Hey there, METROCON fans!

One of the questions our VIP Passholders ask us pretty regularly – what do I get for having a VIP Pass?

We wanted to put an easy list together so you can make sure you make the most of your METROCON weekend!

1. When you arrive at the convention and pick up your badge at registration on the 2nd Floor Mezzanine, make sure you use the VIP line for quicker access!
2. When receiving your badge, you’ll be given a VIP Bag with some goodies – guaranteed in that bag will be a voucher for your free METROCON 2026 T-Shirt, as well as your wristband for the Masquerade on Friday Evening of the event – don’t lose those, we can’t replace them! There are usually some other goodies in there, too, from METROCON and from our Sponsors, so take a close look!
3. The Exhibit Hall opens early for VIP Access! Friday (11 AM – 12 PM), Saturday (10 AM – 1030AM), and Sunday (10 AM – 1030AM) all have special VIP access hours.
4. Everything that takes place in Main Events, in the West Hall, will line up VIP passholders separately prior to doors opening and allow first access for VIP attendees. This lets you choose the seat you’d like most, up close, dead center – wherever you’d like!
5. Our Celebrity Autograph area has separate lines for VIP passholders – check with a guest liaison at the Autograph Area in the Exhibit Hall with any questions.
6. Our Rave Line will still require VIPs to go through security/bag check on the second floor mezzanine, but will get the same Main Events line treatment prior to doors opening as other events taking place in that room.
7. In general, if any event generates a line prior to doors opening, we’ll have line control folks there who will work to establish a separate VIP line to ensure first-in privileges.

If you ever have any questions throughout the weekend, feel free to stop by Registration, or grab a METROCON staff member (black and yellow t-shirts, big gear on it, says “METROCON Staff”, they’ll have a staff badge too!), and we’ll be sure to make your VIP METROCON Experience the best we possibly can.

Look forward to seeing you all in just a few short months, and thanks as always for supporting this incredible shared dream and community! Stay feral out there!

– Alex, CEO/Owner

As the conversation around AI usage continues, especially regarding generative AI platforms that enable the creation of art from unlicensed, unethically sourced training materials for their models and algorithms, METROCON (and I personally) would like to make it clear to our attendees that we stand firmly against the use of generative AI in creative and event spaces (and probably everywhere else, but we’ll stay in our lane for now). We have not and will not use AI in any of our assets, creative or otherwise, to produce our convention. No matter how absurd it may look (like a bunch of kaiju in a wrestling ring!), it’s real!

Promo art, videography, content for the convention itself or for our online spaces – it’s all written/designed/drawn/planned/orchestrated/produced by people, and it’ll stay that way. We implemented a stern “No AI” policy for materials sold by our Artists and Vendors as well back in 2024 that is still active today, and although it can sometimes be challenging to prove/enforce at such a large scale (and we don’t always get it right), we’re happy to continue taking steps to ensure that authentic licensed merchandise and human-made art continues to be the focus of our Exhibit Hall. Thanks to all the exhibitors and patrons alike who have helped inform and guide that process so far – we couldn’t have done it without your expertise and encouragement!

I love technology, I love progress, I think the future looks amazing, I want to live in a space colony someday – but that will only be possible if we don’t burn through millions of gallons of water every day making AI profile pictures and slop videos of fruit reality shows. We must focus on building a world where human expression is valued as much, if not more than, efficiency, profit, and instant gratification.

Reminder: you could literally find an artist online and pay for some of their groceries or healthcare directly with a single PFP commission – do that instead, I promise they’ll thank you, and so will our grandkids when a “river” is something they can still look outside and see in person.

Thanks all, and remember, stay feral out there this year! See you this summer!

Alex, CEO/Owner