VidCon kicked off by convening leaders across the industry. Top creators, talent managers, CMOs, senior brand executives, and VCs came together on June 26 for VidCon's first Industry Leadership Summit. The pre-conference gathering was an invite-only off-the-record event focused on the future of the creator economy.
'Minecraft' YouTuber Aphmau Built a Cat-Themed Carnival
Bravura's merchandise company, MeeMeows, put on the largest and most exciting installation at VidCon. Her booth mimicked a carnival with several interactive games and a place to purchase merchandise. The exhibit was in VidCon's main conference hall and drew the longest lines each day.
YouTube Gaming Went All In on 'Minecraft'
Even though "Minecraft" has been around for 15 years, the game seems to be more popular than ever. Creators who stream themselves playing it are reaching new levels of stardom on YouTube. At VidCon, YouTube Gaming hosted a walk-through of a "Minecraft" world where fans could place themselves inside the game. Several "Minecraft" creators on YouTube also appeared on panels at the conference and drew massive crowds of fans.
Fans Dressed in Cosplay to Support Their Favorite Creators
Several fans dressed in cosplay related to videos from their favorite "Minecraft" streamers and gamers. One fan made a cape with photos of every video from YouTuber MatPat's channel The Game Theorists.
Creator Brands Came to Life in Interactive Booths
The main convention hall featured several interactive booths, including promotions for the D'Amelio family's popcorn brand Be Happy and MGA's TikTok viral brand Miniverse.
YouTube Put On a Sports-Themed Activation
YouTube hosted two creator lounges — one at the convention center and a larger lounge at the event's hotel partner, Hyatt. Both rooms were dubbed the All-Star Lounge and promoted tools like YouTube Shopping, shorts, and the YouTube Partner Program for creator monetization. The exhibits also supplied sports swag like customizable jerseys and water bottles, T-shirts, and a pickleball set, among other items.
Step Inside the TikTok Terminal
TikTok hosted an airport-themed room with destinations promoting TikTok Shop, creating longer videos, and "going horizontal." Employees handed creators and attendees walking inside the exhibit a TikTok-branded passport filled with tips and advice for creating content on the platform. Employees also answered questions from creators about new features and tools and handed out snacks.
Meta Really Wanted You to Use Its AI Tools
Meta hosted several exhibits, like a creator café that promoted the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and a booth in the convention center that showcased Instagram's many AI features for creators. Attendees and creators could make a magnet using Instagram's AI-generated stickers or use a photo station to place themselves inside an AI-generated background like those available in stories.
The Publish Press Brought Back Physical Newspapers
Creator-led publication, The Publish Press, gave out printed newspapers at VidCon. The paper featured stories, including "The year creators went Hollywood," by Nathan Graber-Lipperman. YouTube stars Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry founded The Publish Press, a newsletter about the creator economy.
The D'Amelios and Gamer Group Krew Met With Fans
VidCon hosted several meet-and-greets during the convention. TikTok sisters Charli and Dixie D'Amelio met with fans inside their Be Happy popcorn booth. The gaming group Krew had a long line of fans eager to meet with them, as well.
Some of the Industry's Biggest Influencers Took the Stage
Creators, including Smosh, The Try Guys, the D'Amelios, took to the stage to share their insights and engage with fans. Their sessions were among the most anticipated events of VidCon, drawing large audiences eager to hear from their favorite influencers.