We Attended CultureCon 2026: Here’s How You Can Make the Most Of Next Year’s CultureCon 

This year marked the 9th annual CultureCon. What started in Imani Ellis’s Harlem living room with about 10 friends has grown into a convention with over 10,000 creators, entrepreneurs, founders, brands, and businesses who gather in the heart of Brooklyn to celebrate culture and creativity. 

Celebrities like Olandria Carthen graced the stage and spoke about building a brand with the power of leading with authenticity, empathy, and intention. Niecy Nash took us behind the scenes of her career. She got real. She kept it authentic and reminded us to continuously reinvent ourselves. Ashley Darby of “The Real Housewives of Potomac” shared what it means to embrace authenticity on reality TV and own our narratives. All powerful topics we as women need to hear. 

Beyond the celebrities, this year’s CultureCon became a hot topic online where people shared their thoughts about the weekend. It was the biggest one yet, which means there was more to manage and higher expectations. For some people, those expectations were not met. The CultureCon team did a great job taking the feedback they received from Day 1 and made Day 2 a better experience. 

Now that CultureCon is wrapped, we’ve reached out to our new connections and posted our content from the community-filled weekend. We are FULL of tips to share to maximize next year’s CultureCon. Here are five to start with.

You got your ticket, you cleared your calendar, and now it’s time to set your goal. What are you really at CultureCon for? Whether it’s to create content, meet people to collaborate with, or just enjoy being with creatives, know what you’re going for. My goal for every event I go to is to have one good conversation with someone. I don’t always exchange contact information either. Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a valuable conversation and continue moving on with our days. CultureCon is an all-weekend event, so set a goal. Then leave room for spontaneous moments and interactions too. Your next opportunity is waiting for you as soon as you step on the campus grounds!

The CultureCon team keeps you busy. To maximize the day, make sure you arrive early. You can beat any long lines. You don’t have to rush activities either. You’ll have more than enough time to network, listen to speakers, experience the activations, and enjoy a meal or two at food trucks. Research which brands will be there too so you can see them before the afternoon crowd rolls in. 

CultureCon created the space. Now it’s time for you to navigate it well. Maybe in its earlier years it was marketed as a career/job fair. But that’s changed. CultureCon has grown into a meeting place for creators of all types. It’s up to you now to network effectively. That doesn’t mean having to speak to the most powerful person in the room either. Be open to sparking a conversation with anyone who catches your attention. After getting my food from the food truck, I sat at a picnic with women I didn’t know. One of them ended up being the co-founder of CulureCon’s mom. We had such a great conversation about moving boldly in our purpose, the joy she has celebrating her daughter, and creating a brand and business of our own. So many gems and moments of inspiration from one conversation I had that continue to stay with me. 

If you decide to exchange contacts with someone, do your due diligence to follow up. A lot of connections get lost because we think following each other on social media is enough. It’s not. Send a DM, email, or text at least 24 hours after y’all meet and highlight one key moment from the conversation that stayed with you. Keep it lighthearted and organic too. We’re going to be meeting a bunch of people throughout the weekend, so keep track of who you spoke to and what you both talked about. I love to use my Notes app. 

Please arrive ready to have fun. Enjoy the food trucks, fashion ,and be inspired by the conversations you share with others. This is a fun and creative event. Show up ready to have a good time and let your people find you!