A brand new entertainment experience is coming to New Jersey this summer. ViewerCon debuts on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. NBC News entertainment contributor and PopViewers CEO Chris Witherspoon founded the festival. He built it in partnership with STARZ. The ViewerCon 2026 Newark entertainment festival arrives at a moment when audiences want deeper connections with the stories and talent behind their favorite projects. In short, it is a festival designed to close the gap between industry insiders and the fans who make everything possible.
What ViewerCon is and why it matters
Witherspoon built ViewerCon around a clear idea. The entertainment industry and the communities that support it deserve to be in the same room. Rather than keeping fans at arm’s length, the event creates genuine dialogue between creators and audiences. The programming spans panels, exclusive screenings and immersive activations. Furthermore, the festival reflects a broader cultural shift. Streaming, social media and direct creator access have changed the relationship between content and community. ViewerCon steps directly into that space.
Joy Reid, Taye Diggs and the anchor conversations
Several major names anchor the programming. Joy Reid headlines one of the day’s most anticipated conversations. She celebrates the one-year anniversary of The Joy Reid Show with a discussion on the future of media and entertainment. As the media landscape continues to shift, her perspective as both a journalist and cultural voice carries real weight.
Taye Diggs joins Shelby Stone and Troy Brookins on stage. Together, they discuss the launch of MicroHouse Films. Their conversation also explores the rise of vertical storytelling as a creative and commercial force. The session offers rare insight into how a new generation of filmmakers builds businesses around formats that barely existed a decade ago.
Bevy Smith brings her signature energy to a conversation about her new podcast In Bed with Bevy. She also reflects on her journey from Harlem to Hollywood. Few voices in entertainment media combine personal storytelling and industry knowledge as naturally as Smith does. As a result, her panel stands out as one of the most anticipated of the day.
More panels, a film preview and a final season send-off
KeiLyn Durrell Jones takes the stage to discuss bringing Michael to the big screen. The conversation offers attendees a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most closely watched film projects currently in development.
Traci Saulsberry joins the festival to speak about her acclaimed debut novel This Is How You Love Her. Her presence adds a literary dimension to a day that otherwise focuses primarily on screen storytelling. However, both forms share the same foundation — and Saulsberry’s work fits naturally into the conversation.
The cast of Power Book III: Raising Kanan delivers what promises to be a celebratory and candid session ahead of the show’s final season. Patina Miller, Mekai Curtis, London Brown and Leslie Grossman join showrunner Sascha Penn on stage. Together, they reflect on the series’ cultural impact and the journey that brought it to this final chapter.
An exclusive advance screening caps the day
In addition to the panels, ViewerCon hosts an advance fan screening of Fightland. The new drama comes from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Consequently, ViewerCon becomes one of the first public venues to show the project to an audience. That screening alone gives attendees access to something the broader public has not yet seen — a fitting way to close a day built around celebrating entertainment at its most direct and personal.
What to expect at the venue
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark provides a fitting home for the debut. It is a world-class venue in a city with deep cultural roots and a growing creative community. Moreover, the location is easily accessible for attendees traveling from New York City and across the tri-state area.
ViewerCon opens its doors on July 18, 2026. Additional programming announcements are still coming. Fans and press alike should expect more names in the weeks ahead.
Source: ViewerCon / PopViewers press release
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