VidCon Acquired by Lions, Moves Convention Out of Anaheim to Denver

Lions, a major media company, acquired the creator and fan convention VidCon on Wednesday, marking a significant shift for both organizations. As a result, VidCon will relocate from its long-time home in Anaheim after 15 years of operation. This move comes just days after Cannes Lions, another prominent event in the industry, took place in the same city.

Sarah Tortoreti, VP and business lead of VidCon, expressed her excitement about the acquisition in a statement. "Joining LIONS allows us to amplify that mission on a global scale," she said. "By combining VidCon's deep-rooted relationships across the creator economy with LIONS’ unparalleled industry authority and global reach, we’re creating unprecedented opportunities for creators to build their careers, for brands to forge authentic partnerships, and for the entire ecosystem to shape what’s next together."

VidCon x Lions Creators, the newly formed entity, will call the Insight to Impact Festival its primary home. The festival is set to debut in Denver in October 2026, followed by a move to Nashville in 2027. Additionally, the program will feature a presence at Cannes Lions. Lions CEO Simon Cook emphasized the importance of the creator economy in shaping the global marketing landscape.

"Creators are increasingly central to how culture is created and how brands connect with audiences," he stated. "The introduction of VidCon is an exciting next step which will allow us to build out a dedicated global platform for an industry that's rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape."

At this year's VidCon festival in Anaheim, three tiers catered to fans, creators, and industry professionals. However, the structure of the future Insight to Impact Festival remains to be determined.