11am – 12pm EST

Deep Magic & Ancient Futures: The Under the Volcano Showcase

Sheree Renée Thomas (M), Zin E. Rocklyn, Roman Johnson, Jason Bartles, Mimi Mondal, and CeCe Yuan

Octavia Butler Room

What happens when the imagination is unchained in the shadow of a sacred mountain? Join award-winning author and editor Sheree Renée Thomas for a vibrant showcase of new voices from the Writing the Imagination workshop in Tepoztlán, Mexico. Featuring Jason Bartles, Roman Johnson, Mimi Mondal, Zin E. Rocklyn, and CeCe Yuan, this session is a portal into the "deep magic" of speculative fiction. Through a series of lyrical readings and a candid conversation on craft, these writers explore how to build visceral, expectation-defying worlds rooted in original folklore & new mythologies, science and alternate histories, with radical spectacular futures. Come witness the stories that are redefining the geography of the possible, on and off the page.

Writing Ourselves To Freedom

Jonathan Higgins (M), Jenn M. Jackson, Steven Underwood, Jr, and Madison Butler

Dwayne McDuffie Room

This panel centers Black and queer writers who are working to tell true stories about what it means to live fully and freely in our identities in this political and social moment. We will discuss navigating the publishing process as Black and queer people as well as finding innovative ways to tell our stories without being co-opted and diminished.

12 NOON

FLOOR SHOW OPENS!!!

12pm – 1pm EST

The Artist’s Way - Using AI to Grow Your Business

Cerece Rennie Murphy (M), Leslye Penelope, Ines Johnson, and Tim Fielder.

Octavia Butler Room

AI can be a powerful tool for increasing and augmenting your productivity as a creator. In this panel, we discuss some of the AI tools artists have engaged with to expand their capacity while maintaining the integirty of their craft. Are these tools right for you? Join us and find out.

The Great Debate - Star Wars Edition

Kira Brown (M)

Dwayne McDuffie Room

1pm – 2pm EST

Comics and The Legacy of Resistance

Antonio Pomares (M), David Walker, Stephanie Williams, and TJ Sterling

Octavia Butler Room

From Superman to Spiderman, the fight for justice has been a perennial theme in comics. Our esteemed panel of comic creators share their thoughts on how comics, as a unique medium, inspired their worldview and the legacy they hope to leave behind in adding their own revolutionary characters to the tradition.

The State of Our Union: Rise of The Empire or The Start of A New Hope

Whitney Alese (M), Ashley Barron, and Kate Powell

Dwayne McDuffie Room

Everyday seems to bring a new crisis. A new horror. A new low in the shearing of our democracy. But the question remains, what's the strategy behind the chaos and, most importantly, how do we see and act with the clarity needed to thrive despite the maelstorn we're in. Our distinguished guests dedicate their platforms and a large portion of their time to give us the truth we need to find answers.

2pm – 3pm EST

The Algorithm of Resistance: How content creators are using their platforms to uplift our communities.

Frederick Joseph (M), Kimberly Danielle, Michael Simeon, and Brionya James.

Octavia Butler Room

Speaking your mind is always a risk, but these days the cost seems to escalate with every word spoken. Whether it's sharing geek culture, art, or empowerment nothing seems to be safe from scrutiny. Our panel of talented content creators share what motivates them to stay true to their passion and their craft as they nativigate the shifting landscape of social media.

Black Man/Black Man Exclusive Screening

Frank Abney

Dwayne McDuffie Room

Join us as we enjoy an exclusive screening of acclaimed director and animator, Frank Abney newest short film, Black Man, Black Man. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Mr. Abney.

3pm – 4pm EST

Warp Core Breach: Hot Takes Ahead

Trek newbie Moneca Pinkett (M), Derek Tyler Attico, Stephanie Williams, George Carmona, Len Webb & Vincent Williams.

Octavia Butler Room

Are Kirk, Picard, and Worf the worst fathers in the galaxy? Is Pike’s hair too high? Vulcans or Romulans, who's better? For the past 50-plus years, Star Trek fans have had amazing takes on which is the best show or who’s the best captain. A crew of Trekkers will add to those questions, giving what no one has given before, having a fun time adding new frontiers for the fandom to contemplate and debate. Whether you're a Trek veteran or novice, tune in and prepare to engage. Set phasers on whoa.

From Idea to Execution: Lessons and Strategies for the Nerd-trepreneur

Tiniqua Patrick (M), J. Cottle, and Miguel Landestoy,

Dwayne McDuffie Room

Have an idea for a nerdy project, company or program you'd like to bring to life? Together, our panelists- black founders of award-winning non-profit organizations, talk podcasts, fiction podcasts, and companies will share the tips, tools, lessons and strategies to take your idea from imagination to reality.

