Thousands of costumed fans are descending on Orlando's International Drive this weekend as Megaplex, the furry fandom convention that has operated since 2002, sets up shop at the Hyatt Regency Orlando for a Friday-through-Sunday run. The gathering, which features dance parties, competitions, vendors, games, a parade, live entertainment, photo ops and species meet-ups, now ranks as one of the largest events of its kind in the world, and organizers are once again requiring attendees to be 18 or older under a policy tied to Florida law.
As Orlando Weekly reports, registration for the weekend runs from $50 to $1,000, and the convention takes place at 9801 International Drive. The event's growth has been dramatic: Megaplex drew 7,202 attendees in 2024 before jumping to a record 10,038 in 2025, according to FurryGuides, making it the fourth-largest furry convention in the world. That's a striking climb for an event that didn't top 3,000 attendees until 2019.
An Emergency Fix That Became a Flagship Event
Megaplex wasn't born as a grand plan. Per FurryGuides research citing WikiFur records, the convention originated in March 2002 under the name Pawpet Megaplex at Orlando's Ramada Resort, thrown together as an emergency replacement after a short-lived 2001 event called Furry Spring Break failed to secure hotel space for a second year. More than two decades later, the event is run by Florida United Furry Fandom, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity that succeeded the original for-profit company, Pawpet Live Experiences, Inc. FLUFF underwent a leadership shakeup in January 2026, with Allon becoming Convention Chairman and Kastor taking over as FLUFF President.
To handle its swelling attendance, Megaplex secured room blocks at the Hyatt Regency Orlando plus five overflow hotels along International Drive this year, waiving resort fees for registered attendees using a group code. The convention's growth mirrors a broader national surge in furry fandom gatherings — Pittsburgh's Anthrocon topped 20,600 attendees in July 2026, while Atlanta's Furry Weekend Atlanta drew more than 17,300 in May 2026, per the same FurryGuides data.
An Age Restriction Rooted in State Law
Megaplex's 18-and-older policy, first adopted in May 2023, traces back to Florida's Protection of Children Act, known as SB 1438, which the state has an anti-drag law championed by Governor Ron DeSantis and others behind it, as Orlando Weekly notes. The law allows the state to pursue criminal penalties and business license revocations against venues hosting adult live entertainment where minors are present. In August 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld that statute, a ruling Hoodline reported on earlier this month.
That legal landscape has left Megaplex's organizers little room to maneuver, since the host hotel faces regulatory exposure if the age restriction isn't maintained. To manage the realities of a large costumed crowd in Florida heat, the convention also provides a Headless Lounge where fursuiters can cool off and hydrate, along with an 18-plus Night Market called Forbidden Ink that enforces strict dress-code rules barring public nudity to comply with state regulations, according to Megaplex's own event policies.
Jurassic Park Theme and a Panther-Focused Charity
This year's convention carries a Jurassic Park-inspired theme, “Furries, Uh, Find A Way,” and features Guests of Honor PalaeoGames, a paleontology duo made up of Dr. Nathan Barling and Dr. Mike O'Sullivan, according to FurryGuides. Megaplex has named the Florida Wildlife Federation, which is marking its 90th anniversary in 2026 and leads state campaigns to protect the Florida panther, as this year's official charity beneficiary — fitting, since the panther also inspired Megaplex's own mascot, Pounce.
The philanthropic angle isn't new for the convention. Megaplex has raised more than $500,000 for Florida animal-focused nonprofits since its inception, including over $90,000 for the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando at last year's event. Orlando Weekly, which has served as Orlando's free, independent voice since 1990, describes Megaplex simply as furries of the world uniting for a long weekend on International Drive — and this year's record-setting trajectory suggests that gathering keeps finding new ways to grow, legal headwinds notwithstanding.
