DesignerCon brings art toys, custom work, apparel and collectible culture to Las Vegas November 13–15, 2026, at The Expo at World Market Center. DCON to regulars, it's three days and more than 700 vendors under one roof, with Friday night reserved for VIPs and the full floor opening to everyone Saturday and Sunday.
The show has come a long way from where it started. It launched in 2005 as Vinyl Toy Network, a vinyl figure meetup in an 1,100-square-foot meeting room at the Pasadena Convention Center. Today it fills a convention hall and smashes collectible toys and designer goods together with urban, underground and pop art.
What's on the floor
Expect independent artists and toy designers next to manufacturers, distributors and retailers, plus art and custom shows and live demonstrations. Exclusives are a big part of the hunt, and some vendors hold their drops until show day, so the exclusives page on the DesignerCon site is worth checking before you map your route.
DesignerCon was founded and is still run by companies that are vendors themselves, which shows in how the room feels. The organizers describe the goal as a fun, safe and comfortable place for fans, artists and vendors to meet. It plays closer to a creative community meetup than a corporate trade show, and it's the kind of floor where a small booth can turn into next year's sold-out release.
Hours and tickets
Friday, November 13, is VIP-only from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Saturday runs 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM with VIP doors at 9:00 AM, and Sunday runs 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Passes come in 1-Day, Weekend and VIP tiers: early bird pricing started at $36, $64 and $120, and regular pricing is $45, $80 and $150.
VIP covers Friday night, both weekend days, one hour of early entry on each weekend day and access to VIP-only sections of the show. Kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult pass. The show goes on rain or shine, and comfortable shoes and a bag or backpack are the right call for a full day of walking the floor.
Getting there and staying close
The Expo at World Market Center sits at 435 S. Grand Central Parkway in downtown Las Vegas. Self-parking is available in the venue's covered garage, with a large outdoor lot across the street and smaller lots nearby; a parking map is posted on the DesignerCon site.
DesignerCon's hotel partners include the AC Hotel by Marriott at 330 S. Grand Central Parkway at $119 a night, and the Plaza Hotel & Casino at 1 N. Main Street, less than a mile away, at a special rate averaging $95 with group code SDSGN26. Book through the links on the show site. Check the official site for last-minute changes before you go.
More dates for collectors and culture heads
Streetwear and collectibles heads can warm up at ComplexCon at the Los Angeles Convention Center October 3–4; our ComplexCon 2026 preview covers why the cannabis crowd is already planning. If you're back in Vegas a couple of weeks after DCON, MJBizCon takes the Las Vegas Convention Center December 1–4.