Con of Thrones, the biggest Game of Thrones fan convention of its kind, kicks off on June 30 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. There are plenty of special guests coming, including:
- Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton)
- Kerry Ingram (Shireen Baratheon)
- Kate Dickie (Lysa Arryn)
- Rupert Vansittart (Yohn Royce)
- Sam Coleman (Young Hodor)
- Aimee Richardson (Myrcella Baratheon)
- Miltos Yerolemou (Syrio Forel)
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths (Mace Tyrell)
- David Peterson (the conlanger behind the Dothraki and Valyrian languages)
- Tommy Dunne (the show’s Weapons Master)
- Paula Fairfield (sound designer)
There will also be a ton to do, and an easy way to keep it all organized. You can check out the full schedule for the event, plus download an app that helps you keep track of everything, here.
In the meantime, check out just a taste of what attendees are in for:
Friday, June 30
- 10:00 AM: You’re Not The One. “Everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story, but as some characters find out, the truth is much different. Through their experiences, Margaery, Young Griff, Quentyn, and more teach us valuable life lessons.”
- 10:00 AM: Autograph sessions with Kate Dickie, Kerry Ingram, Roger Ashton-Griffiths
- 10:00 AM: Photograph session with Iwan Rheon
- 11:00 AM: Winter is Still Coming: A Refresher. “Before we dive into a weekend of theorizing, let’s remind ourselves what we know about “The Winds of Winter” so far. Where did “A Dance With Dragons” leave off? Which arcs are going to be explored next? And what can we learn from the released sample chapters?”
- 11:00 AM: Great Debates: The Worst Jobs in Westeros. There are several of these debate events throughout the con. How does it work? “tep up to the mic and make your case in two minutes or less and wait for the audience to choose the winner. No sign-up necessary, just show up ready to battle!” These should be fun!
- 1:00 PM: Spotlight: Iwan Rheon. “Get an inside look at how Iwan Rheon created a character we all love to hate.”
- 1:00 PM: Through The Weirwood’s Eyes: Exploring Bran’s Visions. “Bran Stark is gifted with the ability to see through time as the Three-Eyed Raven, but the Sight isn’t always clear. Join us for a deep dive into Bran’s visions, mining them for hidden meaning and hints of the future.”
- 1:00 PM: Treatment of Race in Game of Thrones. “Game of Thrones has generated criticism over the years because of its handling of race. Here, we’ll delve into the complex issue and its handling throughout the series, including how Game of Thrones could do better.”
- 1:00 PM: Great Debates: The Best Season of Game of Thrones So Far
- 1:00 PM: Kerry Ingram Photograph Session
- 2:00 PM: Spotlight: Kate Dickie. “Get an inside look at how Kate Dickie created the creepy, unpredictable, and jealous Lysa Arryn.”
- 2:00 PM: Challenging Expectations: Gender in George R.R. Martin’s World. “Join us for a discussion of the gender roles and gender politics of ASOIAF and Game of Thrones. We’ll explore the characters who buck their assigned gender roles, those who don’t, the middle ground, and how gender affects their stories.”
- 2:00 PM: Iwan Rheon Autograph Session.
- 3:00 PM: Spotlight: Roger Ashton-Griffiths. “Get an inside look at how Roger Ashton-Griffiths created the fumbling, lovable Mace Tyrell.”
- 3:00 PM: Sex and Sensuality on Game of Thrones. “Game of Thrones is notorious for its sex scenes and frequent nudity. Is the show’s “sexposition” warranted or a problem? Is the show’s casual nudity a strength or superfluous? And what do we make of the controversial assaults?”
- 3:00 PM: The Eldritch Apocalypse. “Euron is bringing an Apocalypse of Eldritch proportions. Come discuss the theory that took the internet by storm.”
- 4:00 PM: The Lesser Houses of Westeros. “As the Great Houses fall throughout Westeros, the lesser houses are on the rise. Stand for the lesser noble houses as we look back at our favorites, from the legendary Daynes to the loyal bannermen of the North.”
- 4:00 PM: Kate Dickie and Roger Ashton-Griffiths photograph sessions.
- 5:00 PM: Game of Thrones: The Endgame. “Season 7 is almost here, and the Great War is coming. Where is the epic saga headed? Will it end in ice or fire–or worse? Who will survive? And most importantly, who will win the Iron Throne?”
- 5:00 PM: Other Worlds. “Tired of waiting for “The Winds of Winter”? Find a new world to explore! Join your fellow fans for an introduction to other fantasy works and authors.”
- 6:00 PM: Friday Night Concert, featuring Daenerys and the Targaryens, comedian and impressionist Steve Love, The Smoothrays, and The Manimals.
And that’s just a partial list of the first day. Con of Thrones will be overflowing with stuff to see and do! Get a look at the full schedule.
Head to the Con of Thrones website for ticket information. It’s all happening.