Magic on the Main Stage and Beyond!

Good news MagicCon attendees: we are ready to share the information for each panel taking place at MagicCon: Minneapolis!  We have so much content prepared for the show that we had to add an additional panel room to accommodate everything! Head to the main stage for the big spectacle moments and exclusive insights and previews from Wizards of the Coast or come to the panel room to enjoy a more intimate (and sometimes interactive!) experience throughout the event weekend.

Below you’ll find a description of each event taking place both on the main stage and in the panel room:

Tap Into MagicCon with Riley Knight

Friday 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Start your convention right with host Riley Knight as he chats with some of the biggest names at MagicCon: Minneapolis to show off what to expect across three awesome days. Sheldon Menery, Gavin Verhey, Olivia Gobert-Hicks, Eilidh Lonie, Corey Baumeister and perhaps even more guests swing by the main stage for MagicCon’s first talk show. Before they walk the walk, hear them talk the talk! 

GLHF Presents: Play Games, High Fives

Friday 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m.      

Good Luck High Five presents a fun and games-filled good time with some of their favorite friends, with lots of opportunities for the audience to play along! Join Meghan Wolff, Maria Bartholdi, and special guests Brian David-Marshall, Loading ReadyRun's Ben Wheeler, Nelson Salahub and Ben Ulmer, and Daniel Holt and Matt Tabak from Wizards of the Coast for classic GLHF games.  

The Preview Panel

Friday 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.    

Join Blake Rasmussen, Matt Tabak, Roy Graham and Gavin Verhey at the Main Stage and be among the first to get a sneak peek at Wilds of Eldraine, Magic: The Gathering® – Doctor Who™, Commander Masters, The Lord of The Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™, and more!

Game Knights Live

Friday 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. (estimated end time)

Watch The Command Zone's Jimmy Wong and Josh Lee Kwai face off against LoadingReadyRun’s Kathleen De Vere and Graham Stark in a Commander free-for-all that'll shake the multiverse to its very core! Rachel Weeks and Gavin Verhey bring you the play-by-play as our contenders do battle to claim the title of Game Knights Live: Minneapolis Champion. This epic confrontation promises to have it all: grand spectacle, hilarious gameplay, and the return of the BEAR FORCE. Don't miss it!

I’ve Got a Secret (Lair)  

Saturday 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.          

Steve Sunu and his Secret Lair team are back for more, in a show that’ll be full of surprises. Alayna Lemmer-Danner will talk through her Artist Series, plus our panelists will take an in-depth look behind the scenes, AND – see? Surprises! – a glimpse or two into the Secret Lairs of the future.

Inside the Art of March of the Machine

Saturday 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Our art host Sam Gaglio is back with another curated lineup of worldbuilders and artists Taylor Ingvarsson, Neale LaPlante Johnson, Livia Prima, and Chris Rahn. We’ll go from initial vision to final card, focusing on the techniques and challenges that brought so many vibrant worlds to life in the multiverse-spanning March of the Machine release.

Aftermath: The Ultimate Event Set

Saturday 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.              

A set like no other, March of the Machine: The Aftermath is the ultimate "post-credits scene"! Host Matt Danner is joined by Roy Graham, Taylor Ingvarsson, and K. Arsenault Rivera to go deep into story time.

Swords & Sorcery: The Improvised Fantasy Campaign

Saturday 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.  

A show where D&D, improv comedy, and a bit of Magic: The Gathering flair come together for an epic fantasy adventure where fates are decided by the roll of an actual 20-sided die, created by Minneapolis-based improv group The Bearded Company.

Cosplay Contest

Saturday 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Always a must-see on the convention to-do list, the Cosplay Contest will once again amaze and delight, as a winning mixture of craft and dedication brings to life many of your favorite Magic: The Gathering characters. What astonishing creations will be on display this time? Get there early for your seat.

Pro Tour March of the Machine Top 8 Stream   

Sunday 10 a.m. -5 p.m. (Estimated end time)

Grab your seat at the main stage and settle in for a full day of Pro Tour Top 8 action. The best Magic: The Gathering players in the world battle it out for a share of a $500,000 prize pool in the Standard format. Semifinals are estimated to start by 1 p.m. local time, with the finals no later than 4 p.m.