4pm – 5pm EST

The Path to the Ballot and Beyond: Award-Winning Authors Share Their Journeys

Audrey T. Williams (M), Eden Royce, P. Djeli Clark, Tananarive Due, and Leslye Penelope.

Octavia Butler Room

Authors nominated for and awarded the Shirley Jackson, Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy, and Mythopoeic Awards get real about what this ride actually looks like. The years of work before anyone noticed. The surreal moment of seeing your name on a list you used to admire from afar. And what happens after—whether you win or not. No gloss, just the truth about one of speculative fiction's wildest emotional rollercoasters.

Circus of Takes: Defend your Anime Opinions

Shoyo Shoquo (M)

Octavia Butler Room

Is Attack on Titan is the best Shounen storytelling we’ve had so far? When in doubt, do we always blame the CHURCH and should Apothecary Diaries have won anime of the year! Bring your hottest take with all the evidence (or not) and get ready for a spirited discussion.

11am – 12pm EST

Slayer of Words

Keisha - The Blerd Library (M), Leslye Penelope, P. Djeli Clark, and Nicole Glover.

Octavia Butler Room

Toni Morisson said that in times of strife, there is no time for dispair. "This is the time when artists get to work!" Our esteemed panel of sci-fi and fantasy authors have done just that, writing stories of hope despite the darkness. Join our discussion as they break down the intention behind their revolutionary works and why reading and writing are essential acts of resistance.

12 noon

FLOOR SHOW OPENS!

12pm – 1pm EST

1pm – 2pm EST

Honoring the Women of Comics! And it's about time!

Karla Medrano (M), Dr. Ebony Toussaint, Jocelyn Short, and Carolyn Dubisch

Octavia Butler Room

Sponsored by the Zelda Awards, this conversation brings together women who are reshaping the comic book world with bold imagination and unmistakable impact. We will tap into the creative genius that fuels their work and the innovations that keep the medium moving forward. Together we will explore how they build worlds, shift culture, uplift community, and carve new paths in an industry that does not always recognize their brilliance yet relies on their vision to thrive.

Historical fiction: Filling the Gap in Black History Education

Eden Royce (M), Veronica Henry, Nicole Glover, R.S.A Garcia, and Maurice Broaddus

Dwayne McDuffie Room

Schools spend little time educating students on Black history and the contributions we have made to the world. That education is only diminishing under the current regime literally erasing us from recorded history. Join these modern authors diving deep into the historical figures, places, and events and using real history to craft new and enthralling stories that will educate, delight, and inspire readers of all ages.

2pm – 3pm EST

The Music That Forced the World into the Future

Cornelius Harris (M), Alan Oldham, Jenn Nkiru, and Michael Banks

Octavia Butler Room

Music has been a tool of resistance in this country ever since the first Africans used drums to send messages to each other. Later Sun Ra and others used music along with album art to showcase alternative futures. Then techno music, born in Detroit, took over the world. But what can these sonic visions mean for what lies ahead? Let's talk!

The Revolution Will be Televised: The Future of Representation In Hollywood

Jay Washington (M), David Crownson, Sarah Jefferson Carter, and Cheyenne Ewulu.

Dwayne McDuffie Room

At a time when representation both onscreen and behind the camera is retreating rapidly, creators of color are finding new ways to realize their stories and bring them to the world, regardless of Hollywood's gatekeepers. Join our panel of filmakers, writers, and artists who are navitaging the industry while bringing their expansive narratives to the screen.

3pm – 4pm EST

4pm – 5pm EST

The Future of Libraries: Memory, Morality, and the Digital Soul

Veronica G. Henry (M), Billy Allen, Ruha Benjamin, and Tochi Onyebuchi

Octavia Butler Room

This panel explores what libraries might become when knowledge is no longer confined to books but embodied in digital consciousness. As near-future technologies blur the line between archiving and resurrecting human minds, we face urgent questions: Who gets preserved? Who decides what’s remembered—or erased? And how do libraries remain centers of truth and community when information itself becomes a living, contested force? Using the novel’s world of consciousness curation, anti-tech rebellion, and hidden institutional secrets as a launch point, this discussion invites writers, librarians, technologists, and futurists to examine the ethical, political, and cultural stakes of tomorrow’s libraries—and what they might mean for the fate of our shared humanity.

Why are Indie’s Your Side Piece?

Kira Brown (M)

Dwayne McDuffie Room

Have Marvel and DC become street walkers that have been turned into housewives? They are failing to keep our interests and they can barely cook anymore! We can do better for ourselves (and comic culture over all) by prioritizing Black Owned and published independent comics. Let’s talk about the beautiful relationship that can bloom between you and indie comics!