MomoCon, one of Georgia’s premier fan conventions, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Since its debut in 2005, the event has grown significantly. This year’s event drew 59,222 attendees, setting a new record for the multi-genre convention.
Founded in Georgia, MomoCon highlights a blend of local and industry talent through panels, guest speakers and exhibitors. Over the past two decades, it has hosted an impressive lineup of voice actors, artists and pop culture icons who helped shape the convention’s vibrant legacy.
Featured guests at this year’s event included:
- Darryl McDaniels – (From RunDMC) is a comic book and children’s book author who has also started a line of cookies. https://thekingdmc.com/
- Shadia Amin – A Colombian cartoonist from Atlanta (SCAD grad) currently working on graphic novels. https://www.shadiaminart.com/
- Greg Burnham (Norcross, GA) is a comic book writer who’s created indie comic hits Tuskegee Heirs, The Search For Sadiqah, Little Rock Files and The Story of Solace. His most recent is called “Bridges,” where four super-powered girls band together to save Oakland from a group of evil bio-terrorists.
- Brian Stelfreeze – Comic book artist and an original member of Atlanta’s Gaijin Studios. Stelfreeze has worked with Marvel, DC and 12 Gauge comics on characters including Batman, The Black Panther, and Catwoman. https://www.instagram.com/stelfreeze/?hl=en
- Daron Nefcy – Creator and Executive Producer of Disney’s “Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Netflix’s “We the People,” and Nick’s “Robot and Monster.” https://www.instagram.com/daronnefcy/?hl=en
- Reed Shannon – Actor, star of Netflix’s “Arcane.” Based in Raleigh, NC https://www.instagram.com/reed.shannon/?hl=en
- Mick Wingert – Voice actor whose work has appeared in Arcane, What If?, and Kung Fu Panda. IG: @mickwingert
A full list of celebrities in attendance can be found here.
A unique aspect of MomoCon is its commitment to spotlighting Georgia-based vendors and creators. Organizations such as Ghost Gaming, Beltline Cosplay, Atlanta Streaming and Indie Cluster offered attendees a chance to connect with the local creative community.
While MomoCon maintains strong local roots, its growing reputation has attracted national and global brands. Companies like Verizon, Copic and even DreamWorks Animation — which once showcased a life-sized Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon,” have established a strong presence at the event.
MomoCon also serves as a launchpad for Georgia talent. Indie video game “Urchins and Ink,” which teaches players Japanese, and “Boundless”, a graphic novel which has been developed into an animated series with help from local artists, were just two examples of Peach State talent on display.
Beyond the panels and exhibitions, MomoCon features live events including car shows, cosplay contests, professional wrestling and themed photo shoots. These interactive experiences foster a strong sense of community among attendees and have become a hallmark of the convention.
Whether fans were drawn to anime, gaming, comics or pop culture, MomoCon offered a dynamic and inclusive space to celebrate fandom — all while supporting Georgia’s local creative scene.
Credit: Adam Johnson