The Pro Tour Aftershow              

Sunday 5 p.m. (Estimated start time) - 5:30 p.m. (Estimated end time)

As soon as the Pro Tour live stream concludes, put a winning bow on your MagicCon weekend in the company of Riley Knight and casters Eilidh Lonie and Corey Baumeister. They’ll look at the key moments and biggest takeaways from the Pro Tour, and then bring the champion onto the stage for the grand finale to our Main Stage schedule.

MTG at Middle School Clubs: A How To

Saturday 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.          

Magic: The Gathering provides a strong basis for growing skillsets in developing minds. Middle School is one of the most difficult times for students to take in new pedagogical knowledge as well as build and adapt their social circles. Fortunately, Magic helps bring together new social circles while also building strong foundational knowledge for students in the STEAM fields. Magic specifically heightens students' vocabulary skills, strategic problem-solving, and their social dynamics. Because of this, Magic presents itself as an excellent club or afterschool activity at any institution at the Middle School level. This panel will help provide educators, parents, and interested kids with tools to not only run a Magic club at their institution but also pitch the idea to their administrators and source resources for their club. Other topics include information about community building as well as lesson material for scaffolding knowledge for students as they begin learning the game.

Pack 1 Pick 1: The Science of Chaos Drafting

Saturday 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join hosts of the Masters of Modern podcast Alex Kessler and Ben Bateman as they are joined by Wizards of the Coast's very own Gavin Verhey to discuss the science behind curating the perfect chaos draft. The three of them will crack eight packs from eight different eras of Magic, spanning 30 years of storied history live on stage. Each host will sound off on their pack 1 pick 1 chioces. From Ice Age to Time Spiral, Ultimate Masters to Urza's Destiny, these hosts are true historians with a passion for chaos. Who knows what they'll open!

Socially-Distant Sealed Super League: How to Run a Personal Sealed League

Saturday 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.              

This panel is intended to inspire YOU to run a Magic: The Gathering league of your own. Learn how a group of seven Minnesotans tackled the pandemic by forming a socially-distant sealed league. Learn their story and how they journeyed through the pandemic up to the current day.

Casual Play and Commander Design AMA

Saturday 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.  

Join members of Wizards of the Coast's Studio X for an hour of questions and answers about Casual and Commander design, featuring Melissa DeTora, Elizabeth Rice, Chris Mooney, and Sara Mox.

How I Sparked: A Conversation about Mental Health Recovery Journeys.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

MagicCon: Minneapolis will be taking place during Mental Health Awareness month and the Goblin Lore Podcast dedicates that month to episodes on mental health. This panel looks at mental health recovery through the lens of Being a Planeswalker. We've explored the topic of "How did you Spark" and how it applies to the concept of mental health recovery. This model of mental health is grounded in hope and is about journeys and not destinations. We feel that this conversation allows us to fight stigma by talking openly about mental health (as well as other social issues). Being able to use the lore and story of Magic for examples, we look to highlight the need for mental health discussions as well as provide take-away advice for participants.

Building a Diverse Gathering

Sunday 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.  

Magic: The Gathering is the best game in the world. How can we enable people from more communities to engage with the game, especially those who have traditionally found it difficult to access? Haiyue Yu, Michelle Rapp, DeQuan Watson and Air Bubbles Cosplay discuss their experiences and the positive work they are doing to help players from more diverse demographics enjoy and participate in Magic.

Expanding the Magic – Inclusivity with Purpose

Sunday 2 p.m. -3 p.m.   

When it comes to inclusivity and representation, how do game developers go from Awareness to Action? Join members of the Magic: The Gathering creative team and inclusive gaming content creators for a discussion on their approach to building worlds and narratives that are compelling, unique, and inclusive. 

So what are you waiting for? Grab your badges , register for tournaments and get ready to start packing your bags – it’s almost time for MagicCon!