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There's now an official Barbie convention, beginning in 2026
Whatever you want your Barbie fandom to be, Barbie Dream Fest seems like it is aiming to deliver.
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For decades, one of the biggest names in toys has been Barbie. She’s been everything: a doctor, an astronaut, a movie star. And now she’s getting her own official convention. Mattel is teaming up with Mischief Management to put on the “first festival dedicated to all things Barbie,” which is coming in March 2026 to Florida.
Barbie Dream Fest is set to run March 27-29, 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mattel is teaming up with Mischief Management, an events company that has been running conventions focused on specific fandoms for over a decade, to deliver this first-of-its-kind event.
“We are thrilled to announce Barbie Dream Fest, as a new offering designed to delight the brand’s growing fandom,” Julie Freeland, Vice President of Global Location Based Entertainment for Mattel, said in the press release that announced the new event. “It’s incredibly exciting to provide fans, families, and collectors with a curated and unique space to gather, learn, and create all while celebrating the iconic Barbie brand.”
The announcement doesn’t give specific details about who to expect at Barbie Dream Fest – we aren’t looking for a Margot Robbie appearance over the weekend – but it does seem like the idea is to let Barbie fans run with whatever it is about Barbie that they love. The announcement mentions “themed play zones, collector showcases, conversations with inspiring women from a wide range of fields, interactive activations, and exclusive programming with creators, innovators, and Barbie experts.”
With less than a year until the first official Barbie convention, Barbie Dream Fest has a lot of work ahead of itself. But this is Barbie we’re talking about; she can do anything.
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