The First 'Black Panther'-Inspired WakandaCon Will Launch in Chicago This Summer

WakandaCon will honor “Afro-futurism, tech, and entertainment.”

This summer, you’ll be able to experience Black Panther in person at the first ever Wakandacon.

Per the A.V. Club, the Black Panther-inspired convention will take place from Aug. 3 to 5 in Chicago. The experience is the first of its kind, honoring “Afro-futurism, tech, and entertainment,” including other black superheroes in film, gaming, television, and comic books.

Wakandacon co-founder Ali Barthwell said in a statement, “The moment we saw Wakanda in film, we wanted a space to gather and talk about everything African-Americans are passionate about. Afro-Futurism is about imagining a future for Black people all around the world. Wakandacon is a space for Black people to look past the present and into our future.”

She launched the convention with her siblings David and Matt, and producers Lisa Beasley and Taylor Witten.

Though the team hasn’t shared what exactly the convention will entail, it will certainly include entertaining and educational programming, as well as a place for small black business owners to promote their brands.

You can find more information on the Wakandacon website, as well as buy a badge, which costs around $35. The convention has also made available a small amount of discounted weekend badges. And if you don’t have a chance to come to Chicago for the convention, you can still purchase a digital badge, which will let you tune in to Wakandacon through a streaming channel.

David Barthwell said in a statement, “Our people have been hungry for something like this for a very long time, and I hope that Wakandacon only adds to the fire.” Black Panther has been a record-breaking film, even surpassing Titanic on the list of highest-earning films in the U.S.. It’ll be curious to see how the film comes to life during Wakandacon.

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