HypeCon 2026 Brings Anime, Gaming and Wrestling to Texarkana

Fans of anime, gaming, wrestling, cosplay, and trading card games will gather in Texarkana next weekend for HypeCon 2026, a three-day convention packed with special guests, tournaments, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Stormtrooper Beta Max - Darlene Taylor - Photo: Jim Weaver

Event Details

Dates: June 12-14, 2026
Location: Canvas Event Center
Address: 2101 Texas Blvd., Texarkana, Texas

Hours

Friday, June 12 – Begins at 6 PM
Saturday, June 13 – Noon to 8 PM
Sunday, June 14 – Noon to 6 PM

Featured Guests

Attendees will have opportunities to meet:

WWE Hall of Famer - Ted DiBiase
Tag Team Legend - D-Von Dudley
Anime Voice Actor - D.C. Douglas

Guests will participate in autograph sessions, photo opportunities, and panel discussions throughout the weekend.

Friday Night Wrestling

HypeCon kicks off Friday evening with a live professional wrestling event featuring Hype & Glory Wrestling. Bell time is scheduled for 6 PM.

Saturday Tournaments

Competitive gaming takes center stage Saturday with:

cEDH Magic: The Gathering Tournament - Grand Prize: Scrubland card (approximately $400 value)
One Piece Trading Card Game Tournament - $500 prize pool
Esports Competitions

Players can also compete in:

Tekken 8
Street Fighter 6
Super Smash Bros.
Guilty Gear Strive
Madden

Cosplay Contest:

Cosplayers of all experience levels are invited to showcase their creativity and craftsmanship during the HypeCon Cosplay Competition.

Guest Artist Greg Peters - Photo: Jim Weaver

Panels and Entertainment

Programming throughout the weekend will include guest panels, fandom discussions, gaming content, wrestling personalities, cosplay features, and other entertainment.

Sunday Free Play

Sunday will offer a more relaxed atmosphere with:

Trading card games
Video games
Casual gaming sessions
Community meetups

What's Up With The HYPE?

HYPE stands for "Helping Youth Progress Every Day," reflecting the organization's focus on community involvement and positive engagement through gaming, entertainment, and fandom culture.

Tickets are available in advance or at the door through the official HypeCon website.

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Tunnel 2 Towers Steel Across America - Texarkana Stop - June 3, 2026

On the 25th anniversary year of 9/11, this steel beam from the Twin Towers in New York that fell on September 11, 2001, is a must-see. The ceremony was very well done and featured short speeches from both Texarkana Mayors and Fire Chiefs. I know many in attendance weren't even alive when the attack happened 25 years ago, but for those of us who remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when the planes struck the towers, it was an amazing thing to see and touch. If you have the chance to witness this, you should. Find out more at T2T.org.

Gallery Credit: Jim Weaver