 with weekly programming Tuesdays through Saturdays throughout the summer across all three of VidCon’s established tracks – Community, Creator, and Industry – free of charge. Attendees can now view and register for programming at VidCon.com. New programming, creators, and speakers will be updated weekly in two-week increments.

With a focus on programming that is inclusive, diverse, insightful, and fun, VidCon Now will aim to inform, entertain, and connect. Content will include virtual concerts, performances, panels, Q&As, meet & greets, networking opportunities, and more interactive programming that celebrates the ever-expanding world of online video. Through a unique mix of top creators, emerging stars, industry leaders, and insightful experts, the virtual experience will bring the best parts of the convention to its global fans on their devices.

“We are excited to bring the power of VidCon to our three distinct audience-centric tracks across a variety of the world’s top digital platforms with VidCon Now,” said General Manager Jim Louderback. “VidCon has the unique opportunity during this time to bring our community of passionate fans, emerging creators, and industry professionals together for the same top tier programming you would expect from our IRL convention – delivered into the safety of everyone’s homes – for free. It also allows us to amplify and expand upon important conversations within the community thanks to participating execs, platforms, and creators.”

The first two weeks of VidCon Now will feature VidCon co-founders John and Hank Green, former Twitter executive Bruce Daisley, BEN Network CEO Ricky Ray Butler, Brent Rivera, Calle & Poché, Nathan Davis Jr, James Charles, Eugene Lee Yang, Jasmine Gonzalez, and more.

Initial programming will include:

• Tiltify CEO Michael Wasserman, Jacksepticeye, Kasper, and Pleasantly Twstd leading a workshop on how creators can use livestreams to engage audiences while raising money for good
• “From Creator to Direct to Consumer,” a fireside chat with the Onyx family on how they turned an online video channel into a multi-million dollar business
• The ultimate BFF Q&A session with Brent Rivera, his sister Lexi, and The Stokes Twins
• TikTok’s Growth Strategist Varshini Satish and its breakout creators discussing the greatest opportunities and challenges
• Community Track panel featuring Elle Mills, Miles McKenna, and MacDoesIt and moderated by Ad Council’s Lina Renzina
• An intimate conversation with Emma Chamberlain and her father Michael that takes audiences through her career journey

To support current and ongoing societal issues, all VidCon Now programming will provide attendees with opportunities to donate to COVID-19 relief charities World Health Organization and No Kid Hungry and Black Lives Matter movement charities Black Visions Collective and the NAACP.

In addition to weekly programming, VidCon Now will roll out a series of virtual Community and Creator tentpole events where fans can come together each month to celebrate online video in a bigger and more engaging virtual experience. The first Community tentpole will be held on Saturday, June 27, commemorating Pride and honoring diverse voices worldwide with key speakers, musical performances, and moving tributes. As the title sponsor, YouTube will exclusively livestream several Community, Industry, and Creator tentpole events throughout the summer.

“We’re thrilled to partner with VidCon to bring this virtual experience to people across the globe and to support the work they are doing to more directly address diversity. Creating opportunities for diverse communities to come together, share their stories, get inspired, and learn from one another is more relevant than ever before. Being a place where everyone has a voice and can come together continues to be the cornerstone of the work we do at YouTube,” said Danielle Tiedt, Vice President of Marketing, YouTube.

VidCon Now sponsor Discord will serve as the Official Community for the virtual experience, allowing the global VidCon community to engage in an ongoing conversation for the first time ever. VidCon Now invites fans, creators, and executives to join the official VidCon Now Discord server to connect across Industry, Creator, and Community Track categories.  Channels will be set up for each of the different workshops, creator chats, panels, large scale events, and more.

About VidCon

VidCon is the world’s largest event for fans, creators, executives, and brands who are passionate about online video and building diverse communities. Their flagship show, VidCon US, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, welcoming 75,000 attendees and over 120 brand exhibitors. VidCon continued its global expansion, announcing three new markets – VidCon Asia, VidCon Abu Dhabi, and VidCon Mexico – adding to its roster of international events in Australia and London. VidCon was founded by veteran YouTube creators John and Hank Green (Vlogbrothers) and was acquired by Viacom in 2018.