San Antonio and San Diego Events

A new military convention promising immersive combat missions, military aircraft, cutting-edge technology, gaming competitions and firsthand stories from those who served is preparing to launch in two of America’s largest military communities in 2027.

Called Military Con, the three-day event will debut June 4-6 at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, before heading to the San Diego Convention Center Sept. 4-6.

Organizers envision something beyond a traditional military conference or veterans gathering. Spanning approximately 300,000 square feet, Military Con aims to bring military history, missions and culture to life through interactive environments, live storytelling and entertainment experiences designed for service members, veterans, military families and the general public.

The event is being produced by Two Dice Media, with plans to eventually expand into touring experiences, original content and other year-round offerings.

Bringing Military Missions and History to Life

Rather than relying exclusively on static displays and panel discussions, Military Con plans to immerse visitors in experiences inspired by actual military operations and the people who carried them out.

Attendees will move through environments representing different branches of the armed forces, exploring military history, training, mission briefings and interactive experiences built around real-world missions.

The event will follow a three-day narrative designed to reflect the journey of military service.

The first day, The Call, will focus on the inspiration to serve. The second, The Mission, will explore preparation and the realities of military operations. The final day, The Return, will examine homecoming and the experiences that follow military service.

The concept reflects an effort to connect audiences not only with the equipment and technology associated with the military, but also with the people behind those missions.

“Military Con is our love letter to those who serve,” said Jennifer Worthington, co-founder of Two Dice, in the announcement.

These are the stories the world needs to hear right now; stories of courage, heroism, sacrifice, service, and homecoming.

Military Aircraft, Drones, Gaming and Emerging Technology

Among the planned attractions is Hardware Alley, an exhibition area featuring military aircraft, vehicles and equipment.

Organizers also plan live demonstrations, interactive displays and programming exploring the technologies transforming modern warfare, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and drones. Gaming will be another major component.

Military Con plans to host onsite gaming competitions, connecting popular military-themed video games with the real-world service members, equipment and missions that inspire them.

The event will also feature a marketplace showcasing veteran-owned businesses, artists and consumer brands, along with programming designed for military families.

Speaker sessions are expected to bring together service members, special operations veterans, filmmakers, actors, athletes and authors to discuss military history, modern warfare and the personal experiences of service.

Specific speakers, demonstrations and participating organizations have not yet been announced.

Veterans Helping Shape the Experience

To help ensure the event reflects authentic military experiences, organizers have assembled an advisory board representing multiple generations and branches of service.

The board is led by Harry Humphries, a former Navy SEAL who has worked extensively as a military adviser in Hollywood films and television productions.

Other founding members include former Army Special Forces and Air Force Special Warfare leader RJ Casey, former Navy SEAL Kevin Kent, Army Ranger veteran David Reid, former Marine Raider George Mills, former Coast Guard law enforcement officer Dan Hendrix and former Space Force officer Michael Telcide.

Their backgrounds span special operations, personnel recovery, combat missions, humanitarian operations and veterans’ affairs. The advisory board is helping shape the event’s storytelling, programming and interactive experiences.

The missions, equipment, and technology may be what first capture people’s attention, but Military Con is, at its core, a human experience, Humphries said.

He added that while movies and television have helped bring military stories to broader audiences, many experiences never reach the screen. Military Con, he said, is intended to provide another platform for those stories to be shared.

Why San Antonio and San Diego?

The selection of San Antonio and San Diego as the inaugural locations places Military Con in two cities with deep military histories and substantial active-duty, veteran and military family populations.

San Antonio, frequently called Military City USA, is home to Joint Base San Antonio, which includes major Air Force training and medical facilities as well as a significant military retiree community.

San Diego is one of the nation’s most prominent naval and Marine Corps communities, home to major Pacific Fleet operations, Naval Base San Diego and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

Both cities also have established convention and tourism infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale public events.

For organizers, the locations offer an opportunity to introduce Military Con directly to communities with longstanding connections to military service while also reaching civilians interested in military history, technology and entertainment.

A New Kind of Military Gathering

Military Con enters a landscape already populated by military association conferences, defense industry exhibitions, veteran gatherings and entertainment events.

Its proposed distinction is the combination of those worlds into a single consumer-focused experience.

Unlike traditional defense conferences, which often emphasize professional development, policy or industry relationships, Military Con is being designed around public participation and immersive storytelling.

Whether the concept can deliver on its ambitious scale will become clearer as organizers announce specific attractions, speakers and partners.

For now, the inaugural events are scheduled for June 4-6, 2027, in San Antonio and Sept. 4-6, 2027, in San Diego.

Ticket prices, sales dates and additional programming details have not yet been released.

Those interested in receiving event updates and early ticket information can register at MilitaryCon.com.