PHOTOS: Dragon Con convention celebrates its 40th year in Atlanta

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PHOTOS: Dragon Con convention celebrates its 40th year in Atlanta

Dragon Con’s annual parade drew thousands to watch sci-fi and fantasy characters take to the streets in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. This year was the convention’s 40th year of celebrating science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film.

Participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Actor Jon Huertas participates in the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Thousands lined up along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Jose Martinez (right), dressed as Marco Diaz from "Star vs. the Forces of Evil," attends the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Individuals watch from above the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Thousands lined up along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Seed and Feed Marching Band performs along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Anderson Cheek, dressed as the Lorax, attends the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Participants from Netherworld walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Participants from Netherworld walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Scarlett Ludwig watches the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026 from a statue on Peachtree Street. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Thousands lined up along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Kate Alexander and her mother watch the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta from Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Star Wars costumed participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Star Wars costumed participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Azure Payne, dressed as SpongeBob, attends the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Lakeside High School Marching Band performs along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Thousands lined up along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Futurama costumed participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Myth Rose, dressed as Spider-Punk, attends the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Dulseth Ceidil Sunspinner, dressed as a Seraph, attends the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Andee Rainy poses with ribbon collection at the 40th annual Dragon Con on September 5, 2026 in Atlanta. Trading custom ribbons is a tradition at Dragon Con. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Stuart Harris, a volunteer cosplay repairer, fixes Cameron Premo’s cosplay at the 40th annual Dragon Con in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Matt Henry, dressed as a Storm Trooper, attends the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

From left, Nathan Fillion, Molly Quinn and Seamus Dever laugh in conversation during the Castle Cast Panel at the 40th annual Dragon Con in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

From left, Chris Kelly and Brandon Cox, dressed as Sims attend the 40th annual Dragon Con in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Thousands attended the 40th annual Dragon Con on September 5, 2026 in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

Marc Berger, dressed as Groucho Marx, attends the 40th annual Dragon Con in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2026. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

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Participants walk along Peachtree Street on Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, for the 40th annual Dragon Con Parade in Atlanta. (Frankie Cole for the AJC)

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PHOTOS: Dragon Con convention celebrates its 40th year in Atlanta

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