Dragon Con drew more than 75,000 fans to downtown Atlanta for its 40th anniversary celebration, while raising over $320,000 for Hope Atlanta, a charity supporting people facing homelessness.
The five-day convention, held from September 3 to 7, brought together enthusiasts of comics, film, television, gaming, costuming and art across venues including five major hotels and the AmericasMart complex. Organisers said the programme featured more than 3,500 hours of events. ([dragoncon.org](https://www.dragoncon.org/resources/media-pr-resources/pressreleases/?utm_source=openai))
Guests included Edward James Olmos, Sean Astin, Richard Dean Anderson, Lena Headey, Katee Sackhoff, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk, while thousands of attendees took part in costume competitions and the annual parade.
Money for Hope Atlanta was raised through auctions, merchandise and special events, with Dragon Con matching donations dollar for dollar up to $150,000. The organisation, which has worked to prevent and end homelessness in Georgia since 1900, provides housing assistance, outreach, case management and other support services. ([dragoncon.org](https://www.dragoncon.org/about/charity/?utm_source=openai))
“We want to make sure Atlanta feels as loved as we love being in Atlanta,” said Garland, one of the organisers.
Fans also donated more than 5,000 books to the Fulton County Library System and Georgia Public Library Service. The books are intended for distribution across the wider metropolitan area to people who may otherwise struggle to access them.
LifeSouth recorded more than 4,000 blood donors during the event, continuing Dragon Con’s long-running partnership with the organisation. Dragon Con describes its annual drive as the largest convention-based blood donation programme in the United States. ([dragoncon.org](https://www.dragoncon.org/resources/media-pr-resources/pressreleases/?utm_source=openai))
Matt Dinniman won the fan-voted Dragon Award for best science-fiction novel for Operation Bounce House. The Julie Award for achievement across multiple genres went to video-game designer and astronaut Richard “Lord British” Garriott. Nearly 6,000 fans voted in this year’s awards. ([dragoncon.org](https://www.dragoncon.org/resources/media-pr-resources/pressreleases/?utm_source=openai))
Dragon Con said it has raised more than $2 million for Atlanta charities since 2012. The convention is due to return to downtown Atlanta from September 2 to 6, 2027. ([dragoncon.org](https://www.dragoncon.org/resources/media-pr-resources/pressreleases/?utm_source=openai))
