Behind-the-scenes at DreamCon: How YouTube fueled connection & community
Jun 03, 2025 – [[read-time]] minute read
Howdy from DreamCon! Last weekend, we packed our bags and traveled to Houston for the premier entertainment convention, which once again proved to be a vibrant hub for all things gaming, anime, music, and pop culture. As a co-lead for all things DreamCon, I had a chance to dive headfirst into our special offerings just for creators, and I'm beyond excited to take you behind-the-scenes of all the fun.
This wasn't just any pre-party; it was an intimate gathering designed by creators, for creators.
Creator Collective
On Thursday, May 29th, before the main DreamCon magic even fully kicked off, YouTube held an exclusive reception. This wasn't just any pre-party; it was an intimate gathering designed by creators, for creators, where over 200 talented individuals came together to connect, learn and build community.
These Creator Collectives are a cornerstone of YouTube's commitment to our community, offering an important space where creators, who often work in isolation, can feel seen, inspired, and truly part of something bigger. John, Mark, Affiong, Ben, Desmond, Dylan and Leland — DreamCon founders, RDCWorld1 members and our hosts for the evening — perfectly captured this spirit, emphasizing the excitement of coming together in person. The energy in the room was electric as creators mingled, exchanged ideas, and forged new friendships. It was the perfect start to an unforgettable DreamCon weekend!
YouTube Universe Creator Lounge
On Friday, we kicked off day one of Dream Con with our YouTube Universe Creator Lounge.
The Lounge quickly became the place to be. This dedicated space offered daily opportunities for creators attending the conference to connect. I had the opportunity to co-host with Adam McFarland and announce all of our great sessions in the lounge.
We packed the Lounge with awesome features to make those connections even easier and more fun. Creators could game, grab some exclusive merch, and capture IRL content at our photo opps. And for those with burning questions or seeking expert advice, our Cheat Code team was always ready, with YouTube team members on hand to offer tips and insights.
Exclusive workshops & programming
The YouTube Universe Creator Lounge wasn't just about hanging out; it was a place to learn! The stage was packed with exclusive workshops and programming led by YouTube experts and special guests like sWooZie, Berleezy and more. We dove deep into the topics that matter most to creators, from demystifying the "algorithm" to strategizing the best mix of Shorts and long-form content for growth.
YouTube Glambot
We decided to expand our presence outside of our lounge for the attendees and hosted a YouTube Glambot on the convention center floor. Creators and attendees were able to strike their best pose for a slow motion short. All the creators and attendees brought the energy and poses for the activation.
Flowers for RDC
Finally, we couldn’t go to DreamCon without giving RDCWorld1 their Flowers! YouTube’s documentary series, Flowers, highlights the brilliance of Black creators, amplifies their voices, and pays homage to their inerasable mark on our digital world. We were excited to host a special screening of the latest installment “How @RDCworld1 broke barriers by forging an inclusive anime community" followed by a Q&A with John and Aff.
If you didn’t get a chance to attend, don’t worry! You can watch the full documentary right now and subscribe to the event’s official channel to get ready for DreamCon 2026.