San Antonio will host the first-ever Military Con, a three-day convention built around the stories, technology and culture of military service, from June 4 to 6, 2027, at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Organizers describe the event as a mix of immersive experiences, gaming competitions, speaker panels and veteran-owned businesses spread across roughly 300,000 square feet, with a second stop planned for San Diego that September.
The event was announced by its organizers, according to Axios, which reported that Military Con is meant to celebrate the military community in a city long nicknamed Military City USA. Axios described San Antonio as a city with deep military roots. The San Diego leg, set for September 4 to 6, 2027, was confirmed on the event's own site, which lists both cities' dates side by side, according to militarycon.com.
Military Con is being produced by Two Dice Media, the company behind the project from Jennifer Worthington and former NBC executive George Kliavkoff, who teamed up to launch it, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. San Antonio and San Diego were picked as inaugural locations specifically because of their deep military histories and sizable active-duty, veteran and military family populations, according to Military.com.
A Three-Act Structure Built Around Service
Each three-day stop will follow a narrative arc titled “The Call,” “The Mission” and “The Return,” according to the Hollywood Reporter's coverage. Axios reported that each day's programming will focus on a different phase of a service member's journey — inspiration and the call to serve, mission preparation and the realities of service, and finally the experience of returning home.
Those themes will play out through immersive environments designed to teach attendees about military history, training and mission briefings, Axios reported. The spaces are meant to offer interactive experiences based on real-world operations, stepping inside scenarios inspired by actual military missions, history and technology, according to the event's own description on militarycon.com.
Hardware, Gaming and a Veteran Marketplace
Planned attractions include a “Hardware Alley” showcasing military aircraft, vehicles and equipment, along with live demonstrations, gaming competitions and Hollywood guests, per the Hollywood Reporter. Axios similarly reported that the convention will feature military equipment displays, a marketplace of veteran-owned businesses and military gaming competitions. On the vendor side, militarycon.com describes a lineup of veteran-owned brands showcasing tactical gear, outdoor equipment, everyday-carry essentials and emerging defense technology.
Sessions are also planned on technologies reshaping the military, including artificial intelligence and drones, Axios reported. The event's site lists speakers drawn from service members, veterans, Hollywood filmmakers, athletes, entrepreneurs and technologists, while Axios specifies the speaker roster will include service members, filmmakers, actors, athletes and authors. Organizers say the convention will also include family-friendly programming, according to Axios, and Military.com reported that programming is planned for military families.
A Veteran-Led Advisory Board
Military Con has assembled a veteran advisory board made up of people with military service and combat experience, intended to help shape an authentic event, according to militarycon.com. Harry Humphries, a longtime military advisor in Hollywood, serves as the convention's military director, Axios reported.
Humphries told Axios that his work in film and television has helped bring military stories to life, but that only some of those stories ever make it to the screen. He added that Military Con gives the military community a platform to share its stories and gives everyone else a chance to listen, connect and honor those who served, according to Axios.
What's Still Unknown
Organizers plan to eventually expand Military Con into a year-round offering with touring experiences, original content and other programming beyond the two 2027 dates, according to both Axios and Military.com. But specific speakers, demonstrations and participating organizations have not yet been announced, Military.com reported, and ticket prices, sales dates and additional programming details have also not been released. Axios reported that organizers plan to share ticket information online in the coming months.
San Antonio's military identity runs deep beyond any single event. Joint Base San Antonio was home to 67,350 direct employees as of 2023, including 32,333 active-duty military personnel, and the population directly affiliated with the base contributed at least $55 billion to the Texas economy that year, according to the Texas Comptroller's office.
